Best Wacker Plates in the UK

A powerful 5.5 HP, 4kW petrol engine of this model allows it to move at speeds of up to 25 metres per minute, which, in the result, makes it one of the fastest wacker plates on the market today. In addition to the surprisingly fast traverse speed, the engine can also deliver the force of up to 11,000 N per square metre. With such a huge power at your disposal, your paving and compacting projects will be done with ease and quality to match. As for the effectiveness of the plate itself, you will be able to cover a sizeable area in a single run since the tool has a 530 x 350 mm plate.

Although the 1100 model from Scheppach is quite effective when it comes to finishing various paving projects, we would not recommend this model for DIYers and entry-level builders since it is a heavy plate compactor that weighs 57 kg. If you happen to be a beginner, operating the tool without initial practice or basic experience with paving tools will prove to be a heck of a challenge.

That said, the Scheppach HP 1100 is your go-to pick when it comes down to effective, high-quality paving. This heavyweight model is a universal tool that is capable of compacting almost all bituminous materials such as gravel, sand, brick or concrete stones and slabs.

The VP60 model from LUMAG may not look like something special at the first glance. However, its relatively modest engine specifications offer an astonishing amount of power. To be more specific, the petrol 3 HP engine can deliver up to 8,200 N of compaction force per square meter and that creates a perfect foundation for the concrete and clay materials. Moreover, the tool can travel at the speed of almost 23 metres per minute, which is quite impressive for an engine with a 2 kW output.

As for the ease of use, there are several features that we would like to point out. While other manufacturers include rubber mats and foldable wheels as extra features, the LUMAG includes them as core parts in a single package. On top of that, the design features an engine protection frame that can withstand heavy damage in case of accidents. Although the device weighs around 50 kg with all of its parts attached, it is fairly easy to transport thanks to the special lifting handles. The wheels and the anti-vibration handles can be easily folded, and that, once more, increases the portability of this model.

Wrapping things up, the VP60 from LUMAG is a unit that was engineered to last, can complete all of the standard paving objectives, and will be a real treat for any builder working with bituminous materials.

The Hulk plate compactor from Evolution is one of the few compact wacker plates that can compete on the same level as regular-sized devices in terms of power and compacting force.

Surprisingly enough, the tiny 2.4 HP engine of this tool can deliver up to 10 thousand N of kinetic force per square metre at 3,600 vibrations per minute. Although it is quite powerful for such a small engine, the model lacks speed as it can travel only at 8 metres per minute. Hence, the Hulk is perfect for slow and methodical runs at small to medium paving projects. The main benefit of its size is that you can use the compactor in areas where normal-sized models simply won't be able to go through. That being said, the plate of this unit is only 40 x 32 cm, which makes this model somewhat difficult to use on bigger projects such as laying foundations for the houses since you will have to do twice as many runs in comparison to a regular compactor.

That said, despite its size, the manufacturers made sure to implement a couple of features that are more common with bigger compactors: the vibration control and anti-vibration levers. The latter can be folded and that makes this model even more convenient to transport and operate.

All in all, this fairly light and versatile compactor will be more than suitable for professionals and DIYers alike.

A single-direction plate compactor from SwitZer is your go-to pick if you're the kind of person who values reliability and effectiveness of your building tools over anything else. The regular-sized HS-50 features a petrol engine with the power of 3 HP (an equivalent of 98.5 cc displacement). The gas-powered heart of the tool is capable of delivering around 800 kilos per square metre at 3,600 VPM, which is quite impressive for a 10 kg engine.

Although the four-stroke motor allows for performing the majority of paving jobs with ease, it is still relatively underpowered and the fact that the maximum travel speed barely reaches 20 m/min serves as a proof of that. That being said, the reliability of the motor is top notch and it will be able to start from the first try no matter what. To make sure that the tool will serve you for a long while, make sure to check the oil and fuel levels so you won’t accidentally flood the engine. That said, the compactor comes pre-filled with oil and only requires an initial oil level check before the first start.

As for the passive parts of the body, the wacker plate features 48 x 31 cm of overall dimensions, which will be a good fit for the majority of basic and advanced foundation and paving purposes. In conclusion, we would like to say that, despite some minor flaws, this plate compactor is still a great pick for any builder that occasionally does paving jobs.

The Rutti RMR 250 mini vibration plate will be able to surprise you with the things it is capable of doing. Where bulky regular-sized models are of no use, this little fellow will prove to be a lifesaver. The mini wacker plate weighs only 6 kilograms, which makes it a perfect hand tool. In addition to that, the manufacturer actually managed to include such features as vibration control and anti-vibration handles so it is quite convenient to use the wacker and switch between vibration speeds.

Speaking of "breakneck" speeds, since this model is manually operated, the travel speed is only limited by how fast you are able to compact materials. And that is especially handy when you know how fast various materials should be paved. With an automatic model, there's a good chance you would have to do several runs in order to achieve a perfect result. However, with this tool at your disposal, you will be able to compact even the trickiest areas that your standard plate compactor would never be able to reach.

Simple, lightweight, and reliable - these are the three major factors that make this model a highly suitable option for professionals and enthusiasts. The electric wacker plate is powered by a 250W engine and our only real issue with it is that the power cable is relatively short for such otherwise portable model.