A tamp is a tool used to compact granular material before paving or pouring concrete. There are manual and electric tampers, with varying sizes of the compaction surface. Electric tampers are heavier and louder, while manual tampers are lighter and easier to use.
A tamp, also called a tamper, is a tool used to compact granular material such as crushed stone, earth, sand or ash. This tool is most often used in the preparation stages prior to paving or pouring concrete, and helps prevent support materials from becoming too porous to support paving or heavier concrete materials. There are two general varieties of tampers: manual tampers and electric tampers. Most small jobs can be done with the portable variety, while larger paving or concrete jobs require an electric tamper to properly compact material over a large area.
The general structure of a handheld tamp is quite simple: a long handle, often made of wood, is attached to a large metal surface. This face is usually very heavy and made from steel or iron. The specific size of the face can vary based on the overall size and intended use of the tool, but is usually small enough for a person to hold easily. The user will stand with the tool in front of them and grip the handle with both hands. After having lifted the implement off the ground, the user can push the compactor back to the ground, pressing the face hard against the materials to be compacted. This motion will need to be repeated several times in the same spot or across a wide swath of materials for effective compression.
A power press achieves the same goal, but with more force and usually a much larger press face. In any case, the user will not be required to pick up the tool, as he must do with manual plugging. Instead, a motor is mounted to the power machine and drives a piston that will rapidly raise and lower the compaction surface. This tool is exceptionally heavy and in some cases may need to be used by more than one user for stability and safety. The size of the tamping face can vary according to the intended use of the tamper; some models are quite narrow and are used for compacting material in narrow trenches, while others can be very wide and used for compacting larger swaths of material.
Most electric tampers run on gasoline and can be exceptionally loud and difficult to maneuver. Hand tampers are quite light and easy to use and require no additional users to operate safely and effectively. They are also somewhat less expensive than electric tampers, although electric versions can be hired on an hourly or daily basis for a low fee.
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