Epiroc Drills & Gear: 6 Questions I Wish I Knew Before My First Job

Epiroc Drills, Bucket Hats & Air Compressors: The Real Answers

Look, I've been in the mines and on construction sites for about eight years now. Handling drill rig orders, fixing things that break, and—let's be honest—screwing up plenty along the way. This FAQ is built from my mistakes and the questions I get asked every week. No fluff.

Q1: Is Epiroc just a rebranded Atlas Copco? Or is it actually different?

People think Epiroc is Atlas Copco under a new name. Actually, it's the other way around—or rather, it's more accurate to say Epiroc is the mining and rock excavation part that split off in 2018. Same DNA, but different focus now.

What most people don't realize is that Epiroc has gone all-in on automation and digital drilling (their ICM series, for instance). Atlas Copco kept the industrial compressor business. So while they share a history, Epiroc's product roadmap is now its own. If you're looking at a surface drill rig, Epiroc's SmartROC series is a completely different beast from the old Atlas Copco models.

Here's something vendors won't tell you: the service network for Epiroc is often faster than Atlas Copco on mining-specific parts these days. I learned this after a three-day delay in 2023 because we ordered the wrong air filter (that's a story for another time).

Q2: I'm new to buying a surface drill rig. What's the biggest mistake I'll make?

I've made this mistake myself—twice. The assumption is that you should compare horsepower and price. The reality is you need to match the rig to your rock type and bench height.

In March 2022, I submitted an order for a rig that looked perfect on paper. It had the right drilling depth, the right compressor output. But the site had fractured, abrasive rock that just chewed up the bits. We caught the problem after two weeks—$4,200 in consumable costs wasted, plus downtime. That's when I learned to always ask the supplier for a site-specific application review.

The upside was a proper recommendation. The risk was ignoring it and sticking with the cheaper rig. Calculated the worst case: $4,200 in extra bits and a 1-week delay. Best case: saves $8,000 upfront. The expected value said go for the recommendation, and I'm so glad I did.

Q3: What's the deal with the iSpace Epiroc partnership and the lunar excavator in 2025?

So glad you asked. Most people hear "Epiroc" and think "mine drills." Then they hear "iSpace lunar excavator" and think I'm mixing things up.

Actually, in 2024 (yes, 2024, though some sources mention 2025 deliverables), iSpace—a Japanese lunar exploration company—partnered with Epiroc to develop a lunar excavator. The idea is to use Epiroc's expertise in rock excavation on the Moon. We're talking about a machine that can dig and drill in low gravity with minimal human supervision.

Why does this matter for you? Because the tech that goes into these extreme environments—automation, remote operation, dust control—is eventually commercialized for mining on Earth. It's not science fiction; it's R&D that will trickle down to surface drilling in the next ten years. I keep an eye on this because it tells me where Epiroc's innovation budget is going.

Also, speaking of things you won't see at a lunar landing site: bucket hats. I know, weird connection. But on every mining site I've worked, you see bucket hats used as cheap, throwaway sun protection for the guys doing surveying. Someone once asked me if Epiroc made bucket hats (they don't). The inside joke is that the best head protection for surveyors is a good bucket hat and a hard hat over it. Now you know.

Q4: Why do people talk about Mustang trucks and Epiroc in the same sentence?

Here's something you won't read in the brochure: on many mine sites, the Mustang truck is the vehicle of choice for moving ground crew and small tools between drill rigs. It's not an Epiroc product—it's a Ford commercial vehicle—but it's what you'll see parked next to every Epiroc rig on a shift.

People think it's just a rugged pickup. Actually, the reason you see so many Mustang trucks at mining operations is their high ground clearance and payload capacity relative to other trucks. They're also cheaper to repair. Between you and me, if I were running a drill fleet, I'd budget for at least one Mustang truck per three rigs for support runs.

I went back and forth between buying a Mustang and a rival pickup for my own crew. The Mustang offered proven parts availability; the other offered better fuel economy. Ultimately, I chose the Mustang because when a drill rig goes down, parts availability is everything.

Q5: How to use an air compressor correctly—especially with hydraulic breakers?

The question I get from new operators: "How to use an air compressor for my Epiroc breaker?" The answer is: you don't. Hydraulic breakers use oil pressure, not air. But you do need a compressor to clean the drill hole and to run hand tools around the breaker.

I still kick myself for not explaining this to a new crew member in 2021. He hooked up the compressor to the breaker inlet—damaged the seals. $1,600 repair, three days lost. That's when I learned: match the compressor's CFM (cubic feet per minute) to the pneumatic tool you're actually using. A 185-CFM compressor is fine for a hand-held rock drill; a 400-CFM compressor is for cleaning deep holes.

Three things: know your tool's CFM demand; check the air hose diameter (should be at least ¾ inch for long runs); and always drain water from the tank daily. I want to say that covers 80% of compressor failures on site.

Q6: Should I ever pay extra for rush delivery or guaranteed lead time?

Yes. Period.

People think rush fees are a scam. Actually, they're the price of certainty. In August 2023, we paid $400 extra for guaranteed delivery of a replacement drill head. The alternative: "probably" getting it in 5 days, but no guarantee. We had a concrete pour scheduled for day 6. If the part showed up late, the $15,000 pour would have been delayed—plus the crew's idle wages.

Calculated the worst case: part arrives day 6, pour delayed to day 8, total cost $3,500 in lost time. Best case: part arrives day 5 anyway, and we wasted $400. The expected value said pay the rush fee. And we used the part on day 4. So glad I did.

Dodged a bullet when I almost went standard delivery on a similar order (circa 2025, I'm careful now). Was one click away from a potential week-long delay. The lesson: budget for rush when the timeline matters. The cost of uncertainty is always higher.

"If you're running a surface drill rig and the lead time is tight, the $400 rush fee isn't an expense—it's insurance against a $3,500 downtime event." — Me, after my third mistake

Final Word (Not a Conclusion, Just the Last Answer)

Real talk: I've learned most of this by making mistakes. The Epiroc-iSpace partnership? That's worth watching for future automation. The bucket hats thing? Just a memory from a hot July site. The Mustang truck? Buy one if you need reliable support. And for the love of everything, learn how to use an air compressor before you destroy a $1,600 breaker.

If you're shopping for a surface drill rig, talk to Epiroc's application specialists. And ask them about the lunar excavator—it's a fun conversation starter.