The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: suziequeue on May 28, 2012, 07:40:37 am

Title: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: suziequeue on May 28, 2012, 07:40:37 am
We want to do trenches for our rabbit-proof fencing plans.

Anybody got any experience of hiring these beasts?
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: chrismahon on May 28, 2012, 09:07:26 pm
Not hired one Suziequeue but seen one in action by my farmer neighbour. The type with track drive and what looks like a huge chain saw blade on the front I think. Perhaps you drove it backwards? He used it to dig trenches for plastic land drain. Can't remember how he got the soil back into the trench. Yours needs to throw the soil to one side only because the fence will be in the way otherwise won't it?
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: suziequeue on May 28, 2012, 10:26:23 pm
Our plan is to make the trench to 12" deep, "drop" the mesh fencing into the trench so there's one foot under and three feet over ground and then stake it in and scrape the soil back into the trench.

The one we plan the get is - as you describe- like a huge chainsaw on the front

Exciting.

I still have to run it past the ways and means committee
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: robert waddell on May 29, 2012, 08:23:01 am
so that will be a Davis trencher then    how are the stobs going to stay firm in the ground  are you not just better turning the netting out at the bottom and pinning it to the ground   unless you are getting extra long stobs and putting the whole fence in the trench      cost wise i would go with the Lshaped fence :farmer:
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: suziequeue on May 29, 2012, 09:00:38 am
No Robert - we would be planning to use a Barreto.
 
Thanks for the advice about how to do the fencing. I think we've already decided how we are going to do that.
 
It was just the trencher I was asking about. :)
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: robert waddell on May 29, 2012, 09:26:42 am
that one is smaller  than the Davis one    hope you don't have to many stones as it appears hard going on the peaty soil in the vid      i am thinking this through and still see a difficulty with the stobs     good luck and let us know how you get on  :farmer:
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: suziequeue on May 29, 2012, 11:07:41 am
I'm sure it'll be fine Robert.
 
Don't you worry yourself - we will try it and see  :D
Title: Re: Pedestrian trenching machine
Post by: robert waddell on May 29, 2012, 11:27:46 am
that is one one thing i am not doing is worrying ;D :farmer: