[Stonehenge]

I was looking through some photos Bill Schwab sent me of a big retaining wall project his crew did and noticed they used a pretty nice array of compaction equipment, including a plate and a jumping jack.

What situations do you like to use a jumping jack over a plate and why?

[johnkeegan]

I've used the jumping jack on raised patios where we've added alot of base. Also where the sub-base may be unstable, such as near the foundation of a house that's less than 5 years old. That clay soil can really settle slowly.

[Bill Schwab]

Each piece has a specific application. When it comes to soils work, you can't have enough tools in your arsenal. The pad foot vibratory roller we have extended the drum to 42" and use it regularly on patio, driveway, and behind every wal that we use Strata-Grid on. Why? It blows both all other pieces in our arsenal away for productivity.
We use the plate on the last 2" of base for patios, and, we use the jumping style in tight areas that require high compaction. Since jump style, or rollers are not recommended within 3' of the wall face, we run the plate.

For trenches, back hoe sheeps foot rollers are the only way to go. You can easily hit 95% and they cost pennies compared to powered stuff like the aforementioned.

[albert]

bought a used juming jack on e-bay this year ,already had a plate compactor ,althought both compact they each have a special job that they are intended to do , the jack for doing subsoil and bases ,then the plate for doing the final base top layer compaction , and you can not set the pavers with a jack off course ,you need the plate again . also does a great job on wall work (jumping jack)

[Rex Mann]

When it comes to compaction equipment, there are three categories, rammers, vibratory and static machines.


Rammers have higher amplitude (they bounce higher) and less frequency (not as often) as vibratory machines. Static rollers rely only on the weight of the machine.

Rammers are needed on any soil classified as clay. Any soil consisting of 30% clay or more acts as a clay soil. Sandy and other course soils require a vibratory machine.

Most contractors will need both rammers and vibratory machines in their business. However, most just use a vibratory plate due to the cost of rammers.

BTW: rammers can also be plate models.

The majority of failures and call-backs with pavers is settlement. Settlement is due to either one of two things or sometimes both: lack of compacted effort or improper equipment selection.

Peace,

Rex


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