How to Use the Best Excavator Attachment for Your Needs

Excavators are some of the most important and versatile pieces of equipment on your jobsite. When equipped with the right excavator attachments, your machine can handle everything from digging and grading, to demolition, mulching, material handling, compaction, and much more. The problem is that there are a lot of different options to choose from, and it can be a challenge to determine the right one for your requirements. To help you out, we put together some tips and best practices for picking the best excavator attachment to complete your job.

The most common types of excavator attachments
There is a large variety of attachment options that can significantly increase your equipment’s capabilities.

Excavator buckets – Buckets are the most frequently used excavator attachment. They enable your machine to dig, transport materials, and perform grading, leveling, and backfilling tasks. Various types of excavator buckets are available, including digging, rock, grading, ditch cleaning, and trenching buckets, among others.

Hydraulic breakers, also known as hammers, hydraulic breakers smash through solid materials like concrete, rock, and even steel, assisting with bringing down structures on demolition jobs.

Excavator grapples allow you to grab and position scrap, wood, brush, piping, and more. They effectively turn your excavator into a material handler for jobsites of all sizes.

Excavator shears can cut and shred structural steel, rebar, scrap metals, and other construction materials.

Excavator thumb attachments provide operators with precise control for loading and moving debris, rocks, and other loose materials.

Multiprocessors function as powerful jaws that cut and break down hard materials during demolition work.

In addition to these most popular options, there are numerous other excavator attachments, including plate compactors, pulverizes, trenchers, and more.

Review your machine’s specifications
Whether you’re using hydraulic breakers, grapples, multiprocessors, or other excavator attachments, they all rely on your machine’s hydraulic circuit for power. While excavators are often categorized as “high flow” or “standard flow,” these terms may vary between manufacturers. Typically, high flow circuits exceed 26 gallons per minute of hydraulic flow, while standard flow circuits provide 22 gallons per minute. Ensure that your chosen attachment doesn’t require more flow than your machine can provide.

Check compatibility
After deciding on the type of excavator attachment you need and confirming it’s within your machine’s hydraulic capacity, check if it’s compatible with your mounting system. Most attachments feature a universal mount, but there may be variations depending on your specific make and model.

Try out the attachment first
Before purchasing an excavator attachment, we suggest arranging a demo. By allowing your operators to test it, you’ll gain firsthand insight into how easily they can be installed and maneuvered, as well as how effectively they perform the required tasks.

Talk to our team
Given the wide variety of excavator attachments available, we recommend consulting our equipment experts before making a purchase. We’ll need to understand your typical project requirements and the excavator you’re using. Then, we can help you determine which size and type of attachments will best suit your needs.

Contact our team to find the right excavator attachments today!