western australia

Machines make a hard job easy

@JudyEv (325809)

Rockingham, Australia

November 27, 2022 6:33pm CST

The photo shows a small compactor which mostly gets called the 'whacker packer'. We’re using it to help lay a brick path for a friend. The bricks you can see had already been laid but there was some concern that the ground below hadn’t been tamped and that the bricks would sink over time. A piece of carpet was tied to the base of the compactor so the percussion wouldn’t break the bricks. However, the bricks had been well laid and we didn’t need to take them up and start again. Without the compactor, we'd have been using a hand tamper, lifting a heavy block and let it whack down on the sand. It's so much easier with the right tools. We’ve now finished with the compactor and on Thursday we’ll start to lay the remaining bricks.

19 people like this

18 responses

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

28 Nov 22

I like the looks of the brick walk.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

We've carried the wall on down to the driveway. It should look great when it's finished.

1 person likes this

@RubyHawk (99425)

• Atlanta, Georgia

28 Nov 22

@JudyEv I'm sure it will, you guys have put a lot of work into it.

1 person likes this

changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16532)

• China

28 Nov 22

I haven't seen such a compactor before.It does make light work of laying a brick path.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

It is very useful and saves a lot of labour.

1 person likes this

@allknowing (130064)

• India

28 Nov 22

For jobs such as working on roads they use a roller attached to a truck and for smaller jobs it is a simple block of wood attached to a pole and the guys just press it down. What is the size of that frog?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

We've used the block of wood too but it's heavy and a lot of lifting if you're elderly. You have to lift it and thump it down, not just press it. The frog is about the length of a brick and perhaps a bit higher.

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@allknowing (130064)

• India

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv We get work done and never do what you guys undertake doing yourself be it house work or garden work. .

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

@allknowing I would love having someone to help in the house. That's a dream for me.

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@koopharper (7477)

• Canada

28 Nov 22

I've used a lot of different tampers in my time. The jumping jacks were more fun than the plate tampers like the one in the picture. Piece of carpet was a good idea because they can break the bricks.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

That was the idea of the carpet. I'm not familiar with jumping jack ones - only a home-made one of a weight on a pole.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

28 Nov 22

So, who got their bones shaken apart running the compactor?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

Vince and his brother did that. It's quite heavy and yes, very shaky. It likes going downhill though.

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@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

28 Nov 22

Oh, yes, I've run one before... They're a lot of fun. When you stop running it, your hands and arms continue to throb like you're still running it for about ten minutes.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

@DaddyEvil I have had a turn other years and I know what you're saying about the throbbing continuing but I'm not what I used to be, as they say - whoever 'they' are.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26780)

• United States

28 Nov 22

Hey, looking good! Yes, good 'ole machines, making life better.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

Some really are worth having; others not so much.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

@oahuwriter Some kitchen appliances have so many small pieces and are such a pain to clean that it's easier to stick to the older methods.

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Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26780)

• United States

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv Yes, and depends what you're working on for equipment.

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@rsa101 (37952)

• Philippines

28 Nov 22

I guess that would help a lot putting the bricks intact and hopefully stay that way for a long time. I am glad there are people who create/invent things like this to make work easier and faster.

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@rsa101 (37952)

• Philippines

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv Yeah I think we don't use bricks nowadays since our land usually is generally soft as we often get drenched during the wet season. Although I have seen in some places they use this as well for aesthetics.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

If the bricks aren't on a firm base, they tend to wobble and don't sit flat.

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@BarBaraPrz (45487)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

28 Nov 22

Looks as if it has one of those old electric frying pans strapped to the top...

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@BarBaraPrz (45487)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv That's what I figured it was.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

You're right. It's exactly like that. It's the fuel tank.

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@RebeccasFarm (86760)

• United States

1 Dec 22

Now isnt that so handy Judy.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Dec 22

Such tools take the hard work out of some tasks.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (458192)

• Switzerland

28 Nov 22

We are lucky to have so many machines to help us do a faster and better job in our days.

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@LadyDuck (458192)

• Switzerland

28 Nov 22

@JudyEv - I agree, it is like my small machine to flatten the pasta dough. It is such a pain with a rolling pin.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

When you have the right equipment, some jobs become very much easier.

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@magallon (19280)

• Philippines

28 Nov 22

Machines are really a big help thanks to those who invented or made them

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

They can make all the difference between a good and a bad job.

1 person likes this

@magallon (19280)

• Philippines

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv yeah i agree

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (156259)

• United States

28 Nov 22

Much more of a project than I would ever attempt. You guys are doing a fabulous job.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

I get impatient as all the preparation takes twice as long as the actual laying of the bricks.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 22

@LindaOHio I'm like that too but over the years I've learnt to be more patient.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (156259)

• United States

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv I'm not a prep person. I like to start right in and do.

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@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Nov 22

You are such an inspiration for me to get up and do something. Away from the computer.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Nov 22

I think I spend too much time at the computer but sometimes it's hard to find other things to do. I've found another project but I don't think I'll be able to talk Vince into it.

He will think it's too much travelling. It's volunteering to help fix bikes up to be shipped to third world countries but it a good few miles away. Perhaps you could just go once a month or so. Watch this space!! lol

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Nov 22

@CarolDM It ticks all my boxes. Repurposing stuff, and helping others worse off but without having to fork out much in the way of money.

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@CarolDM (203452)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Nov 22

@JudyEv Sounds like something different and you would be helping so many.

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@Beestring (13325)

• Hong Kong

28 Nov 22

The brick walk looks great. Good luck with the rest of the work.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

Thanks. It should look lovely when it's finished.

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@FourWalls (62145)

• United States

28 Nov 22

That’s a pretty brick walkway. Come over and make one for me. We can watch Norman Gunston together (watched his interview of Paul and Linda McCartney and nearly broke a rib laughing!).

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

Isn't he awful? And somehow he was right in the forefront when our PM was dismissed by the Governor-General. Very serious political stuff and here's Norman with his bits of tissue and microphone right in the thick of it!

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@wolfgirl569 (95188)

• Marion, Ohio

28 Nov 22

Hope the work goes fast.

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

Thanks. If we're lucky we'll get it finished on Thursday.

1 person likes this

@RasmaSandra (73444)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

28 Nov 22

Looks like you're doing a great job, I like how it looks, Best of luck with the rest of it,

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@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

Thanks. We should get it just about finished on Thursday.

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Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (57888)

• Centralia, Washington

28 Nov 22

That's a lovely brick walk and that's a lot of wow work for you two whippersnappers.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (325809)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Nov 22

We're continuing the wall on down to the roadway. It should look nice when it's done.

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