Category Archives: Equipment and Book Reviews

When purchasing heavy equipment, you’re investing in that equipment to last for a long amount of time. It’s best to know the dos and don’ts of operating heavy equipment so you can protect yourself and your gear from harm.

Do Be Aware of Your Surroundings

You need to constantly be on the lookout for obstacles in your path. Whether it’s in the air or below on the ground, you want to keep yourself and those around you safe. Be conscious when digging underground that you are not in danger of hitting any hidden installations, such as electrical utilities or water lines. Before you begin maneuvering your heavy equipment for the day, remember to understand the area in which you’re working and be aware of your surroundings.

Don’t Let the Machine Idle

Allowing your heavy equipment to idle can increase fuel costs and cause damage to the equipment’s engine over time. It is also harmful to the environment to let fumes into the air when it’s not necessary. Remembering to shut off your machine at times when you aren’t using it will be more beneficial to the equipment, the environment, and yourself.

Do Wear Protective Gear

Wearing protective gear such as gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, and boots is essential to working in or near heavy equipment. The goal is not only to get the job done but to complete the job safely.

Don’t Use Equipment for Tasks It’s Not Meant To Do

You don’t want to use any of your heavy equipment for projects it’s not designed for. An example would be using a machine designed for digging to lift something heavy like a crane might. When you put this type of strain on the equipment, this can easily cause damage. It could also potentially harm the person working the machine and those around it.

Be safe and know the tasks that the equipment can perform before operating any machinery.

Do Communicate With Your Team

In addition to being aware of your surroundings, you should know your job when operating heavy equipment. Effective communication with your team will keep you informed of the tasks you need to complete and keep everyone safe. You want to know what others are doing and where they are located before jumping into another job.

Don’t Forget To Inspect All Heavy Equipment

Before operating any heavy equipment, you want to check the machinery to ensure it is in a safe condition to use. If you see an issue, don’t ignore it. Look into the problem and try to find an alternative solution until that piece of equipment is fixed.

No matter the task, understanding how to work heavy equipment is important to keeping you, your team, and the equipment safe. Understanding the dos and don’ts of operating heavy equipment will effectively prepare you for your next day on the job.

Do you run a lawn care business focusing on larger, complex projects? If so, you need specialized devices built to handle commercial applications—here are a few of the different types of mowers that could benefit your business.

Tow-Behind vs. Walk-Behind

While there are various types of mowers, each featuring its own unique functions, almost all devices fall under one of two categories—tow-behind or walk-behind. Tow-behind mowers are affixed to a vehicle, typically an ATV or UTV, and pulled along during the cutting process. Alternatively, walk-behind mowers are manually operated and pushed by an individual. You’ll find far more tow-behind mowers in commercial applications and settings, as they don’t require as much labor and can quickly cut large sections of land. However, when you use a walk-behind properly, you can effectively handle small to midsize projects—devices with self-propulsion technology make this process far easier.

Zero-Turn Mower

Now, consider the more specific types of industrial mowers, starting with zero-turn mowers. The key feature of a zero-turn mower is that the mowing deck is located on the front of the equipment, as opposed to underneath. They’re usually ride-on devices; however, there are zero-turn walk-behind mowers as well. As the name suggests, the main benefit of zero-turn mowers is that they’re highly maneuverable and can turn on a dime. Why are these mowers good for a landscaping business focused on commercial applications? They provide the ability to mow without interruption, which boosts your overall efficiency.

Rough-Cut Mower

Rough-cut mowers are the perfect solution for clearing thick brush and weeds. Their specialized cutting design allows them to effortlessly slice through vegetation up to three inches in diameter. Plus, quality rough-cut mowers leave little to no mess, reducing the time it takes to clean up grass clippings. Most rough-cut mowers are tow-behind and often affixed to the right or left of your vehicle, allowing you to avoid driving over challenging terrain.

Finish-Cut Mower

Finish-cut mowers, also known as grooming mowers, are designed mainly for turfgrass surfaces. The most common application for finish-cut mowers includes athletic fields such as baseball parks and golf courses. Their blades are extremely sharp and can precisely trim artificial grass without causing structural damage. You might also use a finish-cut mower to clean up a property following the use of another mower.

As you can see, there are many different types of mowers that are well-suited for commercial applications. Having one or all of these devices allows your business to provide more flexible and versatile services.

When you swing by a construction site, there are several types of equipment around you. Whether you’re driving by or running one of these sites yourself, it’s always a good idea to learn about the most popular pieces of construction equipment and what they do to make the worker’s job easier. Many machines have one of the high-end engines from CAT or other popular brands and efficiently run throughout the site.

1. Dump Trucks

While they might not be the most exciting machines on the site, dump trucks serve a valuable purpose. These heavy-duty trucks contain large, wide, and deep beds that other machines fill up with dirt, gravel, and other materials picked up at the construction site. Once the beds are full, the trucks haul them away for dumping.

2. Loaders

Loaders help get materials off the ground and into the trucks or other materials. Drivers adjust the wide trough-like bucket at different angles to pick up piles of dirt and debris to move it from one place to another.

3. Dozers

Dozers come in various models but generally have a large, wide, flat plate on the front that serves the purpose of clearing space by shoving it off to the side. Once everything is moved out of the way and formed into big piles, the loaders typically grab it and put it into the dump truck.

4. Rollers

We used to call rollers “steamrollers” because they ran on steam, and while this isn’t the case anymore, the name stuck, and they’re one of the most popular pieces of construction equipment. The round drums are excellent for flattening the area and creating a solid foundation for building.

5. Excavators

These crane-like machines have a giant controllable arm with a deep bucket on the end that’s perfect for digging pits or pulling things out from areas that other equipment can’t safely access. The usefulness of an excavator on a construction site is impossible to overstate.

If you run a farm, having the right equipment is essential. You want to make sure you have everything you need before you start farming. Here are some of the most common types of farming equipment and what they do.

The Combine

If you grow wheat or grains of any variety, a combine is one of the most critical pieces of equipment. Combines perform three essential tasks as you work:

• They reap, or cut the plants from the ground.
• They thresh, or separate the edible parts of the plant from the inedible ones.
• They winnow, or remove the dry, flaky chaff (outer skin) of the grain.

The Plow

Plowing is one of the most crucial steps in preparing your land for growing crops. It’s also an essential step for keeping your soil healthy and ensuring a bountiful harvest before you plant your seeds. Plows break up the ground, softening it and preventing it from impeding growth. A plow will also shift and destroy any harmful buildup that rests on the top layer of your soil.

The Seeder

The role of the seeder is self-explanatory: it spreads seeds across your soil. However, you’ll want to invest in the proper seeder for the size of your field. For farmers with smaller plots of land, hand seeders are acceptable.

The Fertilizer Spreader

Fertilizing your crops provides them with important nutrients and allows them to grow larger and more quickly. However, nobody wants to handle massive amounts of fertilizer by hand. Fortunately, one of the most common types of farming equipment is the fertilizer spreader, which ensures your planted seeds get an even distribution of fertilizer spread over them.

Knowing the different types of farming equipment and their roles not only keeps everything running smoothly but also reduces the risk of farming accidents. Being aware of the tools necessary to run a farm will result in higher-quality crops in the long run.