How to choose a vibratory rammer: professional advice

Recommendation points

• Varieties by type of drive
• ICE
• Electric motor
• Varieties by design
• Vibrating plate
• “Vibroleg”
• Application area
• Model overview
• Diy vibratory rammer

The vibratory rammer is an effective tool used for earthworks. How to choose the right rammer without overpaying for excess power and special features? This article will tell you about it..

Practically all types of earthworks require soil compaction. This may be necessary at different depths, but in most cases the soil is compacted at the surface.

According to the device, there are mainly three types of rammers:

• hydraulic
• electrical
• ICE based (diesel and gasoline)

Hydraulic rammers are powerful industrial devices, sometimes part of the equipment of excavators, therefore they are not considered in this article.

The principle of operation common for all devices is to transfer the torque of the rotor of the electric motor or the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to a vibrating device (VU), fixed on a steel platform.

Varieties by type of drive

ICE

The main advantage of this option is autonomy. This makes it indispensable in the field. However, it has a much larger number of parts compared to an electric drive, therefore it is inferior to it in reliability. The large comparative weight is a plus during operation, but it is inconvenient for delivery and unloading (manually). Diesel vehicles are the most powerful and heavy, but at the same time they are the noisiest, most expensive and less environmentally friendly (not suitable for closed rooms). Gasoline is lighter, quieter and “cleaner”, but inferior to diesel in terms of impact force.

Electric motor

Simple and reliable design. In case of failure, a complete replacement is possible in a short time. The noise level is the lowest. Main disadvantage: mains supply.

It is also worth noting that devices equipped with internal combustion engines are traditionally more expensive than electric ones..

Varieties by design

Vibrating plate

The engine and VU are assembled on a steel plate with edges bent upwards. Slab sizes from 300×500 mm to 800×1200 mm. Controlled with a yoke. Vibratory plates are of direct course and reversible (can move backward). They have a low amplitude and high vibration frequency. Ideal for flattening and even compaction. It is the uniformity of properties over the entire area of ​​the compacted soil that is the main advantage of this design. This is of particular importance in the construction of road surfaces, sites.

“Vibroleg”

The engine is mounted on top and fixed to the VU. The VU is the vertical part of the “leg”, has a height of about 60 cm and is fixed, in turn, on a steel plate. The dimensions of the slab, as a rule, do not exceed 400×400 mm. It has a large amplitude (up to 70 mm) and a low vibration frequency. Force is transmitted by compressing and firing a powerful steel spring in the leg structure. Advantage: maximum impact during ramming due to the relatively small contact area. This allows you to reach the limit values ​​of the density of the processed layer.

A common feature of both types is the use of the mass of the entire device to create kinetic force during operation.

Application area

About 70% of all soil compaction work is carried out using relatively lightweight, mobile and maneuverable manual vibratory rammers. Unpretentious to weather conditions, simple in design, maintainable, they are suitable for “wet” ramming (with soil wetting). They are not used except for underwater work..

Model overview

When choosing a rammer for your own use, you should proceed from the needs. First, decide what work is to be done. Since diesel rammers are more suitable for industrial construction sites, consider units with gasoline internal combustion engines.

Gasoline “vibration feet”:

Gasoline Vibratory Plates:

It should be noted that each model has several varieties in terms of power..

The main points of the characteristics and guidelines for choosing the best option will be the size of the plate (and the entire unit) and the impact force (depending on the engine power). A set of additional functions: adjustment of vibration amplitude and impact force, reverse motion and others need to be clarified for each specific model. The common indicator for all the given manual rammers is the working depth of the layer – 30–35 cm. With similar characteristics, the origin of the machine can greatly affect the difference in price. For obvious reasons, prices for any goods produced in the EU, the USA and Japan are traditionally an order of magnitude higher than prices for goods from Asia and Russia.

Mikasa MTX-70

The power characteristics of the motor of devices with electric drive will be similar (power 2-4 kW), but the weight and price are 15-20% lower.

In simple terms: a professional who earns money by excavating every day needs a powerful, reliable tool with a large resource. Such a device will be durable, but also expensive. For one-off or rare use with small volumes and careful handling, a cheap model is also suitable.

Diy vibratory rammer

The most economical option for home craftsmen is, of course, a device of their own production. It is quite possible to independently make a vibrating plate on an electric drive for the needs of the site. To do this, you need the following:

• platform vibrator IV-98, 220 V (sold assembled);
• 1 m of steel profile (for example, channel or I-beam 75 mm);
• steel sheet from 8 mm thick and approximately 45×80 cm in size;
• pipe 20 mm for making a handle (1.5 m);
• 10 pairs of M12 bolt / nut with grovers or washers with rubber band.
• the wire.

You will also need a welding machine (4 electrodes), a grinder, and other hand tools.

Operating procedure:

1. Plate making. We make folds along the two short edges. We make a cut with a grinder 3-4 mm at 40 mm from the edge. We bend it so that the edges of the cut come together. Boil the cut.
2. Engine seat. We weld the profiles to the plate so that you can then attach the engine to them.

3. We mark the profile for the engine mounting lugs. We weld the bolts in these places in the form of studs.
4. We install the engine on the welded bolts and fix it with nuts with a grover. Attention! There should be no shock absorbers between the vibrator and the plate.
5. We bend the pipe in a convenient shape and fasten it to the bent board of the slab with bolts or welding
6. We connect the power wire.

Of course, it is inappropriate to compare the technical characteristics of a home-made device with factory cars, but such a rammer will quite master a 10-15 cm layer of a given quality. Manufacturing costs are minimal – everything can be purchased on the market, assembled in 1 day.

Soil compaction work in a country house or a summer cottage cooperative is an infrequent but regular phenomenon. It can be expensive to purchase even a cheap model on your own. A way out of the situation may be to rent a device with an operator to carry out specific work, or to buy it together. In any case, to neglect the strengthening of the soil “out of economy” means to lay the problem in the very foundation of a future building or landscape.