Tips On Digging A Trench With The BX24 Hoe

[x703jko]

In a few weeks, I will have to dig a 200 foot long, 12 inch wide, 12 inch deep trench to hold PVC pipe which will hold various coaxial (communications) cables from my radio shack to my tower.

Any tips on how I can do this easily, quickly, and neatly?

Thanks

 

[LBrown59]

In a few weeks, I will have to dig a 200 foot long, 12 inch wide, 12 inch deep trench to hold PVC pipe which will hold various coaxial (communications) cables from my radio shack to my tower.

*Any tips on how I can do this easily, quickly, and neatly?

Thanks

One thing I do is drive a stake at each end of where I want the trench to be and string a line on the ground between the stakes.
Next I take a can of aluminum paint and paint along the line then take up the line.
Be sure the ditch is dug deep enough.
It's easier to fill in a little if you get it a little too deep than it is to straddle it to dig it deeper it you get it to shallow.

 

[john_bud]

Practice using the controls to get a smooth bottom. Take only 2-3" of soil at any one time in a long peel vs a big chunk.


If you only have the one trench, a trenching tool is much easier and faster. The kind that looks like a chainsaw. You can rent one for a hundred or so per day. Least that's what they used to go for....

jb

 

[x703jko]

One thing I do is drive a stake at each end of where I want the trench to be and string a line on the ground between the stakes.
Next I take a can of aluminum paint and paint along the line then take up the line.
Be sure the ditch is dug deep enough.
It's easier to fill in a little if you get it a little too deep than it is to straddle it to dig it deeper it you get it to shallow.

Good advice. Thanks, I appreciate your help.

 

[x703jko]

Practice using the controls to get a smooth bottom. Take only 2-3" of soil at any one time in a long peel vs a big chunk.


If you only have the one trench, a trenching tool is much easier and faster. The kind that looks like a chainsaw. You can rent one for a hundred or so per day. Least that's what they used to go for....

jb

Thought about using a Ditch Witch and I agree that it may be simpler, but I want to practice with the hoe and I thought that this would be a way to do so.

Thanks for the pointers.

 

[Berniep]

Thought about using a Ditch Witch and I agree that it may be simpler, but I want to practice with the hoe and I thought that this would be a way to do so.

Thanks for the pointers.

Heck I don't know about you but thats why I bought a tractor with a backhoe.

 

[x703jko]

Heck I don't know about you but thats why I bought a tractor with a backhoe.

Exactly...in my case, it was primarily for one of my hobbies (amateur radio, as mentioned above).

I justified the investment to my wife by telling her that I'd be able to plow the driveway in the winter.

Of course, now that I have the tractor, I'm thinking about other ways of using it (read: spend money).

Someone sent me info on a 3 point log splitter, which I actually need and would use regularly.

And, I also need a dump cart (anyone have any advice) so I can more easily haul stuff around the property.

Knowing how I am with most "hobbies" the BX24 will easily turn into one...

 

[techman]

One big tip on long trenching, go long, not deep. Start out with the bucket about 75% extended, and try pulling it towards the tractor, taking 3-4" of dirt. Continue this going deeper each pass. This is much more effective than doing a deep dig and then moving.

paul

 

[LBrown59]

Heck I don't know about you but thats why I bought a tractor with a backhoe.

Rite On:
That's what A hoe is fo.

 

[RayCo]

One big tip on long trenching, go long, not deep. Start out with the bucket about 75% extended, and try pulling it towards the tractor, taking 3-4" of dirt. Continue this going deeper each pass. This is much more effective than doing a deep dig and then moving.

Can you explain why this is better? I'm going to be digging my first ditch soon (about 80' long and 3' deep).

Thank you