hand vs power compactor

25645 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Aggie67, Jul 7, 2009

Allthunbs

Discussion Starter · Jul 7, 2009

Does a hand compactor (tamper) do as good/better/worse a job than a power compactor?

I could rent a small loader and a compactor to do a small garage project but then I could do it by hand and get the exercise. Our local building materials suppliers go on vacation leaving noone in the store during the summer months (go figure) so I might as well take advantage of the time and get some honest exercise. But, am I doing as good a job as if I hand a power compactor?

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Allthunbs

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 7, 2009

jomama45 said:
The plate (power) compacter does a far better job of compacting something like this. If you're set on using a hand tamper, at least soak the gravel very well after tamping & a few days before pouring concrete.

Thanks for the insight. I'm looking for arms like Lou Feregno so I figured hand tamping would help. So far, gravel = "0", arms = "ouch!"

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