You want to start a project and know you need mechanical help, but the words used in the industry are hard to understand. You might hear words like "mini digger," "micro digger," "compact excavator," and "1-ton digger." What do they all mean? And even more importantly, which machine is best for your job?

People often use the words "micro" and "mini" digger interchangeably, but there is a big difference between the two. This difference is very important for getting your work done, especially in Dublin, where access is everything.

What is a Micro Digger? (0.8 to 1 tonne)

The micro digger is the "access specialist." It is the smallest machine in the excavator family, and its whole design is based on one thing: getting into places where other machines can't.

• The most important thing about it is its width. A lot of micro diggers that weigh 0.8 tonnes or 1 tonne have tracks that can be pulled back. This means they can make their undercarriage as narrow as 700mm to 750mm. This is small enough to fit through a regular door or a small garden gate.

• Best For:

o Landscaping the back garden of terraced houses.

o Working in narrow alleys or mews lanes.

o Demolition or groundwork inside.

o Putting up fences or doing small planting jobs.

• The trade-off: you give up power in exchange for access. They don't dig as deep (about 1.7m) and don't reach as far as their bigger brothers and sisters.

What is a digger that is small? (e.g., 1.5 - 3 Ton)

The next size up is a mini digger. These are the all-rounders and the most popular choice for general building, landscaping, and utility work.

• The main feature is that it has the perfect balance of power and flexibility. For example, a 1.7-ton machine is still small, but it can dig deeper (often about 2.5m) and with more power.

• Best For:

o Digging the holes for the foundations of extensions and garden walls.

o Digging for patios and driveways.

o Getting rid of bigger tree stumps and clearing sites.

o Any job that gives you at least 1 metre of access width.

• The trade-off is that they are bigger. A 1.7-ton digger is usually just under 1 metre wide (about 990 mm) and can't be made thinner. A machine that weighs 3 tonnes is even wider.

Comparison of Heads

Micro Digger (1-Ton) and Mini Digger (1.7-Ton) have the following features:

Typical Width: 700mm to 900mm (often retractable) or 990mm to 1300mm (fixed)

Typical Dig Depth: About 1.7 meters to 2.5 meters

Main Benefit: Access: Can fit through doors and gates. Power: Digs faster and deeper.

Best For: Fencing, tight back gardens, foundations, and driveways

So, which one should you hire?

This is the simple rule of thumb to help you decide:

If you can fit a 1.7-ton mini digger on your site, hire that one." It will get the job done faster and better.

The 1-ton micro digger is the answer if you can't fit it. It's the key that opens up projects in areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach.

So, the first thing you need to do is go to your site with a tape measure and find the place where the entrance is the smallest. That one measurement will tell you exactly what kind of machine you need.

DCM Hire has a wide selection of both micro and mini diggers hire in Dublin. Call us after you've measured your access!