An excavator is a highly useful and essential part of your construction equipment. From construction work to landscaping and mining, digging of holes and trenches to demolition of old buildings, excavators accomplish multifarious tasks for different businesses.

Classes of excavators
Excavators are manufactured in three different classes.

• Mini excavators start at 3000 lbs and 15 hp engines.
• Standard full-sized excavators weigh between 20000-80000 lbs and have 75-220 hp engines.
• High-end excavators have over 150,000 lbs of weight and 400 hp of engine power.

Excavator parts and features

• An excavator consists of an articulated arm containing the boom and stick, bucket and cab mounted on a pivot atop an undercarriage with tracks or wheels.
• The operator sits on the cab which can pivot 360° atop the tracks. Cabs can also function as enclosed roll over protective structures. The undercarriage includes tracks, sprockets and rollers. Tracks assist in movement while sprockets and rollers guide and propel the tracks.
• The stick is used to hold attachments, tools that perform the actual work. Several different types of attachments like impact hammers, compactor drivers, rotary cutters, pedestal booms, grouser bars, and underground piercing tools are available. Most excavators come with a standard bucket used for digging into dirt and gravel. The stick connects to the boom at an elbow. The boom extends from the body of the excavator.
• Hydraulic systems run the arm and attachments. They are powered by a diesel engine that also provides propulsion power.
• Excavators may also include some optional features. Monitoring systems allow computerized monitoring and control systems. They can improve performance and reduce fuel costs by providing the optimal hydraulic flow your attachments. Another available feature is power boost modes. These modes enable balancing the power available to the boom, bucket, and tracks. Smaller excavators may come with a backfill blade or bulldozer blade that simplifies refilling and leveling after digging. Climate-controlled cabs and anti-vandalism features may also be available.

Attachments
Different attachments perform different functions and allow you to use your excavator for more than just excavation purposes.

• Several types of buckets like heavy duty, severe duty general purpose, pavement removal, tilt and sorting buckets are available. Heavy duty buckets are used for rock surfaces while less demanding work can be performed by general purpose buckets. Sorting buckets can separate large rocks from loose materials while tilt buckets allow you to control the side-to-side angle while grading and digging slopes.
• Other common attachments include augers, thumbs, grapple, breakers, hydraulic hammers, rakes, rippers, and mulchers. Augers are used for boring holes, thumbs for pinching or gripping and breakers for demolishing concrete structures or rocks. Other attachments also perform specific tasks and can be used as per your requirements.
• Many excavators feature quick-attach mounting systems for simplified attachment mounting and switching. These systems increase the machine's utilization on the job site.

Buying Considerations

• Dig-depth: It specifies how deep the vehicle can dig. Common dig-depths include 18-26 feet. Excavators have rated dig depths. Carefully assess your requirement before making a purchase.
• Weight: Excavators are available in different sizes. Choose a mini-excavator if preventing damage to landscape is your primary concern.
• Reach: Reach specifies the horizontal distance the bucket can cover while working. Different excavators have different ‘reaches’.
• Dump Height: It measures how high the bucket can lift the waste materials to place them into the dump truck. The most common range of dump height is 15-20 feet.
• Controls: Most new excavators have pivot hydraulic controls that are easy to learn and comfortable for long-term use. These controls are available in two styles. Select the one that best suits you.
• Seat: The seat should be adjustable in many ways and comfortable to sit on when the operator sits on it for extended durations.

Additionally, the machine should be easy to use and learn. Its engine and hydraulic systems should be accessible for routine maintenance.

Price and Dealer Considerations
Excavators are very costly machines, available in a range of prices from $100,000 to over $500,000. Most excavators come with a standard bucket for digging. Other buckets bear an extra cost of $700 to $5000 depending on their size and intended uses. Powered attachments like hydraulic hammers and winches cost between $5000 and $10000.

Consider buying a used excavators if you are on a budget. Always compare excavators from multiple dealers before making a purchase decision. Most excavators have an operating lifespan of 8,000 to 10,000 hours. So many used models are available with considerable usage ahead of them. Depending on past use these excavators are available at significant discounts on the initial price.

It is also possible to rent excavators. Medium size excavator rents start from $150 a day. For short term needs, renting can serve as an excellent option.

Before choosing a dealer, consider his past experience and reputation in the field of excavators. These machines require constant maintenance and service. Find a dealer who can provide good and timely local support service. To get the most out of your purchase, select a dealer who can promptly send technicians to check the equipment or pick up the excavator if it needs major repairs. Don’t just go after a low initial price, assess the maintenance charges as well. Additionally, your dealer must be capable of providing you with all excavator parts and attachments that you currently need or may require in the future. Compare the performance of different dealers before making a decision.