Excavator Attachment Types and Features
Excavators are among the most versatile pieces of machinery used across industries such as construction, demolition, agriculture, and landscaping. While their primary function is excavation, their true potential lies in the wide range of attachments available for various specialised tasks. These attachments enhance the machine's capabilities, transforming it into a highly adaptable, multi-functional powerhouse. Choosing the right attachment can significantly boost productivity, improve efficiency, and contribute to the overall success of your project.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most common types of excavator attachments, their functions, and the specific jobs they are best suited for. We’ll also delve into how to choose the best attachments for your needs and the benefits of using them effectively.
1. Excavator Buckets
Excavator buckets are the most widely used and versatile attachments. They are designed primarily for various digging tasks, and moving materials. With a variety of designs available, buckets can be tailored/customised to suit specific tasks. From everyday operations to heavy-duty applications, there is a bucket designed for every need. Let’s dive into these buckets and their applications:
Digging Buckets
The Digging Bucket Range has various types of Buckets under this category available for many different use cases. These types of buckets consist of the following; Trenching Bucket, Gummy Bucket as well as your GP (General Purpose Bucket). Each model is typically designed to be compatible with excavators ranging from 1 to 48 tons.
Built to withstand tough conditions and ensure long-lasting durability, it is one of the most popular attachments and an essential tool for all excavator operators. Ideal for everyday operations including general digging, trenching, material handling and more, these buckets are suitable for working with soil, sand, gravel and materials alike.
Rock Buckets
Built for heavy-duty applications, rock buckets feature high-penetration teeth for added durability when working with rocks and debris. They are essential for tasks in harsh conditions. A rock bucket is also known as a heavy duty GP bucket.
The performance and durability of a rock bucket are crucial. That’s why Aussie Buckets incorporates replaceable high-penetration rock teeth in its rock buckets. Additionally, side cutters are used to assist in penetrating sloped surfaces. These not only provide protection but also ensure smooth motion when digging through dirt, rock piles, and other materials, pushing large rocks off the side walls for seamless operation. With models constructed from high-quality MILD steel as well as HARDOX450 and NM400, these buckets are designed for exceptional longevity and durability.
Tilt Buckets
Tilt buckets allow for angled digging and grading, making them ideal for precision work on slopes or uneven terrain. Their versatility can save time on complex grading tasks. A tilting bucket is also known as a leveling bucket, trimming bucket, or finishing bucket.
The Tilting Bucket offers precision and durability with a 45-degree tilt, twin dual-acting cylinders, and a push-pull configuration. This ensures smooth pivoting, accurate grading, and ease of use. Built from 400-grade steel, with optional HARDOX 450 or NM400 upgrades, it includes pre-installed wear parts, bolt-on edges, hoses, couplers, and pins, making it quick-hitch ready and perfect for efficient surface leveling and grading.
4-in-1 Buckets
Multifunctional buckets that can dig, grab, level, and dump materials, providing excellent versatility for a variety of tasks. They combine several functions into one tool, enhancing operational efficiency.
The 4-in1 Bucket is equipped with dual serrated edged and edges , powerful dual rams with cross feed, providing a secure grip for efficient material handling and safe operation. Built with MILD and BIS500 steel, along with high-quality carbon steel pins, it delivers exceptional durability. Reinforced side cutters and belly wear strips further enhance its strength, making it capable of withstanding even the most demanding applications while maintaining optimal performance and reliability.
Screening Buckets
Screening buckets are specialised attachments designed to sift and sort materials like soil, gravel, and compost. They are frequently used in landscaping, waste management, and recycling projects.
Rotary Screening Buckets are designed for optimal material sorting, featuring interchangeable mesh screens ranging from 10 - 60mm and 10mm to 120mm depending on models, with custom sizes available upon request. Ideal for screening topsoil, stone, and demolition waste, these buckets are fully customisable to endure harsh Australian environments, including underwater use with a waterproof hydraulic motor. Built with durable NM400 and 460 steel, they include hardened carbon steel pins for extended lifespan. Each order comes equipped with a case drain line, hoses, screens, and optional replaceable teeth or bolt-on edges for enhanced versatility.
Hydraulic Grab Bucket
A Hydraulic Grab Bucket is a versatile excavator attachment used for securely grabbing, lifting, and transporting materials with precision. It operates using hydraulics, making it ideal for handling diverse objects in construction, demolition, and recycling.
This grab bucket features a 5-tooth interlocking design for handling smaller objects effectively, alongside a larger opening compared to standard models. Grip blocks (serrated edges) on the side walls provide extra lifting strength, supporting heavier loads by leveraging underneath support instead of pure compression. Its heavy-duty trench-style bucket includes reinforced floors and sidewalls, ensuring durability in demanding applications.
2. Grabs
Grabs, also known as excavator grapples, are used to handle, lift, and move materials. They are particularly useful for handling irregularly shaped items, providing exceptional control and precision. While Mechanical Grabs are ideal for heavy-duty and power-intensive tasks, Hydraulic Grabs are preferred for jobs requiring precision and sharpness. The grab is one of the most commonly used excavator attachments for demolition, recycling, waste handling, and forestry tasks.
Excavator grabs can be customised based on factors such as industry, type of work, material to be handled, and manoeuvrability. Here are the most commonly used models:
Mechanical Grab
A Mechanical Grab is a heavy-duty excavator attachment designed for lifting, grabbing, and moving materials without requiring hydraulics. Instead, it relies on the excavator’s bucket curl movement for operation, making it durable and low-maintenance.
Mechanical grabs are ideal for scrap metal handling, heavy log work, and high-volume tasks, thanks to their large openings and robust build. They excel in tough environments where hoses could snag, offering simplicity and reliability. While suitable for general grab work, hydraulic grabs outperform in precision-intensive tasks.
Hydraulic Grab
A Hydraulic Grab is a versatile excavator attachment engineered for environments requiring enhanced control, precision, and performance. Unlike mechanical grabs, it operates using it’s own hydraulic ram, making it highly effective in all grabbing tasks.
Hydraulic grabs, also known as grapples, rock grabs, or grabbers, excel in precise material handling across various industries. Equipped with features like a balance valve, manifold distribution blocks, and included with attachment and machine-side couplers for easy setup, they offer superior adaptability. Perfect for tasks demanding fine control, they outshine mechanical grabs in precision-critical environments.
Clamshell Bucket
A Clamshell Bucket, also known as a Shell Bucket, Dredging Bucket, or Cactus Grab, is a versatile excavator attachment designed for efficient bulk material handling.
With a large bucket capacity, clamshell buckets are ideal for handling materials like mud, grain, sand, coal, and gravel. Equipped with dual rams for maximum digging strength and fixed and rotating variants, they ensure precision and flexibility. Variant dependent a case drain is included to enhance motor longevity, while cross-feed technology ensures even pressure distribution within the rams. Customisable for specific customer needs, they excel in bulk loading and material removal tasks.
Rotating Multipurpose Grab
A Rotating Multipurpose Grab, also known as a Rotating Grapple, Rock Grab, Rotary Grab, or Demolition Grab, is a versatile excavator attachment designed for a wide range of tasks, from site cleaning and recycling to demolition and forestry.
This grab features a 5-finger claw design with 360° continuous rotation, enabling precise handling of all shapes and sizes of materials. Dual independent rams provide self-centering capabilities, while worm drives and high-quality Parker or M+S motors ensure reliable performance. Additional features include replaceable teeth for durability, a single pinion, balance valves, and manifold blocks, making it ideal for everything from sorting to bulk material handling.
3. Hydraulic Rock Breakers
Hydraulic Breakers, hydraulic hammers or rock breakers, are powerful attachments used for breaking through tough materials like concrete, asphalt, and rock. This attachment is designed to handle demanding tasks across industries, including but not limited to demolition, construction, roadworks, mining, and tunneling.
Rock breakers excel in breaking down structures, preparing sites, and managing oversized materials in quarries, mines, and farms. Built with a simplified and robust construction featuring three main components within a reinforced casing, they ensure durability and protection of the internal components. Advanced heat treatment and vibration dampening technology extend component lifespan and operator comfort and health. Pre-charged with nitrogen and equipped with versatile chisel options, bolt-on brackets, and ready-to-connect hoses, these breakers offer quick setup and adaptability for various machines.
4. Augers
An Auger is a versatile excavator attachment designed for efficient drilling tasks, commonly used for creating holes for fence posts, star pickets, poles, and concrete.
Auger kits feature an innovative helix housing and planetary gearbox for enhanced performance. Built for durability, they include case drains and high-grade synthetic gear oil for extended lifespan. With multiple hub sizes, auger bit types, and additional attachments like log splitters, stump planers and hole cleaners they adapt to various ground conditions. Extension bars allow for deeper drilling, while a comprehensive kit with hoses and couplers ensures immediate operation. Built to suit different excavator models, augers provide unmatched versatility.
5. Hydraulic Thumbs
A Thumb is a versatile excavator attachment ideal for efficient material handling in various grabbing environments, offering a less precise but highly practical alternative to hydraulic grabs.
Excavator thumbs excel in landscaping projects like building retaining walls, as well as farms and construction site cleanups. Perfect for moving rocks, trees, branches, and trench debris, they feature relief and balance valves, a fully retractable design, and a manifold block for enhanced performance. With a universal or a customisable build, thumbs adapt to various tasks, providing reliable and straightforward material handling solutions.
6. Rippers
Rippers are robust excavator attachments designed for heavy-duty applications, making them indispensable for tough digging and prying tasks. They are often used as a preliminary step before excavation, breaking up material to make digging easier.
Rippers excel at prying rocks and roots from trenches and loosening virgin ground for easier excavation. Built with a heavy-duty single tyne and reinforced plating, they ensure high performance and durability. Replaceable components, including a shin guard and high-pen tooth, enhance longevity and efficiency. Additional features such as gussets for structural integrity, a lifting hook for safe handling, and customisable builds make rippers a reliable choice for demanding projects.
7. Compactors
Compactors designed for soil compaction and groundwork preparation, ensuring stable and reliable surfaces for construction and landscaping projects. Compactors come in multiple forms like a vibrating plate or drum and multi wheel style attachments used to compress soil, gravel, and other loose materials in trenches, foundations, and landscaping. They are a cost-effective alternative to standalone manual compacting equipment and are often used in road construction and trench compaction.
A great option is the Vibrating Compaction Plate which is equipped with a robust plate and powerful hydraulic operation, they deliver efficient and consistent compaction. Features like vibration dampening systems enhance operator comfort and health, while customisable mounting options ensure compatibility with various excavator models. Durable construction and easy maintenance make compactors an essential tool for achieving smooth and solid groundwork.
8. Tiltrotators
A Tiltrotator is a game-changing excavator attachment that combines tilting and rotating capabilities, offering unmatched flexibility and precision for various tasks, from trenching to grading and material handling. It provides flexibility for precise work in tight spaces.
Aussie Buckets Tilt rotator allows a 90° tilt (45° either side) with single or dual rams, equipped with load-holding valves for operator safety and peace of mind. Direct mount designs reduce operating weight and increase breakout force. With 360° continuous rotation powered by reliable German M+S motors, they ensure smooth and efficient operation with all of your attachments. Additional features include quad proportional valves for precise control and optional integrated pincer grab for enhanced versatility.
8. Hitches
An Excavator Hitch Attachment is a crucial component designed to quickly and securely connect various attachments to the excavator, enhancing efficiency and versatility across different tasks.
Aussie Buckets offers two different hitch models:
8.1- Hydraulic Quick Hitch:
Known as a Quick Coupler or Automatic Hitch, it simplifies attachment changes. It ensures secure operation and peace of mind during hydraulic tasks, as well allowing for quick changing of attachments without the need of getting out of the machine.
8.2- Hydraulic Tilting Hitch:
Also called a Tilting Quick Hitch or Tilt Adapter, it offers up to 180 degrees (depending on model) of tilt for precision and performance. Allowing of quick change of attachments but also granting the once fixed attachment a tilting function.
9. Other Essential Excavator Attachments
Aussie Buckets offers a range of specialised attachments designed to expand the functionality of your excavator across various industries and applications:
- Stick Rake: Ideal for clearing debris, vegetation, and roots during land preparation.
- Pile Drivers: Delivers powerful force for driving piles into the ground efficiently.
- Mulchers: Perfect for forestry and landscaping, effectively clearing and shredding vegetation.
- Tree Shear: Designed for precise cutting and removal of trees and branches.
- Rock Saw: Ensures accurate cutting of rock, concrete, and other hard materials.
- Crusher Bucket: Handles on-site crushing of materials like concrete and stone, reducing waste and transport costs.
These attachments provide solutions for tasks ranging from demolition to forestry and construction. If you are looking for additional products, please visit our full product page.
How to Choose the Right Excavator Attachment
The correct selection of excavator attachments is crucial for your machine's performance and the success of your project. Many excavator attachments are not universal and require compatibility checks. At Aussie Buckets, we provide free support throughout these processes. When selecting an excavator attachment, keep these key factors in mind:
- Project Requirements: Identify the primary task! digging, lifting, breaking, or sifting. If you want to perform multiple tasks with a single attachment, multipurpose attachments might be the right choice for you.
- Excavator Size: Aussie Buckets' excavator attachment specialists provide free product compatibility testing for your machine. This eliminates the question, "Will the excavator attachment be compatible with my machine?"
- Material Type: Excavator attachments specifically designed for different material types can significantly enhance your project's efficiency. That's why it is important to determine the type of material you'll be working with. Is it soil, rock, or concrete?
- Budget: Set your budget. Defining your budget helps prevent wasting time when selecting products that meet your needs.
- Attachment Quality: Opt for durable, high-quality attachments from Aussie Buckets to maximise efficiency and reduce downtime.
Final Thoughts
High-quality and versatile excavator attachments significantly enhance the efficiency of your projects. By understanding their applications and choosing the right tools, you can unlock your excavator's full potential. At Aussie Buckets, we provide the widest range of excavator attachments designed to meet your specific needs. Explore our selection today and elevate your projects to the next level!