[LandArts]

Today I rented a Dingo 222 to move soil and stone for the pondless waterfall I'm installing. This is the first time using one and we found it pretty slow-moving so we used it to fill wheel barrows instead. Worked great for that and for moving stone closer to the job. I tried to use the bucket to dig out the sump area and it failed miserably at that task-maybe I don't have the skills yet? How the heck do you use these things to dig for patios and walks?
The stone delivery wasn't placed where I wanted it so I had to spin the machine a lot and in that area the drive is marked up pretty good. I want to clean it up before the customer asks about it and was thinking about using a pressure washer unless there is an easier way.

[Bamboo]

You really need all the attachments that are made for the unit. If you were to dig out a stump you might trench all around it with the trenching unit. As for exivation you would need to till it than scoop it.
Might need some acid to get that tire mark off?

[P-Train]

The bucket isn't made for digging; it's made for scooping. It just doesn't have the power to dig.

If it were me, next time I would rent a machine with a boom attachment to dig.

Dingo’s might have one for that. Or an auger attachment to dig a small pondless waterfall. Then just scoop out the rest by hand.

[AZTLANLC]

I have an MT-52 don't really know how that compares to dingo but this thigs sure has some power I have dig holes for colorado spruces 3' wide x 2' down no problem and trenches about 1' wide 2' deep, we are in northeast NY and soil conditions are from rocky and clay no sand down here.
The thing that does the diference is that I bought the teet for my bucket once in a while I can still dig without it tough.

This job was done with the mini 12" down

[Bill Schwab]

The most eficient way to use a mini micro machine in my opinion we have a Bobcat 463 and Cat 301.8 mini micro X) is to load a power wheel barrow. rather than carry about a 6 cubic foot wheel barow and spill all over, the 21 cubic foot power wheel barrow carries alot more in less trips. Those trips through 40' gates, and the slow passages will kill your job.
With the use of 21 cubic foot Ingersol Rand power wheel barrows, and mini micro machines, (AKA toys) when you have a tight job you will blow all hand jobs out of the water on 1/3 the labor...And the coolest part....Once you pay the 10K for the wheel barrow and 20K for the mini digger, that's it other than maintenance for a few years. No labor burden, no bitching about sore muscles, no vacations, and the best part, no work comp, other than for opweators. Equipment is the cheapest thing you can buy for your business. And, you can still charge as though you have employees rather than machines .....

[PSUscaper]

I've had pretty good succes with the tooth bar on my 222 dingo.....I've dug out a lot of walks and walls with just that.

I also found, that for walkways, nothing beats a small 3k lb mini-x, 2 or 3 guys with wheel barrels, and a dump trailer......dig out and dump into the wheel barrel, then have the guys wheel them right into the dump trailer.....a very nice, clean way to dig a walk out.

I just love how much bill hates the mini-skids! Not once has he said one good thing about them!....lol.

Here's one for you bill that you may not have thought about...

the problem I have with the mini bobcat and skid steer's you sit in is that you dedicate a man to a machine.....what I mean is, it is a real pita getting in and out of them....basically, the man in it, is well.....in it.

what's nice about the stand ups is that the person driving can get his lazy a$$ of the thing, help fill the bucket, plant the tree, etc., and then jump right back on.

I don't care what anyone says, but climbing in and out of a full size skid is bad enough.......climbing out of the small ones just flat out stinks.

It may not seem like a big thing, but I can't afford to have one person 'dedicated' to sitting on a machine all day while the rest of us dig.....

Just a little observation I'd like to share!

[Uncle Albert]

WE have found a Dingo can ague 300 or so plants in like six hours. One man is turned into a Dingo and thats it. WE also find hiring an operator is the most cost effective way to not kill the crew and get the job done! The Operator is under the gun to preform.

[Bill Schwab]

"I just love how much bill hates the mini-skids! Not once has he said one good thing about them!....lol."

Penn:

It's not so much that i hate stand on minis....Fact is I kind of like all mechanical toys! it's this. In our specific operation, if a machine cannot load a dump truck, it is worthless. Mini stand ons won't do that, and the amount they haul is limited. With our work being some 80' or more into a tract back yard, the ability to carry more and reduce labor was crucial to our bottom line. the 44" width of stand ons is limiting, and we need a 36" or less width machine.

3/4 of my life, I have always looked for ways outside the box. And when stand ons came on strong a few years ago, we ran them, saw the faults, and found another way. Now I can't be the only one who has similar problems with stand ons.....LOL

It would be nice if we did not have to climb into a cab as tight as a 463, but, they are what they are, and the real time made is in the cartage by using the power wheel barrow, not in jumping in and out of a machine.