I dug a footer with it today. I will have to get used to it. On the typical excavator I would typically rent, I felt like I was scratching the ground trying to get deep enough. Problem with this thing is that it digs so strong that it is to easy to overdig. Gonna cost me more concrete. I will have to learn how to hold it back. I used to purposely trying to get deeper. This things get deep quick in one drag. Another issue is that I can literlly dig it 16 to 20 inches deep in eack stroke but the problem is that as you come out of the ground, that huge clumps break away rather than cutting a clean edge. Again, more concrete expense. Another issue is that since I an skidding for each dump, I am erasing my painted lines unlike the typical excavator straddling the lines at all times. So it was easy to get off course which I have to correct after backing up and seeing my error. Again more concrete. So I have a bit of learning curve to learn. Not the machine controls but how to dig with this much power, how to maintain my lines, how to cut a crisper edge, etc. I think I will scratch my lines app 6 inches deep, witch I can simply do in reverse. This will do several things. It will stop some of the huge clumps from breaking out as I lift up. It will act as my lines which I can see rather than paint on the ground. And it only requires another few inches which will help me have the mindset not to dig to deep. This thing is a beast. I have never dug with anything that I have to hold back. I'm usually trying to get it down, not hold it back.