No stone left uncovered
Understanding The Equipment
Why should I use a cutter when I can just blast?
While blasting still remains the fastest way to displace rock, that doesn’t mean you are finished. Shot rock is large and expensive to handle, use, or dispose of. After you cut the rock, the material can be easily handled without additional reduction, screening, or crushing. The spoils can be easily incorporated back into your project and your inspector will love it!
Why are cutters better than hydraulic breakers?
Cutters are three to five times more productive than breakers. Cutters leave a granular, reusable byproduct (spoil), and cutters are exponentially less expensive to operate than breakers. Anyone who owns a breaker and has seen it opened on the shop floor knows how expensive they are to repair. Cutters have consumable wear items that take the majority of the abuse that comes from rock excavation.
How much do the picks cost?
We see an average cost of $1 to $3 per cubic yard. This is obviously dependent of the rock you are cutting, particularly if it is very abrasive, like sandstone.
Are cutters hard on the carrier?
It has been our experience that the cutters, when mated to the proper sized carrier, cause no more wear on the excavator than a hydraulic breaker.
What’s the difference between a drum cutter and a chain cutter?
Simply put, drum cutters are for mass rock and really wide trenches. Chain cutters are used when you need the narrowest trench possible. In general, chain cutters are more productive than drum cutters, but they also have a higher cost to operate meaning the drum cutter is ideal when trench width is not a factor.
Will these attachments work underwater?
Yes! If you have been in the contracting business very long, you know that hydraulic breakers and water do not mix. Now, unfortunately, we can only go to 150 feet underwater unaided. If you want to add ventilation, then you can mount it on your submarine 😉
Q: How do you handle dust?
We have used several methods of dust control including spraying directly from a water truck, fire hose connected directly to a hydrant and spray fans (like Dust Boss). While these are all effective solutions, if consistent dust control is imperative for your application, all Kemroc products can be outfitted with dust suppression nozzles directly from the factory!