This is part of the Do It Yourself Build a Shed series. In this video, I unbox, assemble, and demonstrate the Bilt Hard Plate Compactor. This plate compactor is ready to go with little assembly, engine oil, and gas. I bought this so I could compact the clean gravel. This area is the site of our 12-foot by 16-foot shed and the gravel will be used as the bed for the shed to sit on.

Buy versus Rent

You have to decide if you can rent the equipment for one day or the weekend. The equipment rental company near me is Y-BY, which is a fantastic company. I have used them on past projects. My most recent one was where I rented a trencher for burying corrugated pipe to drain water to a lower area of my yard. A trencher is very expensive to buy so renting was my only option aside from hand digging. On our first property, I hand-dug a French drain around the entire perimeter of our home and crawl space. I was in great shape and I am not shy of hard work. But, I needed to get this project done quickly so renting the trencher was the best option.

Regarding the plate compactor, it appears that it is around $120 as of the date of this article to rent for the weekend. I want to share my mindset with you as you may think similarly. Because I am not fully organized with my DIY projects, I may use the plate compactor for 30 minutes one day and need it another a week from now. So, I need to own one if it is possible. If a plate compactor is ridiculously expensive, then I’ll need to be more careful in my planning. But, in my opinion, this plate compactor is not overly expensive so I decided to purchase it. I have plans to do some concrete work and this plate compactor will certainly come in handy.

Bilt Hard Plate Compactor Assembly

Be very careful as the compactor is very heavy. I was able to move it myself but I used my lawn tractor to move it a significant distance. There are certainly any number of ways to unbox it. I chose to unbox it on top of a pallet I picked up from the side of the road. I cut open the box and the sides, which let me extract the compactor easily. Considering how heavy this compactor is it was packed accordingly and I thought they did a great job. The box was very strong and lined with plywood, which gave it added durability for shipping. Please note that many reviews indicate missing parts. I too, was missing a part but it was a metric nut, which is something I have plenty of on hand. So, when I get around to it I will find it and install it.

You can follow my video but please follow the assembly instructions included in the box. The handle was the first thing to attach, which was relatively easy followed by the collapsible wheels. Lastly, was the throttle strap, which as I mentioned already was missing a nut.

The compactor box contained the following parts:

Plate Compactor
Installation Guide
Warning tag, which read something like Engine Oil Required
Plate Compactor Handle
- (2) washers
- (2) bolts
- (2) flanged nylon lock nuts
Plate Compactor Wheels
- (2) washers
- (2) bolts
- (2) nylon lock nuts
Throttle, Throttle Cable, and Strap
- attached to the plate compactor
- (1) bolt
- (1) nut (Note: This was missing from my box)

Products Used in this Video

The following products and materials (or similar) were used in this video:

BILT HARD Plate Compactor Rammer, 6.5HP 196cc Gas Engine 5500 VPM 2500 lbs Compaction Force, 21 x 14.5 inch Plate, Ground Compactors for Paving Landscaping Sidewalk Patio, EPA Compliant

Professional Machine - The self-propelled plate compactor has a 196cc/6.5HP engine, delivering 10 inch compaction depth of 2,500 lbs of compaction force and 5,500 vibrations per minute; Raising the density of loose dirt, soil, gravel, sand, asphalt and other media to form a strong & level foundation.
Efficient & Easy Operation - Speed up the throttle, the 21''x14.5'' one-piece stamped plate can travel 82 ft/min, working efficiency up to 5600 ft²/h. The reasonable weight of 126 pounds and compact form factor make it easy for any adult to use.
Comfortable & Easy to Move - The compactor machine has a specially designed shock absorption system, improves operator comfort and reduces fatigue. Also, the folding transport wheels kit makes it easy to move around your workplace and store it.

Amazon.com Price last update on 2024-12-21 - Details

DeWalt Metric Mechanic Tool Set DWMT73804: https://amzn.to/421CvcZ
DeWalt Metric Wrench Set MWMT19237: https://amzn.to/3Mpjiw5
Sceptre 5 Gallon gas can FSCG552 or equivalent with fresh gas: https://amzn.to/4308w6u
Mr. Funnel AF3CB Fuel Filter Funnel: https://amzn.to/3WuvIat
10W-30 Engine Oil: https://amzn.to/43ikIPQ
FloTool 10714MX3 Super Funnel Trio: https://amzn.to/431k6Oz

Testing

Once the compactor was assembled, I filled it up with oil using my FloTool super funnel. What I didn’t show in the video was how long it took to fill it up. It was a lengthy process as I didn’t want to overfill it. Then I used my Mr. Funnel fuel filter and added some gas through it to the compactor gas tank.

Purpose of the Plate Compactor

The biggest problem with building on the ground is you may have loose soil or gravel. It is best to dig out at least four inches of soil and compact it. Depending upon your area you may need to do more preparation. Consult your local licensed contractor for more information on what can be done to prepare the ground for the building.