Drum Cutter
Hydraulically driven pick-equipped drums remove rock or concrete progressively for trenching, profiling, scaling and controlled excavation.
When to choose it
- Trimming trench walls and excavation faces
- Profiling shafts and tunnel surfaces
- Progressive excavation of suitable fractured rock or concrete
When it’s not the right call
- Unassessed massive rock. Strength alone does not establish suitability. Fracturing, abrasivity and available power affect cutting and wear.
- Heavy reinforcement. Steel content and concrete thickness need assessment against the chosen cutter.
- A guaranteed noise result. A cutting method may be worth assessing, but site noise and vibration limits still require monitoring.
Sizes we work with
4.5T - 25T carriers
Carrier weight is a starting point, not a fit confirmation. The attachment, mounting and operating requirements need to suit your machine.
Using your own machine or hiring ours? Include that in your enquiry.
The Right Setup Starts Here
Tell us what you need to get done. A few key details about your job help us specify, configure and commission the right attachment for your machine, application and site requirements.
- Ground: Strength, jointing, abrasivity and any geotech logs.
- Profile: Cut dimensions, quantity, tolerances and reinforcement.
- Site limits: Nearby structures, dust controls and noise/vibration requirements.
- Carrier and access: Machine make/model, operating weight, hitch, reach, working platform and relevant hydraulic circuits.
Tell us about your project.
Complex scope. Tight timeline. Compliance-critical. That's where we start.
Scope your job
Common questions
What is a drum cutter used for on an excavator?
A drum cutter uses hydraulically driven, pick-equipped drums to remove rock or concrete progressively. It is used for trimming trench walls, profiling shafts and tunnel faces, scaling and controlled excavation where a more defined profile is needed than breaking provides.
Is a drum cutter quieter than a hydraulic hammer?
It can be an alternative worth assessing where impact breaking is restricted, but noise and vibration depend on the material, the method and where the receivers are. Any drum cutter method still needs assessment and monitoring against the project's noise and vibration limits.
How hard a rock can an excavator drum cutter cut?
There is no single limit for the category. Rock strength, fracturing, abrasivity, the cutter model and the carrier's power all affect whether cutting is feasible and how fast picks wear. Send us the geotechnical data and the profile required so we can assess it properly.
Can a drum cutter be used for shaft and tunnel profiling?
Yes - profiling shafts and tunnel surfaces is a common use where access suits an excavator-mounted cutter. Ventilation, dust control, material handling and the working envelope all need planning for confined spaces. Tell us the shaft or tunnel dimensions and the access available.
Will a drum cutter fit my excavator?
Supply the excavator make, model, operating weight and hitch details, plus available hydraulic flow, pressure and auxiliary circuits for powered tools. We check the drum cutter against the carrier before anything mobilises, so the setup arrives matched to the machine and the task rather than being sorted out on site.