Hale’s influence on the fencing and drilling industries spanned decades. He began working in fencing as a summer job in high school. After learning the industry as a teenager, he continued installing fences across southern California, eventually owning his own fencing company for more than 20 years.

After experiencing first-hand the safety and efficiency of Little Beaver’s earth drills, Hale joined the company in 1996. For the past 25 years, he has been the voice behind sales and quotes inquiries, using his expertise to help customers select the drilling products to bring that same safety and efficiency to their own companies.

“Mike’s impact on our company and industry has been tremendous. He understood the challenges our customers faced and were really able to help them find the solutions they needed. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Little Beaver, not only for the work he did but also for the person he was. We have lost a dear friend and industry advocate,”

said Little Beaver president Joe Haynes.

The post Little Beaver Mourns Loss of Sales Manager Mike Hale appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Lone Star designed the drill to address the growing demand from customers wanting to access remote or environmentally sensitive areas. National parks, delicate turf, wet or soft soil, and other restricted sites often present problems, as the ground can’t be disturbed by a large truck and trailer.  The tracked drill provides an ideal solution for accomplishing soil sampling or geotechnical testing in those sensitive areas.

The tracks spread the drill’s weight and lower its ground pressure to 3.8 psi, minimizing the risk of damage to the underfoot while completing soil sampling or geotechnical testing in sensitive areas. The tracks also minimize the risk of the drill getting stuck in soft ground conditions.

Joe Haynes, Little Beaver president said:

“We wanted to provide a solution to customers who were limited by a truck-mounted geotechnical drill. The LST1G+HDA drill itself is a durable machine, but we wanted to make a more versatile version for all customers.”

Hydraulic leveling is another feature new to the LSGT+HDA. Operators can raise the machine until it’s level thanks to a cylinder on each corner and a telescoping jack. The ability to individually adjust the corners allows for operation on uneven ground. Maintaining true vertical hole alignment is critical for accurate SPT results.

Travel is remotely controlled, allowing users to operate the drill from a safe distance or location within the line of sight of the rig. The remote is battery powered and includes a 50-foot tether cord in case of battery power loss.

The LSGT+HDA allows for precise and easy-to-operate drilling for standard penetration tests and soil sampling.  The drill comes standard with a 140-pound automatic hammer and is capable of sampling down to 100 feet. The versatile machine can also be used with Little Beaver’s split spoon samplers and AWJ drilling rod for obtaining core samples or conducting geotechnical testing and environmental soil sampling.

Little Beaver offers a wealth of auger options to adapt to varying applications. Solid stem augers are available in 3- to 8-inch diameters and hollow stem augers are available in 6- and 8-inch diameters. The hollow stem augers, which can drill to 60 feet, feature a 2.75- or 3.75-inch internal diameter for collecting samples without the risk of contamination from surrounding soil. The LSGT+ HDA’s standard configuration allows for dry auger boring with the use of a solid or hollow stem auger. The drill is also capable of mud rotary boring using an optional mud pump, swivel and bit.

The operator can make simple adjustments to achieve and maintain an ideal push-down force when drilling in challenging conditions as a result of the drill’s bypass flow control system. Additionally, an optional anchor kit enables the LSGT+HDA to deliver push-down force up to 8,500 pounds, exceeding the weight of the drill rig. The drill also features an 8,500-pound lifting capacity for the hassle-free removal of augers and extensions. The hinged shuttle plate allows the operator to swing the rotary out of the way, providing easy access to the borehole.

A 27-horsepower Kohler EFI gas engine powers the drill, which includes a powerful 3,000-psi hydraulic system. The drill’s 12.5-gpm hydraulic power pack achieves a rotary speed of 100 rpm. The system provides the drill’s hydraulic winch with 1,500 pounds of pull for raising the automatic hammer and sampling string. A diesel option will also be available.

Little Beaver designed the LSGT+HDA for longevity and ease of use. The frame, rotary and swivel are constructed of high-strength welded steel for enhanced durability, and all crucial maintenance and greasing points are easily accessible.

The post Lone Star Drills Introduces Remote-Controlled Tracked Drill with Automatic SPT Hammer appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.