Tips to find the best blast hole drill rigs for sale

As one is planning to purchase blast hole drilling equipment for mining, construction, or any quarrying business, it can at times be very difficult to identify suitable blast hole drill rigs for sale. Such decision factors include the power that should be provided to the drill, the speed of drilling, mobility, automation, and many more. Here in this article, we will present five major tips that may facilitate your choice of the best, most cost-effective blast hole drill rigs for sale.  

Plan Target Production

The sizes of blast hole drill rigs also differ in power and drilling rates depending on the production requirements. Bear in mind your targeted drilling depths and your drilling patterns, if any. Specifying the expected average footage per day, month, and year, as well as the expected hole counts, will filter the available drill rigs capable of producing the outputs your operation needs. Bigger and better rigs entail high upfront costs, but they reduce costs in the long run since they increase production. 

Points to Ponder When Deciding on the Down-the-Hole Hammer 

The down-the-hole (DTH) hammer plays one of the critical roles in the drilling process, so before you consider any blast hole drill rigs for sale, it may be wise to weigh your options on hammers. Make sure the hammer has the appropriate striking moment for the ground conditions in the case of a weighted hammer. Also, look at the hammer’s ease of maintenance, a relevant feature to consider when selecting a hammer. Tools with accessible hexagonal heads and the ability to replace worn parts without returning the hammers to their manufacturers can be useful to cut downtime for the repair. 

Assessing the Mobility of a Drill Rig

Which sort of ground will your drill rigs be expected to operate on? The decision to be made most importantly is between truck, track, trailer, and skid-mount carrier. Truck mounts are limited to road transport, yet they can rarely be used on surfaces of rocky terrain. As a matter of fact, the track-mounted rigs are specially designed for rough terrain, while they need heavy loads for towing. Trailer rigs are versatile in the sense they provide a compromise between mobility modes, and the skid mounts are suitable for static applications. From the above analysis, the access needs should determine the carrier selection. 

Automation and control features

It makes sense to spend time looking for cheap rigs; however, cheap equipment is not always an excellent idea as it may increase operational expenses in the future. When browsing through the listings of drill rigs for sale, check the level of automation of the equipment. Auto-drilling, rod handling, and positioning controls make the job more efficient and safer for the operators, as they do not have to undertake the strenuous tasks by hand. 

Only select those sellers who can provide service support

It is easy for any individual to put up a drill rig for sale online, but buyers need to beware of sellers who may not be knowledgeable in the industry or who cannot offer support services such as spare parts, maintenance, and field servicing. Look for sellers who provide coverage for the warranty of the product that you intend to purchase. Also verify mechanics for fixing and spare wear essential to keep the rig at its optimum performance through its entire working period. 

Conclusion

This way, you get to find out which seller service capabilities and specifications of available blast hole drilling equipment meet your requirements, and where used and reconditioned rigs are indeed the best value for the amount of drilling needed. We always want to remind everyone that the efficiency of drilling affects operating costs in subsequent years, so do not let your guard down when choosing equipment that fits your crew’s capabilities and the requirements of the jobsites. It is a proven way to increase the life span of your drill rigs without compromising on your overall mining or construction timeline.