Dear Friends,
This gorgeous 50,000-pound CAT 323F L hydraulic excavator is an amazing and versatile machine. We are very fortunate to have sevadars who are expert at operating this machine. The excavator will be essential for digging out the basement and footings for the Dome over the next few weeks.
The excavator won’t win any races, with a maximum speed of 3.4 miles per hour. However, it can dig a hole 22 feet deep in no time at all! And, the climate-controlled cab means that the operator can work in a comfortable and safe environment that is about as quiet as a pickup truck.
Refueling the excavator. The fuel tank has a capacity of over 100 gallons. The green tank contains diesel fuel.
A worker performing some modifications on the excavator bucket. The bucket alone weights over 1500 pounds, and can hold more than a cubic yard of soil.
The hydraulic “thumb” attached to the bucket allows it to grasp and move large trees and pipes. Here the operator has just dropped a large tree into the fire using the thumb.
On Wednesday, the excavation for the building foundation began on the top of ISHA Hill! This phase of the project could take 2 or 3 weeks to complete.
With Warmest Regards,
Paul Bauer
Chair of ISHA Building & Fund-Raising Committee
Paul Bauer
Chair of ISHA Building & Fund-Raising Committee