As a heavy equipment operator myself, I truly appreciate how much finesse you have with that machine. The average person probably doesn't realize just how difficult it is to do some of the stuff you do.
well said, Chris makes it seem like he grades it when hes smoothing it at the end. The skill in that job is the 'roughing' cuts hes taking.... like you say takes a lot of finesse to get that smooth arc every time the same on a long stretch like that.
Philip Bengtson, Chris truly is a master with an excavator, and makes it look easy. I suppose with the amount of seat time he has, it is easy for him. To him it's just another day in the office.
Brilliant hand-eye coordination, so smooth movements for an operator. He is so relaxed and calm, it is like his subconscious brain is directly wired to the valves of the excavator hydraulics.
im a well rookie operator (19) and i enjoy watching your videos of what your doing. It's helping me learn more by watching you operate. Thanks for the videos.
Chris it comes natural to some and with many hundreds of hours working machines like you its just all in a day's work. Now after so many years retired I still miss operating heavy equipment it was one of the greatest joys in my life.
I don't miss my ditch cleaning day's. Here in Idaho we clean and or make ditches for the farmers to keep the fields from washing away from winter/spring run off. Our normal jobs were doing septic and water systems. Foundations and what not. But when things were slow we did ditches and we had to john deer minis and to john deer skid steers. It all paid the same but boy howdy it was boring doin them ditches. Really like the video's keep em comin.
Sure, but if you can both be skilled and have the proper equipment it sure does make it faster. But from the work he does I guess its not needed as much. But if doing a lot of foundations etc I sure would want a rotor or at least a tilt on a grading bucket.
Same as if you was to move a pile of gravel, do you use just a shovel or shovel and a wheelborrow? As for the skill that chris has no man that is an operator can deny that he knows his job.
You can always tell a professional operator from wannabe ‘backyard’ operators....no wasted motion, smooth, consistent, confident, and relaxed....like an extension of your arm. Well done and thank you for showing us what these machines are capable of in the right hands!
You make it look so easy...I just got a Cat 215B so I appreciate how delicate you have to be at the controls to do what you do. Thanks for another great video !!
Love the video, should do how to videos every once in awhile just small tricks and stuff. Ive been operating for 8 years but always helps to learn something
You make it look so easy! I think it's your young age compared to your experience along with your teaching ability ,all combine to make a quality that's fun to watch!! Thank you!!
It's crazy how I've never had any training and I use these same techniques. I always trying to find more efficient methods of doing my work. And with time I finessed my skills. I went on RUclips to see how other operators work to see how I stack up and I must say I'm pretty proud of my skill now. But I must say this guy definitely makes it look easy!
Now that vid was worth watching. You talking about not having a fancy smancy quick coupler, grading bucket, and such. :) Little did you know how much youd enjoy them now. :) Great vid man.
Excellent video Chris! I love these how to videos. You make that look so easy! That is quite a difficult task to grade a ditch with an excavator.keep up the good work man! Thanks again
im learning from these vids ive been thrown on a digger to clean out drains after flooding filled them all with silt and mud been on it everyday for the last month or so . ive never dug drains before hand so just trying to pick up techniques to leave a tidier job
I agree. 40 year operator here. All I’ve ever had is too the bucket and I make it work most anywhere. One thing I do have that goes everywhere my excavator goes,is an eight ft. Wide heavy I beam. You can do wonders with it.
"prettiest little ditch you ever seen." Love watching this dude work, could use some bigger equipment now myself, ripping out some stumps for a access road- parking lot, on the job I'm working this two weeks. Merry Christmas Chris!
THANKS FOR THE SCHOOLING ON 2'DAYZ VIDEO.... WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TUTORIALS ON ( HOW & WHY ) THAT YOU DO IT THE WAY YOU DO IT.... YOU & YOUR FAMILY ENJOY THE EASTER WKEND ..... ( KNUCKLE 👊🏼 BUMP ) CHRIS .....
Awesome driving as usual! One thing that bothers me is that you have a nice excavator but ancient equipment for it. Such a skilled driver like you would have endless of possibilities with a Tiltrotator, or "Rotortilt" as we say in sweden
Everybody wants to be a Operator! Until it is time to do Operator stuff! You make it look easy! But! I know better!! There is a lot of things with the eye and hand coordination going on just in loading the truck! Good job Brother!
Here in Germany, at my Company, we have only fast couplers and tilty buckets. We doing a lot of foundations and street building! The smallest excavators have got this Couplers too.
You can do it with tooth bucket at work we make a cuttin edge just weld two Teeth to old cuttin edge off dozer or grader take the two teeth off your bucket slide cutting edge on put pins in and there ya go saves a lot of time diggin slick ditch plus it will usually just roll over pipe instead of ripping it up if you catch one you didn’t know was there maybe not for everybody but works for us at the hwy dept
As usual you make it look easy. Now how about showing how to do it with a herky jerky backhoe. You would probably make that look easy too, when it's not. Nice work.
if my central Florida lot is level and soil is very sandy... is it possible to dig a graded perimeter ditch and lower front landscaping area and use the dug up material to created an elevated house pad and driveway? is that a common practice? For example .. Say my lot is 75w x 120d and to have a 16' wide drive into a 60x60 house pad and have everything else be grade down 3' into the ditch .. is this possible without fill and what heavy machinery you recommend? I'm hoping it can be done with just skid steer alone.
Just passed my 360 excavator above 10 tonnes just a quick question in regards to grading, should you fully extend your dipper and boom when grading or only 3 quarters of the way out as I notice a lot of experienced guys like yourself don't always do this, just looking for any tips I would very much appreciate it
You guys in the USA are still behind the times with pin on buckets, at least you are slightly up to date with a hydraulic thumb lol. Old school doing everything with a digging bucket, its what ever you are used to doing things.
Are Track loaders common in your area? Here in Kansas where I'm at most people (including the company i work for) would cut a ditch like that with a loader. It's cool to see how different areas of the country use different pieces of equipment to accomplish the same tasks.
That's not a NY style ditch. Up here they dig them deep enough to qualify as a canal... Go off in one with anything smaller than a semi and you vanish..
Liking the videos. Just a suggestion if you get closer to the ditch when you're digging you don't have to raise your boom when you dig just pull the stick in to you and it will create a natural U shaped ditch.
Should have an apprentice there with you to dump the truck when it gets full....he can get seat time and you don't have to bust your ass operating 2 pieces of equipment....
As a heavy equipment operator myself, I truly appreciate how much finesse you have with that machine. The average person probably doesn't realize just how difficult it is to do some of the stuff you do.
well said, Chris makes it seem like he grades it when hes smoothing it at the end. The skill in that job is the 'roughing' cuts hes taking.... like you say takes a lot of finesse to get that smooth arc every time the same on a long stretch like that.
As a lay person I agree.
I can only liken it to a person using an etch a sketch to create a masterpiece
Much in aw with your videos
Philip Bengtson, Chris truly is a master with an excavator, and makes it look easy. I suppose with the amount of seat time he has, it is easy for him. To him it's just another day in the office.
Seat time and patiance is a must need
Brilliant hand-eye coordination, so smooth movements for an operator. He is so relaxed and calm, it is like his subconscious brain is directly wired to the valves of the excavator hydraulics.
im a well rookie operator (19) and i enjoy watching your videos of what your doing. It's helping me learn more by watching you operate. Thanks for the videos.
Same here
I said it before, you are truly a talented professional, it's a pleasure to watch you work.
It's the operator that makes the difference between what can be done with the equipment. Keep up the great work, I love your videos.
Chris it comes natural to some and with many hundreds of hours working machines like you its just all in a day's work.
Now after so many years retired I still miss operating heavy equipment it was one of the greatest joys in my life.
I don't miss my ditch cleaning day's. Here in Idaho we clean and or make ditches for the farmers to keep the fields from washing away from winter/spring run off. Our normal jobs were doing septic and water systems. Foundations and what not. But when things were slow we did ditches and we had to john deer minis and to john deer skid steers. It all paid the same but boy howdy it was boring doin them ditches. Really like the video's keep em comin.
"Know how to use it"! Perfect explanation as there are no tools or attachments that can compensate for lack of operator ability.
Sure, but if you can both be skilled and have the proper equipment it sure does make it faster. But from the work he does I guess its not needed as much. But if doing a lot of foundations etc I sure would want a rotor or at least a tilt on a grading bucket.
Same as if you was to move a pile of gravel, do you use just a shovel or shovel and a wheelborrow? As for the skill that chris has no man that is an operator can deny that he knows his job.
Those tilty buckets suck for Chris's work, as most of his is heavy duty digging, not dicking around in topsoil.
There are quick hitches you know. Just take it off when you don't need it.
Quick hitch adds length too, at least most of them.
You can always tell a professional operator from wannabe ‘backyard’ operators....no wasted motion, smooth, consistent, confident, and relaxed....like an extension of your arm.
Well done and thank you for showing us what these machines are capable of in the right hands!
Fun to watch this a couple of years later and know how good Christie with on of them fancy buckets!
You make it look so easy...I just got a Cat 215B so I appreciate how delicate you have to be at the controls to do what you do. Thanks for another great video !!
Love the video, should do how to videos every once in awhile just small tricks and stuff. Ive been operating for 8 years but always helps to learn something
You make it look so easy! I think it's your young age compared to your experience along with your teaching ability ,all combine to make a quality that's fun to watch!! Thank you!!
Karl Knapstein --- Yes!...it is easy for him, just like an artist with a brush! He is one of the best I've seen operate an excavator!
It's crazy how I've never had any training and I use these same techniques. I always trying to find more efficient methods of doing my work. And with time I finessed my skills. I went on RUclips to see how other operators work to see how I stack up and I must say I'm pretty proud of my skill now. But I must say this guy definitely makes it look easy!
Chris very smooth. I watch a lot of people try to crowd the machine or reach to far out. Grading is a skill. U r one point. Great vid
I chuckled when you went to swing grading. 👍 that little amount of "slicking it up" won't hurt that machine. That's sweet. Lol.
You, sir, are amazing. It truly is a pleasure to watch a real pro work. Thanks for your videos!
I could listen and watch you work for hours.. love your videos
Awesome dude I’m in the same boat you are I don’t have all the fancy stuff either just got to figure it out👍🏼💯
Like watching Bob Ross paint...but with heavy equipment and dirt. Love the vids!
I enjoy and appreciate your talent and how you take time to explain what your doing and the concept behind it.
Now that vid was worth watching. You talking about not having a fancy smancy quick coupler, grading bucket, and such. :) Little did you know how much youd enjoy them now. :)
Great vid man.
Excellent video Chris! I love these how to videos. You make that look so easy! That is quite a difficult task to grade a ditch with an excavator.keep up the good work man! Thanks again
im learning from these vids ive been thrown on a digger to clean out drains after flooding filled them all with silt and mud been on it everyday for the last month or so . ive never dug drains before hand so just trying to pick up techniques to leave a tidier job
If I was the client I'm pretty sure I'd be satisfied with that job. Nicely done.
Seeing you operate let’s me know for sure that I have a long damn way to go!!🤦🏾♂️ Your just outstanding dude
I agree. 40 year operator here. All I’ve ever had is too the bucket and I make it work most anywhere. One thing I do have that goes everywhere my excavator goes,is an eight ft. Wide heavy I beam. You can do wonders with it.
The power of Hydraulics is amazing as is your ability to operate that machine!
you can't buy experience ,,,,, it's a pleasure to watch you work
You are a perfectionist’s perfectionist and a pleasure to watch!
Very cool. Its amazing what big equipment can do.
....with an operator who cares enough to use it with skil.
"prettiest little ditch you ever seen." Love watching this dude work, could use some bigger equipment now myself, ripping out some stumps for a access road- parking lot, on the job I'm working this two weeks. Merry Christmas Chris!
Nice work there Chris !
Harder than it looks to do a ditch "open drain" like that and keep a nice gradual fall ;)
You my man are a smooooooth operator.
THANKS FOR THE SCHOOLING ON
2'DAYZ VIDEO....
WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE TUTORIALS
ON ( HOW & WHY ) THAT YOU DO IT
THE WAY YOU DO IT....
YOU & YOUR FAMILY ENJOY THE
EASTER WKEND .....
( KNUCKLE 👊🏼 BUMP ) CHRIS .....
Pride in your work and smooth operation. Finish grade looks great and explanation, Cheers!
You have your own branded fancy quick coupler now 😁 all you need now is a big grading bucket ha.
Enjoyed watching this!! I'm looking to move on to excavators soon, been on material handlers for 10 years now fancy a change.
Awesome driving as usual! One thing that bothers me is that you have a nice excavator but ancient equipment for it. Such a skilled driver like you would have endless of possibilities with a Tiltrotator, or "Rotortilt" as we say in sweden
I love how your videos grt straight to the point.! Great content.
Everybody wants to be a Operator! Until it is time to do Operator stuff! You make it look easy! But! I know better!! There is a lot of things with the eye and hand coordination going on just in loading the truck! Good job Brother!
Man you are good on that Volvo
You are one of the best machine drivers I've seen you do so much interesting work thumbs up from me
Here in Germany, at my Company, we have only fast couplers and tilty buckets. We doing a lot of foundations and street building! The smallest excavators have got this Couplers too.
So relaxing to watch, I love this work.
Chris, you got the touch!
Yea guys .. this dude is a great operator
Great video. Thank you
thats some mighty fine ditching right there. no tiltorotator needed, but they are cool.
Making it look easy and it's not . Great skills 👌
Great video Chris thanks for sharing have a great day
I am from the future. You get your own 250 Volvo and get that dream articulating bucket.
Pretty slick operation and very decent results.
Not bad for your 1st time bro ! lol
Just messin', great touch.
Oh yeah, Thank You for the good instruction.
How to cut and grade a ditch, very nice again Chris, going smooth as allways, loading the rocktruck 😲💥😲💥😲💥👍👌
Now that's showing the boss your not worthless lol that is some good looking dirt your taking out looks like it's very fertile
Good morning Chris, 😩 its morning here in Anchorage Alaska, But i thank you for the video it looks great 👍
Nicely done. Thanks for the video.
I think we all forget where we are going lol 😂 great job and video
great skills!
This man is an artist on equipment
Thanks for the tips, keep them coming!
Nice n smooth.
Experience right there.
You can do it with tooth bucket at work we make a cuttin edge just weld two Teeth to old cuttin edge off dozer or grader take the two teeth off your bucket slide cutting edge on put pins in and there ya go saves a lot of time diggin slick ditch plus it will usually just roll over pipe instead of ripping it up if you catch one you didn’t know was there maybe not for everybody but works for us at the hwy dept
You know they have a fifth wheel in trucking. Brother you got a another Arm, and hand !
As usual you make it look easy. Now how about showing how to do it with a herky jerky backhoe. You would probably make that look easy too, when it's not. Nice work.
Hella nice intro Chris. That takes skills.
if my central Florida lot is level and soil is very sandy... is it possible to dig a graded perimeter ditch and lower front landscaping area and use the dug up material to created an elevated house pad and driveway? is that a common practice? For example .. Say my lot is 75w x 120d and to have a 16' wide drive into a 60x60 house pad and have everything else be grade down 3' into the ditch .. is this possible without fill and what heavy machinery you recommend? I'm hoping it can be done with just skid steer alone.
Just passed my 360 excavator above 10 tonnes just a quick question in regards to grading, should you fully extend your dipper and boom when grading or only 3 quarters of the way out as I notice a lot of experienced guys like yourself don't always do this, just looking for any tips I would very much appreciate it
Can use the track to walk in the side of the ditch. Just to clean it up little more.
All I have is a front loader,but once you figure out how to do it it puts in a nice ditch.
Great job as always.
How do you cut a V ditch with a regular tooth bucket?
You guys in the USA are still behind the times with pin on buckets, at least you are slightly up to date with a hydraulic thumb lol. Old school doing everything with a digging bucket, its what ever you are used to doing things.
Lot of work like that with a good operator is the seat of your britches you know when its right by the feel I know its like that on a dozer.
Is it the extra cost that is the reason for the lack of quick couplers on many American excavators?
Damn Chris that looks great nice job I like watching you work and wow what is the reach on the Volvo ?
Hell I thought I was the only one who “holds” the joysticks like that haha
Real tough. Get out and dig by hand
Are Track loaders common in your area? Here in Kansas where I'm at most people (including the company i work for) would cut a ditch like that with a loader. It's cool to see how different areas of the country use different pieces of equipment to accomplish the same tasks.
the ground was too wet just below where I was working, was trying to use the dozer but it was leaving 12" deep ruts
Looks great!! And you didn’t need a $100K worth of gadgets to get it done
A professional makes it look easy.
Do you just do landscaping or do you do foundations for house and stuff aswell
Good job, u to smooth, ty for the entertainment
That's not a NY style ditch. Up here they dig them deep enough to qualify as a canal... Go off in one with anything smaller than a semi and you vanish..
Liking the videos. Just a suggestion if you get closer to the ditch when you're digging you don't have to raise your boom when you dig just pull the stick in to you and it will create a natural U shaped ditch.
What do you use for a camera mount Chris?
wouldnt it be easier to use a track loader to grade out the ditch
Happy Easter Chris
Chris,was wondering if you do the bidding on the projects or your uncle?
uncle does
Pretty good job lets dig 18
Brilliant 😊😊😊
Boy...I use some.small machines...that machine is "Smooth".
What is the reach on that machine?
As I've said before, smooooooooth!
....13
Should have an apprentice there with you to dump the truck when it gets full....he can get seat time and you don't have to bust your ass operating 2 pieces of equipment....
Just like a surgeon....
I try to explain to my guys its the final "touch" that makes the job great instead of just good.
“purdiest little ditch I ever did see”…
Classic
What size is that machine chris?
Edit: okay seriously weird. When I typed and sent this comment. Your phone dinged at the same time in the video 😂