Compact rollers are a common piece of equipment used on construction sites across the country. Most job sites need a solid, flat surface that allows for employees to safely work. This is where compact rollers come into play. Compact rollers help smooth the ground surface, and are used in a variety of ways. There are also many different types of compact rollers to choose from.

At Lyon Auction, we offer equipment auctions all over the country to help construction companies purchase used heavy equipment at a great price. In this blog, we will go over some things you should consider before purchasing a compact roller!

Size

The first thing you should always consider when purchasing new heavy machinery is what size of equipment is needed for your jobs. Compact rollers come in a variety of sizes, widths and weight, which all have benefits depending on the situation. Depending on the soil type and job site, you could potentially get away with a smaller drum width and weight. For projects such as roadways, parking lots or building foundations, a larger more heavy compact roller would probably work better. So before purchasing a compact roller, be sure to consider exactly what jobs you will be using it for to help you determine which size you will need!

Operator Comfort

Usually speaking, a comfortable operator is a productive operator. This is certainly true when it comes to operating heavy machinery. On newer models of equipment, there are many amenities in equipment cabs such as cushioned seats and air conditioning that makes working in the summer heat not so bad.

However, more amenities usually results in a higher price. A compact roller that has an enclosed cab will offer the operators much more comfort than ones that aren’t, but will also probably be that much more expensive. If you are located in the southern U.S., you could probably get away with an open cab as the weather is pretty warm throughout the entire year. On the flip side, if you are working in colder or super hot conditions, an enclosed cab would better protect your operators from severe hot or cold weather!

Type of roller

When purchasing a compact roller, you will probably notice that there are a variety of different options to choose from. Each type of roller serves a different purpose. Learn about the different types of rollers:

Grid Rollers

Grid rollers have steel bars that create a grid-like pattern on the steel drum. These rollers are typically pulled behind a tractor or another heavy machine, and usually perform best well-graded, coarse soils!

Pneumatic Rollers

Pneumatic rollers are a larger type of roller that usually contains multiple rubber wheels in both the front and back of the machine. These rollers are primarily used for pavements and can help polish and smooth out any project!

Sheepsfoot Rollers

Sheepsfoot rollers have many rectangular-shaped lugs on its drum, which is where it gets its sheepsfoot name! These rollers work well for compacting soil and clay on the job site, creating a flat and safe working surface!

Static Rollers

Static rollers generally have one or two smooth wheeled drums which do not have much traction. Because of this, these rollers work great on flat surfaces such as asphalt, but not much else.
Before attending equipment auctions, it’s important that you do your research and have a plan going in. If you are planning on purchasing a compact roller in the near future, consider these things to make sure you are choosing the right roller for your jobs!

At Lyon Auction, we offer equipment auctions all over the country. To learn more about our upcoming auctions, visit our website today!