used a small one a few years back, found it quite easy to use given my 2 days of experience, and got quite a lot done with it. got on quite well with all the levers and thinking about 3 things at once to make the arm do a simple movement

also need a new job... one i actually enjoy this time had enough of rubbish jobs for rubbish money.

whats involved in getting all my tickets to drive excavators? costs, liklihood of getting work after, salary etc?

I live on a farm in Devon, Round here we have never bothered getting tickets or anything like that as we only work on our own land. I think to do a tele-handler course was around £340 for a friend of mine who used it on a building site.
Another possible way of doing it would be to go into the Army as a Plant Operator Mechanic (POM) as I think you will gain knowlege on how to fix the things and build mainly roads I would think?
Hope this was a little helpfull

Jas

When I worked in construction, the paddy digger driver (also called Liam) always told me he could get me any certificate I liked for £50.

Me.
20 years worth. I have tickets and lucky enough they were paid for by employers. I work a 50-60hr week for less than 27k
But I do like getting covered in dust,mud,oil and grease.
I work in demolition and you must have your wits about you at all times.
If you go to a quarry or waste transfer station you may get a job on the machines and then they may put you through your H&S ticket and start you on the way for your machine tickets.
On a side I am thinking about jacking it all in as I think there must be more to life than pulling levers
Cheers and good luck
Brian

[Edited on 7/9/10 by expatkiwi]

awesome thank you everyone
and thank you brian
don't know what quarrys are around here, but was thinking more like demolition, or roads and construction.
i know what you mean, it could get a bit boring after a few years, but i'm sure theres more to life than sitting in another crap call centre job, getting abuse from people for something thats not my fault, for less than £12k i'm getting too old for it now.
i'm diabetic (seems to have held me back from most things i wanted to do...) will that be a problem do you think? i've emailed a few training places for info today. nothing back yet

Diabeties should not be a problem as I know a couple of our blokes have it.

This is who I work for
http://www.rcollard.com/home.shtml
and yes this is why I go to work so he can do this.lol
http://www.collardracing.co.uk/

I have my ticket for forklift and genie lifts etc and tele handler. I have no idea how much it cost as my boss paid for it all but I cant imagine it would have been that much as if it did he wouldnt have bothered, Its not a mickey mouse one you can only use on our proerty either its valid anywhere, I dont know if the same guy does diggers wither but he seemed quite good and must have been reasonable! Not alot of use to you up there though!