Most mining technicians know that picking the right tool is critical in quarry drilling. Pneumatic tools can be chosen solely based on calculations and other theoretical aspects but to make the technician's work easier, the practical aspects of the equipment have to be considered.
Opening up the hard and rocky surface is one of the primary steps in mining as well as construction. For this, two types of equipment have gained the most popularity -- the pneumatic crawler drill and the jackhammer. Each of these equipments have their own perks and drawbacks when it comes to ease of use, maintenance, and effectiveness.
So which one of these is the better choice?
Using A Pneumatic Crawler Drill
A crawler drill machine is a hole-drilling machine that utilizes the power of compressed air to break the earth's surface to extract gas, water, or even for geological explorations. These machines are easier to use than their predecessors, require lesser maintenance, and are ideal when used for drilling up to 650 feet. They can be used to boost production in a stone aggregate quarry and are much more affordable than most mining equipment available in the market. Another aspect that endears a crawler drill machine to the users is that it does not require much technical knowledge to be handled.
How Do Jackhammers Work?
Long before pneumatic equipment was revolutionized for optimum functionality and better user experience, heavy-handed chisels and sledgehammers were used to break the hard surface of the earth. But, once the pneumatic jackhammers rock drills entered the picture, the brutal task of underground drilling became much better. Working on the same principle as hammer and chisel but on the power of compressed air, pneumatic jackhammers have become the go-to mining tool.
Despite their highly technical nature, jackhammer rock drills are the most iconic pneumatic drills ever made, and here's why.
Firstly, pneumatic jackhammers have more precision than regular handheld tools used to break the rocky surface. Also, jackhammer drills preserve the user's body from impacts due to vibrations. This equipment produces significantly less noise compared to most pneumatic tools, thus reducing noise pollution as well as hearing troubles in site workers.
They also reduce fire hazards due to overheating in a stone aggregate quarry. Even though jackhammers technicians need proper training before practicing in the field, it is worth the hype because the alternatives to this power tool pale in comparison.
Choosing Between The Crawler Drill And Jackhammer
Traditional tools have long been put aside in favor of much more efficient pneumatic equipment. Yet, there still stands the question, which is the better drilling equipment - jackhammer or pneumatic crawler drill?
The crawler drill is vastly superior to the pneumatic jackhammer as:
One crawler drill is equal to 5-6 jackhammers in terms of productivity, at the same time, it requires only 2 people to operate it. Whereas, it takes one person to operate a single jackhammer. Crawler drills have the added benefit of ease of use.
After a crawler drill is set in position and starts drilling, the operators can sit back and relax till the time they reach their desired drilling depth. While on the other hand, an operator using a jackhammer has to stay continuously engaged throughout its operation.
