Single-tooth ripper attachments mount in place of the bucket and turn an excavator into a hard-ground ripping tool. Used widely in mining (frozen ground, weathered rock), quarrying (primary breakage), and construction (compacted ground).
When to use a ripper
- Hard-packed soil or weathered rock that the bucket won't penetrate
- Frozen ground operations (Northern markets)
- Quarry primary breakage on softer rock formations
- Asphalt and concrete demolition (paired with breaker)
- Foundation excavation in laterite
Sizing
Ripper tooth weight should be 15-25% of bucket weight for the same machine. Tip material — hardened steel for general use, tungsten-carbide-tipped for sustained rock work.