Tell me more ×
Home Improvement Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for contractors and serious DIYers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

I need to dig a rectangular box hole for a rainwater cistern. The dimensions are 4m x 3m x 2m (13ft x 10ft x 6ft). There is a slope of about 10 degrees, and the dirt will be used at a point of lower elevation. The soil is a mix of clay and residues of bricks.

Given the amount of soil that needs to be removed, I'm looking for the easiest way to excavate this much material. I have a wheelbarrow, shovels, and pickaxe to use for the task. Is there any way I can use the slope itself to make the task easier?

share|improve this question
6  
Be VERY CAREFUL digging a deep trench and then working in it, unless you are digging a grave and don't care if you are the eventual occupant of said grave. The walls can collapse, leaving you less than happy. – woodchips Sep 3 '12 at 22:54
3  
Wow - 780 cubic feet of soil, or about 32 tons. – dbracey Sep 4 '12 at 1:06
4  
Not digging by hand would avoid a lot of work... – gregmac Sep 4 '12 at 13:16
Get some dynamite... ;) – ThiefMaster Nov 13 '12 at 15:31

2 Answers

up vote 10 down vote

Rent a small excavator, perhaps including a person to operate it. A machine can do in hours what you would spend days (or weeks!) doing with two hands and one shovel.

enter image description here

share|improve this answer
+1 In my opinion it is silly to do a job like this without heavy machinery. Digging a 6ft hole by hand is backbreaking work. – Matthew PK Sep 4 '12 at 15:52
up vote 6 down vote

You should try to rent a dirt conveyor:

enter image description here

Also, dig across, not down - do it in horizontal layers, a foot at a time, not vertical stripes. That will be much less dangerous.

share|improve this answer
+1 for working in layers. – Torben Gundtofte-Bruun Sep 4 '12 at 15:36

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.