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mortar buggies
Equipment with improved design and power
assistance saves labor in transporting mortar
By Jim Camillo
Standard
wheelbarrows
Barrow innovations
Available in 6- and
8.5-cubic-foot
sizes, mortar
buggies are
loaded at ground
level, hoisted to a
scaffold, then
rolled along an
inside floor to
workers stations
for unloading.
Mortar buggies
Most contractors and manufacturers define a mortar buggy as
a mortar tub with wheels. For a
long time, push-behind buggies
were the only type available. But
now contractors also can choose
motor-powered buggies, which
come in walk-behind, sit-down,
and ride-on models.
Some manufacturers say manual buggies are an effective alternative to wheelbarrows at ground
level. Contractors, though, say
the buggies caster wheels dont
give good traction on uneven or
soft ground. Most use them in
place of wheelbarrows only if
boards are placed on the ground
to form a walking path between
the workers and mortar mixer.
Standard buggies have a 6cubic-foot capacity and the same
design as a mortar tub. One end
slopes towards the center to allow easier shoveling. Theyre 20
to 24 inches wide, about 35 inches
including clearance for 6-, 8-, or
10-inch wheels. A standard buggy costs about $400 to $525, compared to $230 to $270 for a 6- or
10-cubic-foot tub. The standard
buggy is made of heavy-gauge
steel and weighs about 160 pounds
when empty.
Though heavier than wheelbarrows, buggies allow workers
to transport larger quantities of
mortar faster and more easily
than wheelbarrows, according to
manufacturers. One manufacturer
makes 8.5-cubic-foot buggies that
cost about $325.
Power buggies, designed solely
for mortar transport at ground
level, feature a triangular frame,
with single or dual (for sit-down
and ride-on) steering wheels and
single or dual front drive wheels.
PUBLICATION #M920468
Copyright 1992, The Aberdeen Group
All rights reserved