Charlotte County Pickers !

So this weekend, we decided to go on a parts run for the dumptruck. Fuel tanks for 1 1984 International are few and far between, and very expensive to buy new. So we went on a junk hunt ! A friend of ours up in Bonny River has an extensive "Graveyard" of trucks. We searched around for a bit and found a pretty good fuel tank off of like a '81 International. While dad hacked off the old rusty bolts I went on a little hunt of my own. I love collecting the emblims off of trucks. (the metal decal-like things on the sides of trucks that have the name on them) There are tons of old half tons, and dumptrucks that were back there and I was basically like a kid in a candy store.
In about an hour I had 3 Chevy Symbols, an S10 International, the letters D-O-D-G-E and my favourite, the hood ornament off of a 1970 (or so) Autocar dumptruck. Dad got the fuel tank off and we were done there. On the way back home we made a few phone calls to a friend of ours that makes a living collecting old heavby equipment junk. I have plenty of truck decals, but would love to have a few John Deeres, and I really want a Freightliner, and maybe a Louisville. Hopefully I get the chance to go up and visit this playground of parts this weekend ! 
-Brianna

Grading the Easy Way !

So today we were doing a job grading up a pad for a house. Usually Friday night jobs are "Family Time" in our household. Mom was picking rocks, dad was on the dozer, and I was taking shots with the leveler thing. Now for all of you that don't know, when you are grading up a pad you have to continuiously take shots to make sure that you have everything even. On older models, you have a 16x zoomed camera (adjustable) and a pole with measurements on it. Somebody takes the pole and stands it up on the ground in various places to make sure it is level. Usually this is a pain, but the newest way of doing this is amazing and I got to try it tonight. There is a tripod setup somewhere, and you carry a pole similar to the one used for taking shots, but it has an adjustable screen on it. You walk it around and place it on the ground and it beeps fast when the grade neds to go down, slow when it needs to go up, and continuious when it is in between. It is a lot easier to use and a lot quicker.
When we first started using it we had out doubts. after finishing about half of the pad we started taking shots the old fashioned way and were within one inch over the whole pad. (which is as close as your going to get) I just walked around behind the dozer checking it in different places and we got it pretty-near perfect !
I thought this was a pretty cool way to do this, and it definetely made the process a lot faster.
Hopefully we will get an early start tomorrow and get some rolling done, then move onto the next job !
-Brianna

Bulldozin' in the Rain !

Well today after school, I am going to change into my Carhartt Pants, and my flannel coat and going bulldozing with my daddy. We have a pad for a houe to finish up, and we just got a new compacter this morning so I am quite excited to try that out (despite the fact that it is raining and grose out) Our dozer doesn't have an enclosed cab, just a canopy but it still kind of keeps you dry. I am pretty excited as i haven't really been on the dozer a whole lot this year, but kind of nervous because we are working on ledge and there is a lot of mowing that needs to be done with a KX-080 Kobelco and it is quite scary ! Anyway I guess if i want to be a full time operator I need to face my fears and work on the ledge !
Wish me luck !
-Brianna

Dexters Gateway Project

Well today we went for a drive up through St.Stephen beucase I had an orthadontist appointment. Dexters is currently up there working on the new four lane highway. They have a lot of really big pieces of equipment up through there ! We seen two Cat D10's a D8, a 355 John Deere and 3 Cat Rock Trucks. Plus there is probably close tp 100 of their company trucks (Ford F-350 Super Duty) and about 50 of the Castonguay Trucks (Ford F-250's and F-350's) I talk to a lot of the highway guys when I am working at the Irving and one of them said that their fuel bill for one month for all of that equipment is about $500 000 a month. That is insane ! I would give anything to get the chance to go ad push sdome dirt with a D10, what an experience that would be !
-Brianna

Too Small to be Compared to a Tonka Toy

Me laying some pipe for a new house. It is my first time in the machine since last summer so I am a bit rusty. As the guy narrating in the background is saying "This is Brianna Holmes and she is running the biggest Kubota ever made" This is a KX-181 Kubota excavator and it weighs less then a ton. The thing rocks when you drive off of the edge of the pavement. I have layed this thing on its side many times just from pulling myself into a pile of dirt. We redid the bucket this winter and you can literally pick it up with one hand. The best part is that $15 worth of diesel fuel lasts like 3 full days of working. She's pretty efficent but definetely too small for me. I would much rather get the job done with a 355 John Deere or maybe a 141 Kobelco !
-Brianna :)

Our First Job with Chance !

Well, today is a major day. My Dad and I started our first majour job with the bulldozer. We pshed some loads of gravel with the dozer a week or two ago, but that totally didn't count. I am so happy, this is a big milestone for ol' Chance. Before Dad wouldn't even push, only backdrag cause he "didn't want to take any of the paint of of the blade" I think he loves that thing more then he loves me...haha.
If there is anything that you feel I am missing in my articles, or any errors that I have made (Because you know, I am incredibly smart but sadly I do not know everything) just comment and let me know. Or you can e-mail me at holmesdozing@gmail.com and I will be happy to take into consideration all suggestions :)
-Brianna

Rubber vs. Metal

Moat compact excavators usually have rubber tracks. Usually because compact excavators are used for landscaping work, therefore the tracks would not tear up and lawn, or soft soil. Any excavator over about 3 tons usually has metal tracks. They provide more traction when on gravel, but they tend to tear up lawns, and leave little notches in pavement/ashphalt. Saying which one I prefer would really depend on te type of excavator.
Maintence wise, rubber tracks hold up pretty good. They wear about the same as a tire would. After a couple of years of pretty steady use they can split, and the tread could start to wear. Some of the good things about them is that you dont have to worry about chains, and pins. Also the rollers will wear a lot less then on metal tracks. Plu in most cases it is a lot cheaper to replace a pair of rubber tracks, as opposed to rollers, chains, pads, and pins.
Metal tracks are better for rough terrain. Climbing hills, ledge work, and better when trying to get yourself out of tough situations. Some of the cons of metal are that they tend to fall off easier, they snap and bang while your driving, you have to worry about the pins coming loose, loosing pads, and the chains and rollers wearing out a lot faster. The good things about them is that they will outlast a pair of rubber tracks, give you better stabiliy and traction, and always be reliable when getting yourself up out of a hole.

Thats my argument on rubber vs. metal tracks. If you feel that I have missed anything, or there is anything that I am missing, feel free to comment ! Or email me at holmesdozing@gmail.com
Thanks for reading !
-Brianna