Trojan 205mm Tamper

[Gano Richardson]

TheTrojan tamper is ideal for tamping asphalt, gravel, stone, and dirt. This all steel tamper has a base of 205mm x 205mm and is durable to withstand heavy duty construction for industrial, residential, and commercial applications.

You should use a long handled post hole shovel such as Saxon Post Hole Long Fibreglass Handle Shovel as it has a sharp edge and spots on either side of the handle to push down with your foot to help cut into the soil.

You should dig down around 140mm to accommodate the paver and a compacted base. Once the holes have been dug, you should add a layer of road base 100mm thick and compact it using a tamper such as this Trojan 205mm Tamper before laying the pavers down, levelling with a rubber mallet and spirit level, and backfilling the soil around the pavers.

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @ablackcockatoo. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about tamping bitumen.

Was it this Trojan 205mm Tamper you were using?

Ensure the plate is clean and free from debris before you start. You can lubricant the tamper plate with either cooking spray or water, which should be reapplied intermittently and as soon as the material starts to stick. Professionals would typically use diesel fuel instead, but that's likely harder to get your hands on. Periodically clean the plate during use with a scraper to remove any build-up. Also, try compacting in the morning and evening when the bitumen is not over-heated, as excessive temperature in the midday can cause the mix to become more adhesive.

You can add a bit of a twist to your tamping motion before you lift up. So, tamp down, twist slightly, and pick up for the next stroke. This twisting motion helps break the bond instead of pulling straight back up and pulling the material away from the ground.

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