OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
10
EXCAVATION PROCEDURES
•
For most excavations, the best performance is achieved by holding the UTILITY AIRSPADE
nozzle at approximately a 45 degree angle from horizontal and about 1 inch away from
the surface to be excavated.
•
Depending on the soil type, the UTILITY AIRSPADE should be directed above the surface
to be excavated at a rate of approximately 1 to 2 feet per second (0.3 to 0.6 meters per
second).
•
Except in very hard and compacted clays, dwelling on the same spot tends to reduce the
rate at which material is excavated and can increase the amount of material blown away
from the excavation site.
•
Watering the work area ahead of time can often be helpful. Watering reduces airborne
dust if the soil is extremely dry. It also reduces the soil strength, making digging easier.
•
For small-diameter holes, position the UTILITY AIRSPADE barrel perpendicular to the
ground with the nozzle close to the surface. Depress the trigger, and slowly thrust the tool
into the soil. When resistance is met, slowly withdraw the UTILITY AIRSPADE and then
reinsert. This procedure allows loose soil at the bottom of the hole to exit upward.
Reinsert the nozzle and repeat the above procedure until the desired depth of hole
is reached.
•
Care should be taken to limit physical contact with buried utilities. The UTILITY AIRSPADE
should not be used as a digging or pry bar.
•
When boring a small-diameter hole, or when plunging the UTILITY AIRSPADE into loose
soil, the tendency to expose the operator to blown-back material is increased. The
adjustable dirt shield should be positioned close to the ground to deflect airborne material
away from the operator.
•
For large-diameter holes, position the UTILITY AIRSPADE 4000 at an angle between
30° and 45° from the horizontal. Depress the trigger and move the UTILITY AIRSPADE
back and forth across the footprint of the excavation to loosen the soil to a depth of
several inches. Each layer of loose soil should then be removed with a shovel, backhoe,
or vacuum. Repeat the procedure until the desired depth is reached.
•
For shallow, wide excavations, position the UTILITY AIRSPADE at an angle between
30° and 45° from the horizontal. Depress the trigger, move the nozzle from side to side
the desired width, and blow the loosened soil ahead of the nozzle. Continue until the
excavation is completed to the required length.
HT311-2_UAS4000-OpsMan.indd 11
HT311-2_UAS4000-OpsMan.indd 11
3/13/20 5:41 PM
3/13/20 5:41 PM
