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A Guide to Construction Equipment Attachments

5/7/2021

4 Comments

 
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Take a look at any construction site, anywhere in the world, and the chances are that you’ll see something familiar. Massive single-use pieces of equipment are a mainstay in any construction fleet, but for smaller businesses, a lack of both space and funding means that you need to look into multi-use alternatives. Backhoes, skid steer loaders, and compact track loaders are capable of utilizing a myriad of attachments, depending on the needs of the job.
 
Here is a quick breakdown of construction equipment attachments and what you might use them for. 
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​​Augers
Augers are heavy-duty high-torque drill bits designed to dig holes in the soil or rocky surfaces. These are ideal for everything from creating post holes to digging transplant holes for trees and other landscaping.

Backhoes
If you’re working with a skid steer loader or a compact track loader, a backhoe attachment can give you all of the functionality of a backhoe without having to invest in an extra piece of equipment.
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Buckets
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Buckets for backhoes come in a variety of different sizes and applications, so you’re sure to find something that works for you. General-purpose buckets can work for most applications, but if you’re working on a specific task like lifting heavy rocks or excavating soil, there are variations of the standard bucket that works for those as well. 
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Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay
​Blades
Blades are a valuable tool for site clearing and cutting applications. They do require frequent sharpening when cutting through dense materials but they’re more efficient than doing the same tasks by hand or with handheld tools.

Brooms
Why sweep your job site by hand when you can attach a broom to your backhoe or skid steer loader and use it to keep your site clean and safe. It is also a valuable tool for shifting materials like sand that might be difficult to lift or manipulate with larger equipment.

Brush cutters
If you find yourself needing to clear-cut a new lot before construction begins, brush cutters are the perfect attachment for the job. They come in widths ranging from 60 to 78 inches, making it easy to clear even large lots quickly and easily.
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Compactors
Heavy-duty compactors might be more efficient for large stretches of land, but for small projects or those that have limited space, smaller backhoe or skid steer attachments are the best option. 
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Image by Siggy Nowak from Pixabay
​Hammers
While these aren’t as common on construction sites, hammer attachments are valuable tools if you need to break up large rocks or concrete. They’re more common on quarries and on demolition sites.

Pallet Forks
These might not always be necessary, but if you find yourself needing to move palletized materials, a pallet fork attachment can make the job infinitely easier. These attachments usually come with adjustable fork widths so you can lift different size pallets with ease.

Plows
Snow, sleet and mud can throw a wrench into the best-laid plans. Instead of letting them delay your project or investing in a single-use snowplow, consider a plow attachment for your backhoe or skid steer loader.

Rakes
Whether you’re trying to smooth uneven terrain or remove rocks and other debris, a rake attachment makes the job move a lot faster than trying to complete the same task by hand.

Rippers
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to work when the ground is frozen. Ripper attachments can easily cut through the frozen ground. They can also tear through concrete and asphalt if necessary.

Saws
Sometimes a table saw just won’t cut it — literally. Saw attachments can complete challenging cutting tasks with ease, without ever needing to break out the hand tools.
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Stump Grinders
When pulling an entire tree out by the root isn’t an option, stump grinders can help take unsightly stumps down to nothing. These are necessary for site clearing operations, but you don’t need to bring in an extra piece of equipment to complete the job when you can do exactly that with

Thumbs
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Sometimes you need an extra set of hands — or in this case, an extra set of thumbs. These help to lift heavy and often awkwardly shaped items and transport them throughout the construction site. 
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Image by ingjuanrodz from Pixabay
​Tillers
If landscaping is part of the plan, a tiller can make the job easier by breaking up the soil and providing straight and even lines ready for planting.
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Trenchers
If you need rows deeper than a tiller can provide, the trencher attachment is the next logical step. These attachments can dig trenches three to five feet deep, which is usually plenty for installing infrastructure and plants or trees that may require a deeper starting point.
 
Comprehensive But Not Exhaustive
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Despite the sheer number of items on this list, it is not exhaustive by any means. There are nearly as many attachments for construction equipment as there are applications for them. Before you invest in a new piece of equipment for your construction fleet, look into attachments for your existing equipment. You might be surprised by what you find.
Author Bio: Rose Morrison is a freelance writer who covers construction and building design topics. She is also the managing editor for Renovated. ​
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Preventive Maintenance Checklist for Construction Equipment
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4 Comments
Mia Evans link
28/12/2021 01:31:09 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that hammer attachments are valuable to break up large rocks or concrete. With that in mind, we need that kind of tool for the construction of our home next year. So we should probably look for a bobcat hire professional that we can find to finally have the dream house we have saved up for the past three years now.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
24/1/2022 10:51:45 am

I appreciate all the tips you shared here especially attaching a broom to your skid steer loader to use to maintain the cleanliness and safety of your site. It's true that sweeping your site by hand is so hard to keep. I think it's better to look for an auto dealer that provides skid loader trailers where you can attach a broom.

Reply
Millie Hue link
27/7/2022 07:39:20 pm

It's interesting to know that there are general purpose buckets that would be useful for most applications, but there ar certain ones that are specifically for excavation. I guess looking for an excavator attachment that is for a specific purpose would be the best thing to do to ensure that the process will be done properly. It will be for safety purposes as well to ensure that the parts will be able to withstand the weight.

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
23/11/2022 07:42:08 am

Thanks so much for talking about some of the attachments you can use for a skid steer loader. My uncle is working on a large project in his backyard and he needs to level some ground. He's been looking into finding a company to help him get access to the machinery he needs.

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  • Construction Home
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    • Successful Construction Project Management
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    • Construction Claims
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