A square headed earth rammer has a square, flat-faced head, made from cast iron. This permits a thorough earth ramming along edges when compared with round headed earth rammers.
What is a square headed rammer used for?
It is most commonly used for large areas that need compacting, in instances such as roads, embankments, laying paving slabs and hard core compacting (the compaction of stone chips).
One of the main advantages of using a square headed rammer is that its straight sides allow for the compaction of edges as well as being able to compact a large surface area due to its face size.
Does the head come in different sizes?
The rammer head comes in two general sizes:
8in x 8in (200mm x 200mm) or 10in x 10in (250mm x 250mm).
Which one should I be using?
The larger head would be more useful when compacting a larger area, whereas the smaller head could be used for more confined spaces or when compaction of edges or corners is needed. It can do this because of its long straight edges.
Types of handle
There are three types of handle/shaft available on square headed earth rammers: metal, wood and fibreglass.
Most handles have a cushioned top for comfort when using, although some wooden handles do not.
The length of the handle varies by brand, however, they can range from 107cm (42in) to 137cm (54in).
Wooden handles
Wooden handles are not as strong as some other handles and they vary on whether they have a cushioned top or not.
Metal (steel) handles
A metal handle is generally the cheapest available. Being made from steel, it is strong but can be quite heavy. Metal handles do have a cushioned top.
Fibreglass handles
Fibreglass handles are strong and lightweight.
Fibreglass handles also have cushioned tops.
Which type of handle is best?
For long term use, a fibreglass handle is preferable over other handle types.
Wooden handles have a tendency to snap under a lot of pressure and metal handles are much heavier than fibreglass ones which could cause back strain if working on a large project.
Fibreglass handles are, however, usually the most expensive.