Isn't it amazing how long we can talk about digging a hole? ;-) I'm
starting to get interested now... I've learned what I did wrong - I dug
a hole 5 ft deep and my kids and I were in it!! The hole was on high
land and VERY clay-ey. I couldn't imagine, then or now, that short of
an earthquake it could cave in, but I wouldn't let the kids in
again!!!!!
The soil type, amount of rocks/roots/etc must make a HUGE difference - I
keep reading about the professional backhoe operator etc... I had
basically never operated one before, rented a Bobcat excavator from a
local tool rental place nearby, brought it home on their trailer, dug
most of the hole in about 20 min. Then I spent about an hour "playing
with it" - squaring it up, and belling out the bottom a little. It was
supposed to be 4x4x4 and ended up about 5x5x5, and maybe about ? $100
extra concrete than planned. It was a darn nice hole, if I do say so
myself - I sure don't see the need for the "professional" operator, at
leastt in situations like mine.
I did play with a Terra Mite once a short time before - It has levers
and was more difficult to control. The main control on the Bobcat
Excavator was a joystick if I remember right; in any case, it was much
easier to control - You could be very precise with it. It rented for
about $240/day, but they let me have it for $90/3 hrs. Thus I got a
nice hole for $90 + $200-something for the concrete and an afternoon's
work - not a bad deal.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Logan Dietz" <cdietz@swbell.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Re: Digging Holes
> > What's wrong with just having the backhoe dig a hole
> > as close to those dimensions as possible and use a
> > little extra concrete?
> >
>
> I did that with 2 tower bases and ended up using over $800 worth of
> concrete. I'll dig by hand from now on!
>
> Chuck, W5PR
>
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
|