Used Well Drilling Rigs & Surface Drill Rigs For Sale

Used surface drill rigs and well drilling rigs for sale

Ritchie Bros. sells used surface drill rigs through auctions and Buy Now listings across North America, Europe, Australia and beyond. Inventory centers on crawler-mounted and rubber-tired blasthole drills from Sandvik, Epiroc, Atlas Copco, Tamrock, Furukawa and Ingersoll Rand, plus masts, drill heads and other blasthole drill attachments.

Whether you run a quarry, an open-pit mine, a road-cut crew or a drilling contracting business, you can compare rigs by year, hours, location and condition, then bid online or buy now.

What is a surface drill rig?

A surface drill rig is a machine that drills holes into rock from ground level, most often to load explosives for quarrying, open-pit mining and construction.

Most surface rigs use one of three drilling methods. Top hammer rigs are fast in smaller holes and softer rock. Down-the-hole (DTH) rigs keep holes straighter in hard rock and deeper benches. Rotary rigs drill the large-diameter holes used in big open-pit mines.

What is the difference between a surface drill rig and a well drilling rig?

Surface drill rigs drill shorter blastholes in rock, while water well drilling rigs drill much deeper holes to reach groundwater.

The two overlap more than the names suggest. Many rotary and DTH rigs from makers like Ingersoll Rand and Atlas Copco are used for both blasthole and well work. If you plan to drill wells, check mast height, rod-handling capacity, compressor output (CFM and PSI) and whether the rig can run a mud pump.

What should I check before buying a used drill rig?

Check engine hours, percussion or rotation hours, and the condition of the compressor, mast and rod handler before you bid.

• Hours: engine hours and drilling hours tell different stories, so ask for both where available
• Compressor: look for oil leaks, rated CFM and PSI, and recent service
• Mast and feed: check for cracks, worn slides, and chain or cylinder wear
• Rod changer or carousel: confirm it indexes smoothly and holds the rods you need
• Undercarriage or tires: tracks, rollers and sprockets are costly to replace on crawler rigs
• Hydraulics: look for leaking hoses, fittings and cylinder seals
• Dust collector and cab: filters, seals, ROPS/FOPS and A/C matter for daily operator comfort and site compliance
• Records: review photos, inspection reports and any service history on the listing

What types of surface drill rigs can I buy at Ritchie Bros.?

You can buy crawler-mounted blasthole drills, rubber-tired blasthole drills and drill attachments, in top hammer, DTH and rotary configurations.

• Crawler-mounted blasthole drills: tracked rigs built for uneven quarry benches and mine sites
• Rubber-tired blasthole drills: quicker to move between job sites, common in construction and utility work
• Blasthole drill attachments: masts, heads, jaws and mounting brackets that turn a carrier into a drill

How do I buy a drill rig from Ritchie Bros.?

Create a free account, review the listing's photos and inspection details, then bid in an upcoming auction or buy now at the listed price.

Listings marked IronClad Assurance include an inspection report backed by a condition guarantee. Need help paying for your rig? Explore equipment financing before you bid.

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