ToughButterCup Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Digging my TAF (Temporary Amphibian Fencing) trench wi' 't digger... all's well, when I notice the bucket is full, and won't empty. Shake it, rattle it and roll it; nothing. Bucket full of earth. Stuck. Fast. And neither did the full bucket stop the digging process. I carried on digging fine, got the TAF trench dug. But I suspect I'm doing something wrong. Yes, there's a good deal of clay around, but it's mostly loam, and there's a little bit of concrete stuck to the inside of the bucket. Overthinking again I suspect, but I thought I'd ask (Declan....). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 What size bucket? I have found when using my small 12" bucket, that can happen, I get in there with the small spade and "unstick" it. Never happes with the 2 foot bucket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan52 Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Is there a hole in the bucket. When you dig and its wet it sucks into it like a vacuum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 There are two holes smack bang in the middle of the sides (cheek plates). It's the small trenching bucket @ProDave ...about 12" wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 im intrigued now, it does happen a lot to me when digging clay and it if won't come out by thumping it into the ground it gets dug out with a spade like Dave. Good question though? i wonder if it has anything to do with the angle of the bucket? e.g weather you are digging with the teeth or with the bottom of the bucket? Im all ears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 No teeth in this narrow bucket: it's little wider than a shovel. I tried all sorts of jiggery pokery, but it still jammed full. And made no difference whatever. I could still dig perfectly well. In the end I used a crowbar - yes a crowbar to get the soil out. Soon lost interest in that, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 I have a little 6" wide "ladies" spade that's handy for clearing it out. (SWMBO bought it originally for gardening) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 the cleaning with a shovel is always the last resort. i didn't mean so much actually using the teeth, more what angle the back of the bucket is? say the teeth (or front edge) is pointing straight down and you are scraping back, the bucket still fills and you only curl the bucket towards the end of the pull to remove it. or you start the dig with the bucket already curled (teeth pointing back at you) and pull back in? I don't know what the answer is but i was always thought to dig with the teeth, so front edge pointing down, then again my bucket gets stuck as well so what do i know i would suggest dunking the bucket in a drum of used engine oil before you start but that would probably be frowned upon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 Just now, Construction Channel said: the cleaning with a shovel is always the last resort. i would suggest dunking the bucket in a drum of used engine oil before you start but that would probably be frowned upon You bad man. Wash your mouth out - with dirty diesel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 but all the diesel is outside and its raining Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted June 28, 2016 Author Share Posted June 28, 2016 Southern Softness personified you are..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 Have you tried dunking the bucket in the pond, that may shift the dirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 31 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: Have you tried dunking the bucket in the pond, that may shift the dirt. And the newts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Construction Channel Posted June 28, 2016 Share Posted June 28, 2016 59 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: Have you tried dunking the bucket in the pond, that may shift the dirt. doesn't work, never tried it but i can assure you it doesn't work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 The chap I knew a few years ago who had a wheeled JCB, who ran the farm next door to us, years ago and had a "man and a digger" hire business, always spent ages cleaning the buckets after any job, to the extent of wire brushing the inside and then wiping them over with old oil. I wonder if keeping the buckets nice and clean inside like this helps? I've no knowledge at all of this, but, given the effort he went to every time he came home from a job I can't imagine that he just did it for his own amusement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 8 hours ago, Construction Channel said: doesn't work, never tried it but i can assure you it doesn't work 9 hours ago, ProDave said: And the newts. Then poor some old engine oil in the pond, would solve that problem, though may create another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brickie Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 Diesel in the bucket's what I was told. For a more Eco approach,maybe some of the enviro-friendly washing up liquid could work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 When I was digging a narrow trench and the bucket kept getting gunged up with clay I had my other half on standby with a small spade to clean it out. She doesn't mind, really!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetE Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 6 minutes ago, PeterStarck said: When I was digging a narrow trench and the bucket kept getting gunged up with clay I had my other half on standby with a small spade to clean it out. She doesn't mind, really!! That's my job too, and I'm not allowed to complain either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryE Posted June 30, 2016 Share Posted June 30, 2016 15 minutes ago, JanetE said: That's my job too, and I'm not allowed to complain either! Bollocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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