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Specs such as horsepower, operating weight and dig depth/reach typically garner initial attention with an excavator. But the bucket at the end of the stick can also have a tremendous affect on how well a particular machine performs on a jobsite. And, since a bucket can last the lifetime of its host, it makes sense to pay attention to its selection.

The goal is to scoop up the maximum amount of whatever material you're moving. Accomplishing that usually requires creating a balance between capacity and application. Mount a bucket that's too large for your application and you might end up excavating more than is necessary or, worse yet, cause damage to the bucket or machine and/or compromise operator safety.

Mount one

that's too small and it will simply take too much time to dig.

There is a wide array of buckets available — everything from general-purpose, heavy-duty and severe-duty buckets to specialty buckets such as those for digging and moving rock, coral and lava. The differences between them center around abrasion resistance and wearability, as well as the ground engaging tools (GET) attached to the digging edge. They can also be spec'd in a variety of capacities and widths. In addition, specialty buckets may be available with a variety of designs, shapes (i.e., V-shaped) and GET.

How tough does it need to be?

It's crucial to use the right bucket, since a misstep can reduce productivity and lead to premature wear.

"If you use a general-purpose bucket in rock, you can break it and cause failures, which create downtime and replacement costs," says Greg Cveykus, director of engineering, Kenco. "There aren't too many detrimental effects for using a heavy- or severe-duty bucket in light soils. But if you do the majority of your work with a heavy-duty bucket in a general-purpose environment, you have more equipment investment than needed."