Choosing The Right Plate Compactor For Your Paving Work

With the advent of new technology, construction of buildings, pavement of roads, and other necessary heavy works for  erections and structures have been made easy as more and more productive and efficient equipment, machineries,  and vehicles are invented.  Farmers who once slaved in the field as they plant and harvest their crops now have equipment  that make their agricultural activities faster and less dependent on manpower. The same can be said with people working on the construction industries who are now aided with the use of mobile cranes that help them reach and transport heavy materials to the towering structures of the building they are assembling. With technological inventions such as these, the job is ensured to be finished in the projected time and lesser human energy and effort is needed to accomplish the task. With people’s innovative ingenuity, seemingly impossible and difficult labours are completed and made possible in no time.

But while knowing that equipment and industrial vehicle can make our jobs easier is half the battle, wise selection of the equipment/vehicle poses a bigger challenge.  This article focuses on giving you factors to consider in purchasing the right plate compactor for your pavement work. First off, plate compactors are used to “compact sub base and asphalt on driveways, parking lots, and repair jobs”.  But they come on different types with different functions; so even before thinking of purchasing one, you should be several things that this article wishes to impart to you. Read on and be informed of the different kinds and features of a plate compactor.

• You cannot simply decide on buying either a forward plate compactor or a reversible plate compactor based on price and affordability—or because you like the look of the former than the other. The selection basis should be more than its price and even appearance. So, while you may have been tempted to sample those vibratory plate compactor for sale on the nearby equipment warehouse store, you must first determine specific tasks that you need to accomplish. Concerns like what soil type and desired depth of compaction needs to be paved? What is the size of the work area and its accessibility? These things matter because there are heavy, light, narrow, and wide compactors out there. Once the demand and requirement of the task is clear to you, then you can already head to buy, rent, or borrow the right compactor for the job.

• There are three main categories of plate compactors that you need to know; they are: a) single-plate compactor, reversible plate compactor, and high performance/heavy-duty plate compactor. Again, experts emphasized that the type of job and the area of the workplace need to be considered before buying, borrowing, or renting a plate compactor.

• Plate size is also one of the most important concerns in choosing a plate compactor, which is often measured by its width (usually averaging between 15-25 inches. Rosario Berry in her article Making Sure We Know How to Choose the Right Plate Compactor also shared that “ Generating around 3,000 pounds of centrifugal force, the amplitude and weight of the compactor are as important a measure of value to be gained as the plate size. Steel plates that conduct hear more quickly are a better choice for hot asphalt compaction than cast iron. The shape of the base plate is also a consideration as it affects compaction. A curved plate is best.”

• There are plate compactors with anti-vibration handle. Apparently, this new feature lessens the distracting vibration transfer from the compactor to the operator himself. This is such a big relief and is more convenient for the person doing the work.

• Lastly, the engine type is also one that needs your careful assessment and scrutiny. If the job is just a 3-hour task, you do not need a high performance engines for the job. But if the work would require you  to render weeks of service, then, you might want to rethink buying/borrowing/renting a more heavy duty machine with an engine that can endure a series of paving jobs. Ask for the VPM (vibration per minute) and eccentric frequencies of the machine too. Ideally, engines with lower eccentric frequencies are conducive to cohesive soils, while higher VPMs are good for asphalt and granular paving.