The one man show to grow

I wish for a 953 on a lot of the jobs I do too when I'm feeling like a small fish in a big tank. But...I've been floored when talking pricing with guys around here. Hourly, they're only getting $10 or so an our more than I get for my CTL. The vast majority of my jobs are bid price so it may be a moot point, but that's just crazy!

Fastdirt said:

O

Mechanics definitely have my respect. It's mentally tough to troubleshoot and then bend your arm and body over and in between burning hot or freezing steel to get to the problem. It takes the right person for that job and I don't have it that way but I can fix a lot of things just not the serious stuff.

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Speaking as someone who has been fooling bosses for over 44 years who think I'm a mechanic I would love to work on a machine you own! You sure know how to take care of a machine. Makes me sick to see the way some machines are abused, especially excavators some look like the rear end is being used as a dozer blade! I know accidents will happen but come on! We had a big brother to yours delivered to our quarry a few years back forget the exact model about a size below the 350, probably 345. Anyhowit only had a couple hundered hoours on it and before we used it we had to drop some of the belly pans under the engine to repair them, one was so bad we replaced with new.

And don't get me started on skid-steer loaders and ROPS!!!!!

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/hvo/4925795523.html
You take care of your machine better than this guy!
Great work as always fast dirt.

90plow said:

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/hvo/4925795523.html
You take care of your machine better than this guy!
Great work as always fast dirt.

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And that's far from the worst I and I'm sure other see everyday.

I saw this the other day and it made me glad that even though indont have a whole crew the 1 guy i go working for me takes care of the machines like it was his

btw fast dirt ill be honest i love your setup and how clean all your equipment is

Fastdirt said:

No no, I definitely didn't think you were coming that way at all. I was spe asking in general . A lot if times I talk too much when given the chance after being in a bubble at work everyday. Yes to the granite fines. I was thinking about the other pic. The builder had the fines there to lay pavers and asked us just to use it in the floor to help the plumber and steel guys out. I thinks it's M10 maybe.

CM I don't know from much from first hand about the fuel coming out of my pocket but as an employee I totally agree that the track loaders are huge fuel pigs. Last job I had I on a 963C I was amazed at how much fuel it burnt daily. Pretty much the whole tank in 8hrs. That has to hurt. Like the automatic dump trucks they too suck it up staying at full throttle. I'm actually about to shoot a picture for you right now on site that I sure could use that loader, this is a little big for the little Tak.

Have a good day all.

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Good, I didn't want you to think I was being a jerk. Sometimes writing things sound different that saying them.

The reason I asked about the fine was because that was the first time I think I had seen you do that and was just wondering.

That is a big foundation and it turned out good. Nice to see clean crisp walls and edges. Makes me wish I got work in clay

I'm actually about to shoot a picture for you right now on site that I sure could use that loader, this is a little big for the little Tak.

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Fire that Pete up and head west, gotta use it in the morning to prep a pad for a proof roll but it's free for a couple days after that.

A 953 is my favorite machine to run, more so than a track hoe but not by much. They use the fuel but can be so productive in the right situation.

Good looking foundation cut and dry dirt! We've been dealing with mud for 2 months now, last two days of sun and 80's have really dried things up.

That's a deep foundation, 10' walls?

Gee Fastdirt your instagram has taken off. Still busy i see. Demo starting to slow down now due to asbestos hoping civil kicks in soon.

90plow said:

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/hvo/4925795523.html
You take care of your machine better than this guy!
Great work as always fast dirt.

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Thanks. It's not always easy, but it's always good. Just thankful and fortunate to be able to work for myself and do things the way I like it.

monster76 said:

btw fast dirt ill be honest i love your setup and how clean all your equipment is

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Thanks, I'll be honest each and everything I've bought has been very good to me. I definitely already knew what was good equipment but didn't think I could afford it. I got lucky, fortunate, blessed, or whatever you prefer. Sometimes I just stop and give thanks for the Cat and the dump truck starting every day even when I don't want too. Especially on freezing mornings or scorching hot days, digging in rock, going towards a 70 hour week on a weekend, etc., etc., They do all the work over and over. Everything I own is 10 years or older but age doesn't matter as much as condition I've learned. The 312 is getting some major love currently.

Landclearer said:

Good, I didn't want you to think I was being a jerk. Sometimes writing things sound different that saying them.

The reason I asked about the fine was because that was the first time I think I had seen you do that and was just wondering.

That is a big foundation and it turned out good. Nice to see clean crisp walls and edges. Makes me wish I got work in clay

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It's funny you say that because many days while operating I think how do they do it in the sand. For instance here you can literally build and pack the right clay from the existing grade up to 10' or more with just packing it with the machine and then go back and shear cut it and it will hold. Of course you have to treat different than virgin but it's possible here. We are lucky here but there is some super hard digging here too. It's always something different though around here. I sure move around from day to day and just never know what kind of dirt it will be....and yes that foundation was huge. I just took the job on and was surprised at how big the house ended up being. But yes the good red clay is great to work with. I really love pulling up #1 red clay with just the perfect moisture and consistency. Should I get that excited about dirt....I think so because sometimes you dig up wet brown dirt or sandy dry dirt and it's a bit deflating LOl.

CM1995 said:

Fire that Pete up and head west, gotta use it in the morning to prep a pad for a proof roll but it's free for a couple days after that.

A 953 is my favorite machine to run, more so than a track hoe but not by much. They use the fuel but can be so productive in the right situation.

Good looking foundation cut and dry dirt! We've been dealing with mud for 2 months now, last two days of sun and 80's have really dried things up.

That's a deep foundation, 10' walls?

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That is extremely generous to offer up your 953. I'd like to just come runs yours for the fun of it and I just wish I could fire that Pete up period. I am just not finding the time to finish putting it all back together. It's all there I just need to push a little harder but I'm spent after work lately. Maybe if I'd turn this computer off It'd get done. Now I will say the last time I borrowed a machine wouldn't you know a hose blew. I tried to fix it but struggled because of access and time and just limped it on the trailer. It was on an ASV Cat skid steer though and it was one of those ridiculous hoses that runs externally down low to the drives in harms way of all kinds of danger. That ASV system gave him fits and finally traded it but I hated that feeling.

TrentNz said:

Gee Fastdirt your instagram has taken off. Still busy i see. Demo starting to slow down now due to asbestos hoping civil kicks in soon.

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We'll see if I hang around there. I used to post videos and such and then so many people would just be out of line and it would get old so I deleted it. I like seeing others work sites, equipment, trucks, etc. and knowing there is so much greater out there. I do like how everybody keeps it respectful here.

Finished that big foundation earlier this week. I had no idea it was that big of house but got through it and got myself behind in the process but the frequent rains have everybody under pressure lately it seems. I didn't realize going into this that the builder's # priority was to fill in the massive ravine in the backyard to get a bigger back yard. I kept hauling and pushing dirt back there and it never ended. Maybe 100 loads. I lost count. Then after putting the basement on grade the builder said he wants to lower it another foot. We had already got into super hard ground so I had to break it out with excavator. I wasn't thrilled about doing it twice but what can you say. I still had to dig detached three car garage. Plans said 10,350 sq. ft. of potential heated space. It measured 120' across the front and that's not including the garage.

This was not from site dust. It was from slinging dirt in the truck and never coming out of 1st gear. I hardly ever haul with this truck and might need to blow the air filter out now.






I overloaded the truck every time and kept having to back in the soft fill. I got un level a few times and hate that feeling. I like to back over the edge to prevent a machine from having to always push off but couldn't get to greedy. I only had to get towed out once. Poor truck worked hard but was crucial in order to get the job done. The full locking rears are priceless.



Builder was insistent on us cutting the back porch down 6" so he laid it out and we did it.


Cutting the garage foundation walls down to virgin ground.

Have you been thinking about getting a bigger machine? Looks like you could use at least a 315 size machine on a site like that and maybe a smaller 9 ton mini for your pools?

Fastdirt, Started reading this thread and all the youtube videos arent there anymore. Did u take them down or start a new page. Very interesting thread and story . Look forward to seeing some videos of all that was posted earlier. Keep up the good work.

90plow said:

Have you been thinking about getting a bigger machine? Looks like you could use at least a 315 size machine on a site like that and maybe a smaller 9 ton mini for your pools?

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I was thinking the exact same thing. Although, by the looks of this job a 20 ton machine would look right at home. I don't want to plagiarize CM1995's signature (he always seems to post what I'm thinking before I manage to write it, lol) so I'll just say that I'm a big fan of the "one machine = one payment" business model. That said, Brian if you ever need any advice on how to spend your hard earned money on your business, I'll be glad to help. :tong

joispoi said:

I don't want to plagiarize CM1995's signature (he always seems to post what I'm thinking before I manage to write it, lol) so I'll just say that I'm a big fan of the "one machine = one payment" business model.

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LOL, I got the tag line from a Southern Culture on the Skids song named "Dirt Track Date".

Man finally finished reading all of this thread. Sucks u got rid of your youtube videos . Would love to seem all. Pic are great but videos are even better. Cant let the haters get to u on youtube. U could even get ride of comments on there. Any where else u got videos. Got my answer to my question earlier about why after reading the whole thread. Whats your facebook page and instagram? How the Truck coming along. Almost done? Keep the post going , great to read.

90plow said:

Have you been thinking about getting a bigger machine? Looks like you could use at least a 315 size machine on a site like that and maybe a smaller 9 ton mini for your pools?

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At this time I'm really not interested in a bigger machine for what I do and I really can't take on those bigger jobs anymore at this point because I am behind and stay behind with my pool builders and they put a lot of pressure on me constantly. It's been like this ever since I started really. I've lost a ton of work because I try to do too much and just can't do it all. I want to do it but I just can't do it and until recently I had a really hard time telling builders "No". I turn down one night stands with ease but when a long term relationship with a reputable builder would inquire I would just say "Yes sir, No problem". Then I would get overwhelmed then frustrated and would end up being rude, disrespectful, and pissing builders off to put it bluntly. It sucks to lose work but I've lost more than I'd like to mention because I take on too much and can't give them the respect and time they deserve. Now I've realized this and I'm changing this. My response now is 'No sir I cannot take on anymore work at the time but I am planning on adding another crew and would like for you to keep us in mind and maybe give us another chance in the future for your business when we are set up more to handle it". So, I'm going to lay off the house demos, basement digs, etc. as much as I love to mix it up and do different things I just can't do it alone anymore. I turn down pool builders too. I will just progress into the future and I have my sights set high but I'm going to take a more realistic and practical approach instead of biting off more than I can chew.

Now as far as a mini or an 18 ton excavator digging a pool it's just not productive and the only reason I or any of the local guys ever dig pools with those smaller excavators is because of limited access. You just need a 15 ton machine to be efficient at it if you're going to do it full time everyday.

showmestateride said:

Man finally finished reading all of this thread. Sucks u got rid of your youtube videos . Would love to seem all. Pic are great but videos are even better. Cant let the haters get to u on youtube. U could even get ride of comments on there. Any where else u got videos. Got my answer to my question earlier about why after reading the whole thread. Whats your facebook page and instagram? How the Truck coming along. Almost done? Keep the post going , great to read.

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The truck is coming along but other mechanical projects/problems surface with more importance. Sorry about the broken links. I'll try not to do that in the future. The youtube vids are all consuming and take up too much time really, but I'll post vids of the 379. Instagram is "DigRig379". FB page is my company name which I don't like to post on this forum because of search engine links. It's in several pics on my doors though.

Joispoi, who doesn't love big yellow toys but just not there yet. I will in the future grow but no payments is nice right now. I am looking at getting a newer dump truck. I'm just patiently searching for the perfect one. I will sell or trade my L9000 and end up with a pre emissions 379 or W900 with a big block Cat. I like to have pride in my ride and must love every single thing about the truck. Mainly because trucking is mentally tough everyday and it's nice to enjoy the truck and be in love with it. I spend an average of 3 hours a day in the truck pulling a machine and that's on top of the actual work I do .


I picked up all the parts from Cat. The product rep guy was great in getting everything I needed. It wasn't cheap but it's everything I'll need to get the job 100% done right. Everything that involves the stick is getting replaced. I will have to line bore a couple of holes but have the local line boring guy coming way as soon as he finishes two more machines. Finally moving on this and looking forward to the results. I also got two new pieces of glass and some other parts to get the 312 100%. Thinking of a high tech stereo and tinted windows too.





This was yesterday's job. A beautiful Saturday with perfect red dirt and the best access possible. More pics on instagram



That truck drinks more fuel than the machine just getting the machine there. Luckily it's $2.65 right now.


Now they feel like big machines again.

Pool looks great as always with nice red clay.

Sounds like you have a good business plan. I know it might get a little boring but if you are slammed with pools and making money, why not stick with it. I also agree that the 312 is just about perfect for your pools. The only thing that I would want if I were you is a Helac tilt and rotator. The reason I say Helac is because they will tilt 90 degrees and with your skills, you could just about dig a pool with no labor at all

One day you will come across a guy that is willing put in the effort and pride and you will be able to expand. No sense in hiring people you have to follow around and cleanup after.

If only you didnt live in Atlanta Fastdirt. Can't stand that place, my brother lives in Suwanee and I dont think you could pay me enough to live there. But hey money talks right?