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In a heartwarming demonstration of community solidarity and corporate social responsibility, Local Workforce Hire and Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers have recently unveiled their collaboration. They pledge a substantial contribution of $20,000 worth of goods to support St. Vincent’s de Paul, a highly regarded charitable organisation dedicated to serving the Canberra community. This remarkable union showcases the potent synergy that emerges when local businesses unite to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need. A Shared Dedication to Philanthropy Both Local Workforce Hire and Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers, prominent figures in the Canberra region’s business landscape, boast a robust track record of supporting local community organisations and welfare initiatives. They achieve this through their Executive Team’s proactive involvement. Their decision to combine forces in support of St. Vincent’s de Paul is driven by a mutual commitment to giving back to the very community that has steadfastly supported them over the years. They wholeheartedly acknowledge the indispensable role of organisations like Vinnies in providing a safety net for vulnerable members of society. Through this inspiring act of generosity, their shared values and unwavering dedication converge to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the less fortunate. St. Vincent’s de Paul: A Guiding Light Affectionately known as Vinnies, St. Vincent’s de Paul stands as a beacon of hope within the Canberra community. For decades, it has been a cornerstone of assistance, solace, and support for individuals and families navigating hardship and adversity. With a resolute commitment to alleviating human suffering, Vinnies offers a comprehensive array of vital services. These serve as a lifeline for countless Canberrans during their times of need. Among the core tenets of Vinnies’ mission is the provision of emergency relief. In a world where unforeseen crises can strike with devastating swiftness, Vinnies extends a compassionate and immediate response. They supply essential items such as food, clothing, and blankets to individuals and families grappling with sudden challenges. This ensures that no one in the community is left without basic necessities when they need them most. Furthermore, Vinnies’ dedication goes beyond immediate relief. They are deeply committed to addressing the root causes of hardship, including the critical issue of affordable housing. The organisation actively champions initiatives aimed at providing secure and affordable housing options for vulnerable individuals and families in Canberra. In doing so, they contribute to long-term solutions and a more stable future for those they serve. Another crucial facet of Vinnies’ work centers on unwavering support for individuals facing homelessness. They provide not only shelter but also a sense of dignity and belonging to those experiencing homelessness. Their programs and services are designed to empower individuals to regain their independence and self-sufficiency. This helps in breaking the cycle of homelessness. In joining forces to bolster Vinnies, this partnership underscores that businesses can be potent allies in pursuing a more compassionate and equitable society. It demonstrates that hope can shine brighter when nurtured by collective efforts of caring individuals and organisations like Vinnies. The Impact of Synergy By pooling their resources and expertise, Local Workforce Hire and Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers set a compelling example for other businesses in the Canberra community. Their joint endeavour illustrates that when companies unite with a shared purpose, they can amplify their impact. They contribute significantly to enhancing the region for all residents. In the spirit of collaboration, these businesses aspire to inspire others in the business community to follow their lead. They understand that when companies come together with a shared purpose, their combined efforts can drive transformative change. Such collective action has the potential to address pressing challenges faced by Canberra residents. It can foster a more equitable and compassionate society. Inspiring Acts of Generosity Currently, Vinnies is running a Homewares appeal. This initiative aims to collect homewares that can greatly assist individuals and families in emergency situations. It helps those who need to relocate. By donating homewares that are no longer needed, community members can play an integral role in smoothing the transition for those facing crises. If you have surplus homewares, consider contributing to this Homewares appeal. Your gently used items can significantly impact people’s lives by helping them rebuild and find comfort during challenging times. It’s a straightforward yet impactful way to support St. Vincent’s de Paul’s mission. It showcases the strength of community spirit in Canberra. The partnership between Local Workforce Hire and Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers serves as a reminder of corporate responsibility. It extends beyond profits—it’s also about creating a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in need. This inspiring collaboration is hoped to motivate other local businesses to join the collective effort in shaping a more robust and compassionate Canberra community. It testifies to the enduring spirit of community and empathy that defines the Canberra region.

We all know what it is like, not to have enough hours in the day. You might have 1001 things that you need to get done, and whooops look at the time… it’s getting late. So, you ask yourself, “What time can I mow my lawn in Australia?” And “if I can’t mow my lawn tonight; how early can I mow the lawn tomorrow?” You can mow your lawn in Australia in all States and Territories between 10am and 7pm on any given day. If you want to mow outside these hours, refer to the residential noise restrictions below that account for whether it is a weekday, weekend, or public holiday as well as differences across States. While you would think that it would be much more simple to have generic rules across the country, that is just not how it works. But to make it easy, we detailed below what time you can mow your lawn across Australia. What time can I legally mow my lawn in Australia You can legally mow your lawn with a normal petrol mower between 10am and 7pm every day in all all States and Territories in Australia. But often you can mow your lawn outside these times, but you first need to check your residential noise restrictions. In Australia, like other countries, residential areas have some noise restriction rules that will outline the ideal times you can mow your lawn and when you should not. You need to know the right time, during weekdays, weekends, and holidays that are good for mowing the lawn and adhere to it. We have outlined some residential noise restrictions for some states, especially for your powered tools  QLD – 7 am to 7 pm on weekdays, 7 am to 7 pm on Saturdays and 8 am to 7 pm on Sundays and public holidays NSW – 7 am to 8 pm on weekdays, 7 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and 8 am to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays. VIC– 7 am to 8 pm on weekdays, 9 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and 9 am to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays. WA – 7 am to 7 pm weekdays, 7 am to 7 pm Saturdays and 9 am to 7 pm on Sundays and public holidays. SA – 8am to 8pm weekdays, 8 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and 9am to 8pm on Sundays and holidays. TAS – 7am to 8pm weekdays, 9am to 8pm on Saturdays, 10am to 8pm Sundays and public holidays. ACT – 7 am to 8 pm weekdays, 7 am to 8 pm Saturdays, 8 am to 8 pm Sundays and public holidays. NT – 7 am to 8 pm weekdays, 7 am to 8 pm Saturdays and 8 am to 8 pm on Sundays and public holidays. What is the earliest acceptable time to mow the lawn? While it’s legal to mow as early as 7 am in many areas, that doesn’t always mean it’s considerate. Some believe if it’s legal, it’s fine—but others may not appreciate the noise that early, especially on weekends. Contractors often start as early as possible to beat the heat. However, early starts can lead to complaints, which take time and may cost business. A quieter battery mower like the LC347IVX from Husqvarna, operating at just 79 dB(A), is a great solution—much quieter than petrol mowers, which average 90 dB(A). Since many noise regulations limit emissions to 60 dB(A) at the boundary, using a low-noise mower away from the property line can help you mow legally at almost any time. For homeowners, robot mowers like the Husqvarna 305 are ideal. At just 59 dB(A), they can run day or night, even up to the boundary, without disturbing the peace. To avoid fines or neighbour disputes, always check your state’s local noise rules—most mowers are loud and hard to ignore. Is 8 am too early to mow the lawn? Across all Australian States you are allowed to use any lawnmower from 8am on weekdays, but there are some noise variations that vary on weekends. In Victoria and Tasmania, noise restrictions mean you can only mow from 9am on Saturday. On Sunday, Victoria and Western Australia don’t let you mow before 9am and in Tasmania you can’t mow before 10am. While all these rules sound a bit arbitrary, it is important that you do abide by the rules. It shows your neighbours that you respect them, and helps keep a positive vibe in your community and life. And if you don’t follow the rules by mowing your lawn too early in the morning, you are actually breaking the law and can be slapped with a hefty fine from your local council! Is it rude to mow the lawn at 7 pm? You can mow your lawn at 7pm in all Australian States and Territories except for Tasmania where the cut off is 6pm. If you know your neighbour has a young child, it could be that you have a chat with them to make sure it won’t negatively affect them. Children aged 4 and under are more likely to have an early bed time and be in bed at 7pm. In saying that, a lot of kids have white noise machines in their rooms to create noise to encourage them to sleep. As a parent myself, it would not have bothered my kids if my neighbours mowed their lawn during or after their bed time, but every family is different. So the best thing is to get to know your neighbors and get around knowing the community so you can know the right time that works for them…. it’s nice and neighbourly after all!. Another thing to consider is when do your neighbours work? If your neighbor works at night, and comes home during the morning to rest, they would prefer you to mow at night when they are not at home. A 7pm mow would be much more preferable to them than a 7am mow!

How long does it take to mow a lawn, I hear you ask… It’s a question as timeless as the lawns themselves, stretching across endless backyards and neatly trimmed front gardens. Our mowing calculator is your essential tool to help you uncover the factors that influence the time it takes to mow a lawn. From the size of your turf to the horsepower of your mower, from the growth rate of your grass to the intricacies of landscape features, our mowing calculator will give you a comprehensive estimation. Join us as we cut through the noise (and the grass) and show you how to use our mower calmculator to help you estimate the time you’ll spend behind the mower – but also offer tips to make the process more efficient and enjoyable. Mowing Calculator Quickly and easily estimate how long it will take to mow your grass in seconds! To estimate the time it will take to cut your lawn with a push mower, ride on mower, or zero turn mower, use our lawnmower calculator. Whether you need to work out how long does it take to mow an acre, or how long to mow 5 acres, our mower calculator can give you an estimate on mowing time based on average mowing speeds. Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb, a new lawn care business owner, or a first-time homeowner staring down the expanse of your own little patch of green, understanding the time investment required for lawn maintenance is essential. Our Lawn Mower Calculator can be a great tool to help you decide what size mower you need for your property. Before you go out and buy a lawnmower, it is important to get an idea of how long it takes to mow your grass with different types of mowers. That way you can make sure you are looking for mowers that are best suited to the size of your property. This is where our simple Lawn Mowing Calculator comes in! Just plug in the size of your yard, and the types of mowers you are considering and it will give you an estimate on how long it will take to cut your lawn with each one. You may even be able to reduce your lawn mowing time, by choosing the best lawn mower for your yard or acreage. DID YOU KNOW… YOU CAN SAVE MORE TIME WITH AN AUTOMOWER! Do you know that automowers, also known as robot mowers, can mow anything from a simple backyard to an acreage or rural block. This can be especially useful for busy people, or those who outsource the job to someone else – it can be a real money saver! Can you imagine freeing up your time, and always having a perfect lawn, just by setting it up once and letting it do its thing? But not all robot mowers are equal. We recommend a Husqvarna as they are the leaders in the field of automowers, their technology is superior, and you know that you will get a reliable machine that does what it is supposed to do. Check out our Husqvarna Robot Mowers for sale here. Why is a mowing calculator useful? A mowing calculator helps you estimate mowing time and costs, making lawn care planning more efficient. Whether you’re choosing a mower or considering professional services, understanding average mowing speed and time can guide better decisions. Our grass cutting calculator estimates how long it’ll take to mow your lawn based on average speeds. It helps you avoid buying the wrong mower—too large, and it’s heavy and bulky; too small, and mowing takes forever. Since a mower is a long-term investment, getting the right size matters. The calculator also helps you decide whether a self-propelled, ride-on, or robotic mower would better suit your lawn size, terrain, and lifestyle—saving you time and effort in the long run. It ensures you invest in the right equipment from the start, avoiding costly mistakes or unnecessary upgrades later. How fast can a lawnmower go? The following guide can help with determining how fast a lawnmower can go on average. Mower Conditions mph kph Push mower 1.2 – 1.9 2 – 3 Ride on 3.6 – 5.2 5.9 – 8.4 Zero Turn 4.5 – 6.5 7.3 – 10.5 At first glance, it might seem simple to answer this, but mowing speed depends on several factors—like mower type, property size, terrain, and grass length. Are you using a push mower for 1 acre or wondering how long it takes to mow 2 acres with a zero-turn? Our mowing estimate calculator helps by letting you choose between a push mower, ride-on, or zero-turn. You can also select grass length (short or long) and terrain type (flat or hilly). These details impact how quickly you can finish mowing—especially with push mowers, which are harder to use on long grass or slopes. The calculator provides an educated estimate based on average speeds and your property details. While we can’t account for your personal fitness level, we can recommend a self propelled mower if you want to reduce effort and speed things up. It’s also a handy tool when deciding what mower size or type to buy. Seeing how much time different models can save might justify upgrading—better to realise it now than after making the wrong purchase. What is the average time it takes to mow a lawn? For a small to medium sized lawn of approximately 100m2, it will take around 5 to 10 minutes to mow your lawn with a push mower. This does not include the time that it takes to empty your catcher or trim the lawn edges with a grass trimmer. The reason for such a variation in estimate for how long it takes to mow a lawn is because it all depends on a number of factors such as the: Mowing acres per hour calculator I takes approximately 2.5 hours to mow an acre with a 19″ push mower, 35 minutes with a 42″

Smoke from your lawnmower can be troublesome and could leave you wondering if it needs servicing. Nevertheless, most smokes are harmless and do not signify a problem with your lawnmower. But how can you stop your lawnmower from smoking? To stop a lawnmower from smoking, identify the reason for the smoke by analysing the colour. Oil spills could cause a cloud of blue or white smoke on the engine. You can stop this smoke by restarting your lawnmower and giving spilt oil time to burn off. Stop black smoke by cleaning the mower filter. There are a few different causes of smoke from a lawnmower. So, let’s talk about the best ways to fix them! How do you stop a lawnmower from smoking? The way to stop a lawnmower from smoking will depend on what kind of smoke is blowing out of it. You need to understand what different colours mean to be able to stop a lawnmower smoking. Black smoke may signify that your fuel system is not functioning properly. The carburettor does not allow enough air to mix with gasoline, so a higher percentage of gasoline is not being burned. The black smoke indicates that the ratio of air and fuel is incorrect. A worn-out or dirty filter causes this incorrect mix. A dirty, clogged filter can also lead to insufficient air into the carburettor, causing incomplete combustion and black smoke. Therefore, one way to stop your lawnmower from smoking is to remove the filter and clean it with soap and water. If the filter is worn-out, you can replace it with a new one. Remember, different lawnmower models vary in brands, so it is advisable to consult the manual when cleaning the air filter. It should be mostly straightforward though: remove, clean, and replace. After cleaning or replacing the filter, you can start your mower and let it run for a few minutes. The black smoke should be gone after this. If it doesn’t go away, there might be an issue with the lawnmower carburettor. When this happens, it’s best to take your lawnmower to a professional for mower maintenance and repairs. What causes a lawnmower to smoke? Sometimes the lawnmower emits a cloud of white or blue smoke due to oil spills to the engine from an overfilled oil reservoir. The situation can become worse if you mow on a 15-degree incline. The oil spill on the engine casing can also happen during maintenance routines. You can solve this issue by running the lawnmower for a few minutes, allowing the machine to burn the excess fuel. If the problem persists, you should consult a professional to check for deeper issues. Besides oil spills on the engine, white smoke may be caused by worn-out combustion chamber seals, resulting in oil leaks. Additionally, white smoke could happen because the cylinders and the rings are worn-out, leading to air leaks in the crankcase. White lawnmower smoke can also be caused by the malfunctioning of the head gasket, which will require professional attention to fix. Hiring a professional could be costly, but if your lawnmower is still under warranty, you can take it to the nearest service dealer for free.   What does it mean when a lawn mower blows blue smoke? When a lawn mower blows blue smoke, it usually means the machine has excess oil throughout the engine. The best way to solve this is to let the mower run for 10-15 minutes to burn off the excess oil. Once the excess oil is gone, the blue smoke should disappear. Like white smoke, blue smoke happens due to oil spilt on the engine case, the lawnmower being tipped at 15-degree angles, and a damaged head gasket. A damaged head gasket in your lawnmower is an issue that needs to be addressed by a professional servicer. Blue smoke from your lawnmower could also be caused by the oil residue of your new mower. If you upgraded your old lawnmower or bought a new lawnmower, you have a higher chance of seeing blue smoke when you first start the engine. As we mentioned, you should leave the mower to run for 15 minutes until the smoke dissipates. If the smoke continues after this time, take the mower to be serviced. Why is my lawnmower blowing grey smoke? When you see grey smoke from your lawnmower, it is a sign of the engine burning oil. This is a sign that the engine is worn out and is burning too much oil. Grey smoke is more common in older lawnmowers that have had their fair share of mowing use. Grey smoke could also signify that the lawnmower’s oil levels are near depletion. Low oil levels could cause serious damage to the engine, hence the need to regularly top off the oil. A lawnmower could also blow grey smoke because of burning oil in the combustion chamber. This is a result of bad piston rings or leaky valve seals. Although these cases don’t immediately damage the engine, they’re a sign that your engine is nearing the end of its life. This is when it’s a good idea to start checking out new mowers, such as a Husqvarna LC219P push mower. If you’re not ready to buy a new mower, you can get a mechanic to try and fix the piston rings and valve seals. Can too much oil in a lawn mower cause white smoke? Excess oil in a lawnmower can easily spill on the engine during cleaning and maintenance, causing white smoke. Excess oil will also spill off if you tip the mower at a 15-degree angle. When you start the lawnmower, the engine will burn the excess oil, blowing white smoke. To stop a lawnmower from blowing white smoke, you can let the mower run and burn off excess oil for 15 minutes. This is without you moving it to mow anything. After about 15 minutes, the lawnmower should stop smoking, unless there is another cause for this issue. If your

N95 masks are made of several layers of synthetic fibre named polypropylene and designed to block at least 95% of the airborne particles. If worn correctly, an N95 mask can provide the highest level of protection. But can you still smell odours through an N95 mask? You can still smell odours through an N95 mask. This doesn’t mean that your mask isn’t protecting you against viral infections like COVID-19. Molecules responsible for smell are tiny compared to viruses. So, N95 masks can effectively filter out virus particles, but not gas molecules because of size. Face masks are designed to protect against viruses mostly, so the chances of still being able to smell things through them are high. Why can I still smell odours through N95 mask? You can still smell odours through N95 masks because the gas molecules are small enough to fit through the filters. N95 face masks are designed to stop viral-type diseases, such as COVID19, from spreading. While it can protect against large and smaller particles, the filtration isn’t enough to stop gas molecules. Understanding N95 Mask Limitations While N95 respirators are highly effective at filtering airborne particles, they are not designed to block all odours. A representative from Vidar Australia explains, “N95 masks are excellent for filtering particulates, but they don’t contain activated carbon, so certain odours may still be detectable.” For environments with strong smells, consider masks with additional filtration features. N95 masks can filter out dust, pollens, and virus-carrying droplets. All these particles are bigger than gas molecules which is why you can still smell through an N95 face mask. Only an activated carbon mask or another similar respiratory barrier can stop you from smelling odours. In saying this, though, N95 masks are some of the best protections you can wear. They filter particles that range from 0.1 to 0.3 microns, protecting you from a huge range of viruses and other dangerous particles. N95 face masks actually block 95% of airborne particles. So, while you still can smell through masks, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be wearing them. You will always be more protected wearing an N95 face mask and smelling odours, than not wearing a mask. Is it bad to smell odours through N95 mask? Smelling odours through an N95 face mask isn’t bad. This kind of face mask can’t stop gas molecules from reaching your airways. This means that many odours around you can still be smelt even with an N95 mask on. The extent of the odour can vary depending on where it is coming from and what face mask you are wearing. If you’re wearing a reusable cloth mask, you will be able to smell a lot of odours. An N95 face mask with the best filtration efficiency won’t completely stop you from smelling odours. But you are still protected from viruses, which means smelling odours isn’t bad. N95 masks will block a certain percentage of the smell, but there will still be certain molecules small enough to slip through the filter. If the smell of odours through your face mask is becoming too noticeable, you can change your face mask to feel more protected. There are certain bad odours that you can smell when wearing an N95 mask. This often comes from your own body, especially when you’re sick. If you are sick, the bacteria from your breath can build up on the mask. In this case, you should be changing the N95 mask regularly to help recover from sickness. Are you still protected if you can smell odours through N95 mask? You’re still protected against viruses and other harmful particles, even if you can smell odours through an N95 mask. Lots of people think that if you can smell food, smoke, or other scents through an N95 mask, then the mask is useless. But this isn’t the case. Viruses spread through the droplet particles. These particles are way bigger than gas molecules responsible for odours. So, saying that a mask is ineffective just because you can smell an odour is not correct. A mask won’t stop a gas molecule from passing through it because of its very tiny size. In a droplet, viruses are clumped together, making the passing of droplets complex through the mask. Should you be able to smell cigarette smoke through N95 mask? You are able to smell cigarette smoke through an N95 face mask. This doesn’t influence the level of protection you get from wearing an N95 mask against viruses. What this does indicate is that you need a different kind of respiratory mask to protect your airways against smoke if you’re around a smoking area. Most odour particles within cigarette smoke are small enough to fit through the pores in N95 face mask filters. This is why you can still smell the smoke while wearing this face mask. But there isn’t cause for too much panic. While an N95 mask won’t stop the smell of cigarette smoke, it can filter out a percentage of other harmful particles. The dust, ash, and water droplets containing viruses that can all stem from a cigarette are stopped by the N95 mask. Should you be able to smell alcohol through N95 mask? You might be able to smell alcohol through an N95 mask. The number 95 in the name refers to the filtration efficiency of the mask, indicating that this mask can filter out 95% of 0.3 microns. But there’s still a 5% leakage factor. And since odour-causing particles are small molecules, you’ll be able to smell things like alcohol through an N95 mask. So, keep in mind that an N95 mask doesn’t offer protection against fumes and chemical odours. This also includes gases that individuals may experience in a health care setting or a hospital. Can you smell food through N95 mask? You can smell food and strong scents through an N95 mask. The food odour particles are tiny molecules. Just like other odours that we’ve mentioned, the molecules from your food that create the

Preparing the ground for a concrete slab is vital for ensuring a long lifespan for the slab itself. To properly prepare the ground, you need to compact the soil. How do you compact soil for a concrete slab? To compact soil ready for a concrete slab, a mechanical compactor should be used. A plate compactor is the most common tool used to compact soil for a concrete slab. For small areas, a hand tamp may do the trick, but a mechanical compactor is better. Strong metal plates and lots of force compact soil best. Compaction helps to squeeze out moisture and air pushing solid soil particles tightly together. This makes a dense and strong base for a concrete slab. What is used to compact the ground before cementing the area? The ground in large areas can be compacted using a mechanical compactor before cementing the area. For smaller areas, no bigger than a section of a footpath, you can use a hand tamp. Anything larger than this is better to be compacted using a mechanical tamper for efficiency and quality. A hand tamper has a flat metal base and a heavy pole with, usually, two handles on each side. This allows you to push down on the main pole or on the handles to compact soil for concrete. To use a hand tamper to compact the ground, you should raise it to waist height, take a step, and drop the plate onto the ground. Put as much force behind this as possible and make sure each strike overlaps the last. A mechanical tamper has an ignition engine and a heavy plate below the engine. Mechanical tampers are also known as plate compactors. The plate is what hits the ground when the machine operates. The operator often walks behind as they push the machine to compress the soil on small surfaces difficult to reach with a road roller. Preparing the Groundwork Before compaction begins, it’s important to clear the area of any rocks, roots, or leftover building materials. Levelling out uneven patches of soil will make the compaction process much more effective. This stage can involve shifting quite a bit of material—especially if you’re cutting down high spots or bringing in fill. Using a tough, well-balanced wheelbarrow can save your back and speed things up. Moss Wheelbarrows are built in Australia to handle the roughest jobs, making them a reliable choice for serious site prep. What can I use to compact gravel? To compact gravel, a pneumatic roller or a plate compactor machine are the best tools to use. A pneumatic roller has a platform fixed on two axles. The rear axle has an extra wheel to the front axle. This type of machine works well to compact soil in smooth and less steep areas. Pneumatic rollers compact slightly cohesive or cohesionless soil including sand, gravel, silty sands, and sandy clay. You can choose to use a pneumatic roller to compact gravel, but the more popular choice is a plate compactor. One of the best compactors to use for gravel is a forward plate compactor. When you’re compacting soil or gravel, you should wet the ground before starting to compact it. The moisture helps achieve better compaction because the particles slide and bond together easier. If the soil or gravel lacks moisture, it can take more effort to compact it well. On the other hand, too much moisture can weaken the base when you compact the gravel. So, it’s important to only dampen the gravel before you compact it and prepare it for a concrete slab. Some additional things to consider when compacting gravel and soil are: What types of equipment are used for soil compaction? There are a variety of tools that you can use to compact soil for a concrete slab including vibratory tampers, rollers, and rammers. Vibratory tampers are compactors with a base plate activated by a spring and driven by a motor. They weigh between 50 and 100kgs and are ideal for confined zones. They compact all types of soils for concrete slabs. Rammers are lightweight machines, typically handled by a single person. They have a base ranging from 15x15cm2 to 20x20cm2 and weigh around 30kgs. Rammers work well to compact cohesive soil such as clay in trenches or building foundations. Vibratory plate compactors are often applied on coarse soils such as sand with 4-8% fine clay particles. With a weight range between 100kgs to 2 tons, vibratory plate compactors compact larger areas through vibrations. Smooth wheel rollers use static compression on the soil beneath the rolls. There is one drum or two drum tractors weighing 10 and 200 kg per drum. These machines are used to compact granular soil during road or highway construction. Sheep’s foot rollers are similar to smooth drums. The only notable difference is that the drums have sheep’s feet or a tamping roller in front and tires in the rear. The dimensions of these machines differ depending on various soil compaction capacities. They are often used on cohesive soils and soft rocks to help break them. A sheep’s foot roller is also ideal when mixing soils or compacting hard, dry soils. Grid rollers have cylindrical surfaces embedded with a network of steel grids. The grid has square holes, and the operator can enhance the grid’s weight by adding ballast to the cylinder. It weighs between 5.5 and 15 tons and is used to compact thick and rocky soils. How much does a compactor compact? The general rule for how much a compactor will compact is: for every 1,000 pounds of compaction force, the machine compacts 1 inch of soil. It’s important to make sure that you have the right equipment to compact the area and material that you want. The right size compactor will have good enough force to prevent rifts created by pressure or moisture that can result in uneven surfaces. You should consider the force needed to compact the soil and material you intend to compact. The plate compactor’s

Concrete driveways can be prone to cracking. One of the best ways you can protect your driveway against this happening is with a good base. So, what is the best base for a concrete driveway? Gravel is the best base to use for a concrete driveway. A range of gravel types can be used for a driveway base. It should be paired with a subgrade of soil, then the gravel base. The gravel is a good compactable base that will create a smooth finish for a concrete driveway with drainage advantages. Properly constructing your base is the most important thing you can do for a durable concrete driveway. This means using the best base materials for concrete driveways. What is the best base under concrete driveway? The best base for under a concrete driveway is a gravel base. There are a few reasons why this is the case. In any concrete construction gravel generally is considered the best prep and base layer. The soil subgrade needs to be prepped before you can put concrete on it. You should be levelling out soil and applying a gravel base before your concrete slab or driveway. You should start with a flat and level surface. Any slopes or dips should be filled in with soil and compacted. After that, a layer of crushed rock or gravel is spread out and compacted using a plate compactor. A sturdy wheelbarrow like the Australian Made Moss Wheelbarrows makes it easier to shift gravel or road base across the site, especially if you’re working alone or without heavy machinery. Gravel is a good concrete driveway base for two main reasons. One reason is that gravel promotes good drainage for your driveway. Moisture can seep through the concrete and then run down into the soil through spaces made from gravel. Other bases can trap this moisture in the concrete which leads to cracking. Gravel is strong enough to stabilise a concrete driveway without causing moisture damage. The other main reason gravel is the best base under a concrete driveway is the fact that it is a solid foundation. Once compacted, the gravel base layer prevents any concrete driveway from shifting with the soil underneath. Without this protective base, concrete curves and dips as soil moves. This leads to a cracked concrete driveway. Gravel is the best material to prevent this from happening. The gravel can move enough with soil without impacting the smooth layer that supports the concrete driveway. To properly compact a gravel base for a concrete driveway, it’s best to use a plate compactor machine. This is especially important for driveways in areas with poor drainage and regular freezing temperatures. What’s the easiest base for under concrete driveway? Gravel is the best and easiest base to put under concrete. Once you have built and installed forms, and completed levelling and grading for drainage, you place and level a 4–6-inch gravel bed. Gravel is easy to spread evenly around the whole area you want to use for a concrete driveway. It is also easier to flatten and level and compact compared to other materials. Once you’ve compacted the gravel base, consult a template for the driveway to check the thickness of the gravel. It should extend down from the tops of the forms 4 inches from where the finished driveway will sit. Compact the gravel more if needed. To do a quality job of compacting a gravel base for a concrete driveway, grab a professional forward plate compactor. Once you’re satisfied with the gravel base, thoroughly dampen the gravel, and you can start laying concrete. How much gravel base do you need for a concrete driveway? The amount of gravel you will need for a concrete driveway base depends on how big your driveway is. It can also depend on what your driveway will be used for. Luckily there is a general rule of thumb to help figure out approximately how much gravel you need for your concrete driveway base. Measure the driveway’s length and width in yards. The general gravel base depth for a concrete driveway is ¾ of an inch. Multiply the length, width, and depth together. This answer is how many cubic yards of gravel you’re going to need. Most driveways need somewhere in the region of 6 inches of gravel. If you are parking particularly heavy vehicles on it, though, you may need more or less. Somewhere between 4-12 inches is likely to be the range for your base. Can you use sand as a base for concrete driveway? Sand is not a good choice for a base of a concrete driveway. Sand isn’t sturdy enough to properly support the concrete driveway and instead can end up combining with the soil underneath. This causes the concrete to lower with the weight of cars. Eventually, this can sink parts of your driveway and cause cracks and other damage. Even the best concrete tools won’t save a sinking driveway. Under both very wet and very dry conditions, sand is very mobile, and shifting around under your concrete will eventually cause the driveway to crack. You’ll also end up using more concrete overall, as the softer the base the more poured concrete you’ll need to get it level. Finally, maintaining a level surface with sand is a lot more difficult than with gravel. This makes it harder to keep the thickness of the concrete level, too. So, using sand as a base for a concrete driveway is much more of a hassle that won’t have any long-term benefits. Does a concrete driveway need a base? A concrete driveway absolutely needs a base. Without it, your concrete driveway is at risk of many different kinds of damage and won’t last very long. The big problem is going to be soil shifting. If you place a concrete driveway directly on top of the soil, then that soil will be highly susceptible to moving around. This will move the concrete above, too, and will lead to cracking in

Cleaning a chicken coop can be a dusty and dirty job but is important to be done regularly. If you don’t clean your chicken coop often, bacteria and other microorganisms will grow there. Given the dirtiness of the job, you might wonder if you should wear a mask while cleaning the chicken coop? You should always wear a mask when cleaning the chicken coop to prevent yourself from getting sick. Wearing an N95 or 3M facemask prevents you inhaling harmful airborne contaminants, such as dust particles and fumes. These particles from a chicken coop can cause several direct and indirect diseases. It’s always important to prioritise your health and clean dirty places such as chicken coops in the safest way. Wearing a mask is part of this. Should you wear a mask to clean chicken coop? You should wear a mask to clean a chicken coop to prevent yourself from inhaling dust and bacteria particles that can harm your health. These particles are stirred up when you clean out a chicken coop and replace the bedding. Inhaling dust and dirt particles from a chicken coop can make you sick, which is why wearing a mask is important. Chicken coops contain poultry dust and are filled with fumes, bacteria, and viruses that can cause several potentially life-threatening diseases. These include occupational asthma, farmer’s lung, infection and irritation of mucus membranes. Any individual can contract these diseases if they breathe the traces into their respiratory system or come into direct contact with the chicken coop dust. But the good news is these diseases are preventable if you wear a mask and clean with care. When cleaning out the chicken coop, you shouldn’t risk your health by doing this task without wearing protective gear. The good news is that protecting your health while cleaning a chicken coop is as simple as putting on a mask and gloves. You can also consider wearing other personal protective gear including safety goggles, long sleeves and long pants. What mask is best for cleaning a chicken coop? The best masks to wear to clean a chicken coop are dust masks, N95 or 3M face masks. Some people prefer to wear a high-quality respirator mask. This is recommended if you are cleaning large chicken coops regularly. But for regular or small chicken coops, you can get away with wearing a good disposable N95 or 3M face mask. These masks are lightweight, but filter out most of the bad particles in a chicken coop. You can also easily dispose of these masks after cleaning a chicken coop. This prevents the particles from lingering around your house and risking inhalation. When you’re picking a mask to wear while cleaning the chicken coop, make sure it has: Chicken coops can have low to high levels of ammonia due to the presence of chicken poop. Breathing ammonia causes coughing, throat and nose irritation, and may even impact your lungs. There’s also chicken coop dust and bacteria present in the coop that can spread diseases. So, it’s important to wear the right mask to clean a chicken coop! Will you get sick if you clean a chicken coop without a mask? There is a high risk of becoming sick if you clean a chicken coop without a mask on. Contrary to what most people believe, wearing only gloves, boots, and full clothes is not enough to protect you when you’re cleaning the chicken coop. Although it prevents you from contracting the few diseases spread through direct contact, most common diseases are contracted from breathing in the dirty coop air. Chicken poop contains ammonia and if you breathe it in, it can be hazardous. If the coop is large, the ammonia levels will be low. But in small chicken coops, ammonia levels can be high. Breathing in these high levels of ammonia leads to burning and irritation in the nose, throat, and respiratory tract. It can even result in lung damage. Cleaning the chicken coop also stirs up dust particles that are filled with bacteria, mould, parts of insects, faecal matter, and bedding particles. When you breathe in these particles you have a high chance of gaining respiratory problems and ailments. All of this can be prevented simply by wearing a mask when cleaning a chicken coop! Can you get sick from cleaning out chicken coop? If you aren’t careful when cleaning out a chicken coop, you can become sick through inhaling dust particles and touching bacteria. The experts form Vidar Australia say that chicken coop dust contains feathers, dead skin, bedding material, bird droppings, dust mites, endotoxins, and other microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. This chicken dust may cause Salmonella and Campylobacter as this bacterium is present in the chicken droppings or faeces. Apart from these direct contact diseases, the diseases caused by inhaling chicken coop dust particles include farmer’s lung, occupational asthma, and irritation of mucus membranes. To avoid getting sick from cleaning out a chicken coop, wear appropriate protective gear, including a face mask, gloves, safety goggles and long clothes. How do you protect yourself when cleaning chicken coop? The best way to protect your health when cleaning a chicken coop is to wear a mask and gloves. You should put on clean protective gear before starting to clean the chicken coop at all. This is to protect yourself against mucus membranes, harmful particles, and microorganisms. You need to cover your nose, mouth and hands especially to be protected when cleaning a chicken coop. Wear the following gear to protect yourself while cleaning out a chicken coop: Stay safe! If you found this article helpful, check out our other Canberra Diamond Blade resources! We have an article detailing the facts of if N95 protect against paint fumes or not. For all your gardening and construction tool needs, visit our Canberra Mower Centre today!

Concrete demolition is one of the less sensitive construction jobs, but it’s still really important that you use the right tool for the job. If you’ve ever witnessed any roadworks, you’ve probably seen a jackhammer in action—but can you cut concrete with a jackhammer? Concrete can be cut using a jackhammer. For any concrete that is three inches or more in-depth, a jackhammer is a key cutting tool. Jackhammers come in different sizes and shapes to help break up and cut all kinds of concrete. They should be paired with a demolition saw for precise concrete cutting. Breaking and cutting concrete requires a bit more care and precision than you might think, and it starts with choosing the right tool. A jackhammer could be the power tool you’re missing! Can concrete be cut with a jackhammer? Concrete can be cut with a jackhammer; for most concrete cutting projects, a jackhammer is one of the best tools to use. For small bits of concrete, you can get away with using circular saws alone. But if you want to cut concrete that is thicker than three inches, you should have a jackhammer on hand. To cut concrete with a jackhammer precisely, you should also use a demolition saw. The demolition saw creates initial cuts up and down the surface as a guide for the jackhammer. You can then use a jackhammer to break up these sections of concrete. The demolition saw isn’t used to cut through the concrete, it is a shallow guide to help keep the concrete cuts more precise. The jackhammer is what will properly cut through and break apart concrete. Most roadwork and construction projects will use a jackhammer to help cut concrete. This is because of the power a jackhammer has. Concrete is one of our strongest and most durable construction materials, so it takes a heavy-duty quality cutting tool to break it. How well can a jackhammer cut concrete? Jackhammers are one of the best tools for cutting concrete. You can get a range of different jackhammers depending on the concrete project at hand. To cut thick concrete, a heavy-duty jackhammer is one of the best tools to use. It is easiest to break up concrete thicker than three inches with a jackhammer compared to trying to only use construction saws. Pneumatic and electric jackhammers provide all the elbow grease for you, meaning you’ll need to put in relatively little effort to break up the concrete. Breaking up concrete is never a quick or easy job, but a jackhammer will make it easier than any other tool would. I would only say that how precisely it can cut the concrete, again, depends on the individual jackhammer. If you are looking for a very fine edge to the concrete, then be sure to use a demolition saw to carve out guidelines and a smaller jackhammer where possible. Can a jackhammer break concrete? A jackhammer can break concrete, and it is the best tool for the job over a certain depth. Jackhammers pack the power and control needed to break up thick concrete, using a high-powered, fast-moving chisel to break into the concrete. The repeated intense chiselling of a jackhammer is the key to cutting thick concrete. It’s hard to get this power without electronic or pneumatic assistance. Plus, a jackhammer can reach further than most saws used to cut concrete. A circular saw can be used to cut concrete that is less than 3 inches deep. But for most large-scale concrete projects, the depth will be more than this. So, a jackhammer is best for breaking the most concrete. You can use a jackhammer to cut out concrete sections or to completely break up a concrete slab. What kind of jackhammer is best for cutting concrete? For most heavy-duty concrete cutting projects, a pneumatic or hydraulic jackhammer is best to use. Jackhammers are categorized in two ways: how they are powered and how heavy they are. The best kind of jackhammer for cutting concrete is going to depend on the job at hand. At the shallow end of the spectrum, around three inches deep of concrete, a good, light, electric jackhammer will do the job just fine. For a more heavy-duty job, though, you’ll want either a pneumatic or a hydraulic jackhammer. Hydraulics are generally considered to have more force for jobs like cutting through concrete. But hydraulics are really used in the most heavy-duty jobs, and probably aren’t necessary for smaller jobs. The specific best jackhammer is going to depend on the particular job you are doing. For most domestic jobs, up to around twelve inches of concrete, you’re never really going to need anything stronger than a pneumatic jackhammer. But some jobs won’t even need a jackhammer. So, what can you do if you don’t have a jackhammer to break the concrete? How do you break concrete slab without a jackhammer? To break a concrete slab without a jackhammer, you’ll need a heavy-duty metal sledgehammer and some physical strength. Start by putting on protective gear: gloves, safety goggles, a dust mask, and a hard hat. Before you begin, check for any underground utilities such as water, gas, or electrical lines. You can do this by prising up a section of the slab and digging slightly beneath it. Damaging a utility line can be dangerous and costly, so it’s a crucial step. If you’re working near a house or building, lay a polythene sheet over the work area to contain flying debris and make cleanup easier. Lightly dampening the concrete with water can also help control dust. Next, check the thickness of the slab using a spade. If it’s 3 inches or less, a sledgehammer should be sufficient. Start by lifting one side with a crowbar, then work your way inward from the corners using strong, controlled swings. Position your feet shoulder-width apart and engage your core, back, and arms to deliver powerful blows. If the sledgehammer simply bounces off the slab, it’s likely too thick—and

Concrete is a strong and durable material in construction, but this strength often makes it difficult to cut, repair, or replace. Cutting concrete is a difficult task that requires specialized tools. Can you cut concrete with a circular saw? Cutting concrete with a circular saw is one of the best ways to do so, provided that the concrete is not thicker than 6 inches. The circular saw should be paired with a wet diamond saw blade for a clean and straight cut. For bigger concrete cutting projects, it is best to use a concrete/cut-off saw. So, you can use a circular saw to cut smaller concrete projects. Can concrete be cut with a circular saw? A circular saw is one of the best tools to use for cutting concrete, as long as you have the right blade. The blade you use to cut concrete with a circular saw should be a diamond blade. These have little diamond pieces throughout the whole blade that can easily slice through the hard surfaces of concrete. But it’s important to note that you should only use a circular saw for smaller concrete cutting projects. A standard circular saw will only cut around 2.5 inches into concrete. If you’re wanting to remove small bits of concrete, this is a great option. By cutting concrete with a circular saw, you can be much more precise than with other saws. The ease that diamond blades will cut through the concrete adds to this precision. But with a circular saw, you shouldn’t try to cut concrete that is thicker than 6 inches. Doing this risks breaking your blade and increases the risk of injury to yourself. For concrete thicker than 6 inches, use a concrete saw. When cutting concrete with a circular saw, make sure you have the right equipment and safety gear. The safety gear you need to wear when cutting concrete with a circular saw includes steel-toed boots and heavy clothing. This is to protect you from concrete debris. You should also consider wearing shin guards and knee pads in case some concrete drops towards your legs. This should all be paired with safety goggles and a dust respirator mask. You should also wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your ears from the noise of cutting concrete. To cut concrete properly, get the best quality cutting tools for the job, including the right diamond blade and circular saw. Can you cut concrete pavers with a circular saw? You can cut concrete pavers with a circular saw quite easily. The key is to make sure that you have a stealth master diamond blade that is designed for cutting concrete pavers. Here’s how to cut concrete pavers with a circular saw: Can you cut concrete blocks with a circular saw? You can cut concrete blocks with a circular saw precisely if you follow the below guidelines carefully. What circular saw blade is best for cutting concrete? The best type of circular saw blade for cutting concrete is a diamond blade. A high-quality diamond blade has a reinforced steel disc with a rim that houses synthetic diamonds, which provides a sharpened edge for cutting. This disc rotates at very high speeds while the sharp diamonds cut smoothly through the concrete. You can use either a wet or dry cutting diamond blade with a circular saw to cut concrete.  Wet cutting diamond blades are the most popular tool used to cut concrete. They can create precise cuts while placing less pressure on the saw as well as on the person yielding it. They are constantly kept wet during the cutting process as high temperatures can damage the blades. Water also reduces the amount of dust in the concrete process. This is important to protect yourself from inhaling construction dust. Dry cutting blades have specialized segment welds that are resistant to heat. Therefore, these blades do not need water as a coolant. But they can sometimes overheat. Dry cutting also produces a lot of dust. This is why most people prefer wet cutting over dry cutting. Dry cutting blades are usually used for small concrete projects. Cleanup and Safety Once your cuts are complete, it’s important to clear away dust and debris from the area. Not only does this help maintain a safer worksite, but it also prevents leftover fragments from interfering with further construction. A sturdy wheelbarrow like our Australian Made Moss barrows can make quick work of transporting broken concrete and dust to your disposal area, especially if you’re working with a significant amount of waste. Always wear protective gear during cleanup, including gloves and a dust mask, to avoid inhaling fine particles. Cutting concrete becomes a much easier task when you use tools such as diamond blades and circular saws. If you’re looking for the best gardening and construction tools that can help with your concrete projects, visit Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers today! If you found this article helpful, check out our other resources including ‘how to perform a chainsaw compression test.’