What Type of Wacker Plate Do I Need?

Wacker plates come in all sizes; the type you need will depend on your project. The main goal of any wacker plate is to compact different materials like soil and asphalt and create a sturdy base for more work to be done on the surface. Let’s look at the various types of wacker plates and their ideal use in the article below.

Single Drum Wacker Plate

When you are working on your landscape and want to get expert-level results, then wacker plate hire should be on your to-do list. You don’t need a heavy machine, and the single drum wacker plate will be an excellent fit for you. These are small and have a flat vibrating plate that compresses and compacts soil or gravel. Single drum wacker plates usually exert 5000 pounds of force on the surface and only move in one direction. You want to look for a compactor plate with a width of 12-18 inches because it will be easier to handle and ideal for small surfaces. This is the wacker plate you need when you want to construct a driveway or patio.

Heavy-Duty Wacker Plate

Big construction projects demand heavy-duty wacker plates. This high-performance equipment exerts the highest force and compacts the most challenging materials, including clay soil. The vibrating plates can be as heavy as 300 pounds and produce 10000+ vibrations every minute. This means that you get the job done faster and with great results. These machines usually have tandem rollers that utilise an additional drum to compact materials with fewer passes on the same surface. Generally, this machine’s compactor plate will be more than 24 inches wide to affect a large, complex surface. Heavy-duty wacker plates are used for projects like road and basement constructions.

Reversible Wacker Plate

Reversible wacker plates can move backwards and forward and are suitable for complicated projects that demand more manoeuvrability. They can exert up to 9000 pounds of force, which provides deeper compaction. Reversible wacker plates can weigh up to 160kg with a 400mm steel plate. The back-and-forth movement makes them perfect for road repair because they can exert heavy compression on a specified area. They are also commonly used in paving stone installation because they offer thorough compaction, which will minimise stone shifting in the future. Reversible wacker plates offer uniformity and are more efficient and cost-effective. The revisable wacker plates can be as wide as 24 inches and not below 18 inches to competently fit different surfaces. These compaction plates can also be used when laying the foundation and installing the driveway.

Other Wacker Plates

Wacker plates will usually be classified as reversible, small or heavy-duty. However, a few specialisations enable wacker plates to offer more functionality and efficiency. Electric wacker plates use electricity instead of the traditional diesel and petrol. This means they are less noisy, emitting less fumes, and ideal for home renovation projects. There are also pneumatic wacker plates that come to the rescue when heavy-duty machines are not suitable for a particular project. Heavy and multi-tire pneumatic wacker plates compact deeper soil layers, making them perfect for fine gravel. You can use a high-frequency wacker plate when you need quick compaction of high-density materials.
Different wacker plates will offer various perks and degrees of compaction. The best thing is that regardless of the project you want to work on, there is an ideal wacker plate for you to use and get great results.