[TowerTalk] Digging the Hole

[Mike]

Yes, when I was living in the UK as a kid I saw the end result of a 6 x 4 x
4 trench cave in, I think ground water pressure being the problem, the
trench had been shored up with plywood and cross braces, two were people
killed.  Don't think that people will be able to dig you out in time,
because no one as in this case had a clue what to do with water and clay
everywhere filling the trench and just panicked, it was over all over in 5
minutes.  It took over an hour to remove the bodies from the mess.

Mike

-----Original Message-----

I would be VERY VERY careful about recommending anyone hand dig such a
hole.  If the walls of the hole cave in, you will literally be digging
your own grave.  There was a bit on the local news last year where two
men were in a four foot deep hole and the sides caved in.  One
perished, the other was badly injured.  With a full load of dirt, your
chest cannot move, and they were done.

I prefer to have a machine dig my holes.  The sides are less than
perfect, but I just add more concrete to make up for it.  I built a
form above ground to make it "look nice".

Tom - VE3CX




On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 8:31 PM, Rick Karlquist <richard at karlquist.com>
wrote:
>> On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 3:38 PM, Bill Gaines AD8P <ad8p at wcoil.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Some many months ago I either asked on this reflector or read on it
>>> about
>>> the particular piece of equipment some of you have used to dig a 3-1/2X
>>> 3-1/2X 7-1/2 deep hole for an LM-370 tower. I am at the point I can
>>> actually
>
> Probably a minority opinion here:
>
> I have dug by hand three holes that were only 3x3 feet across and 6 or 7
> ft deep.  I used a short handled spade, a small pick, a bucket,
> a small ladder, and a yardstick to measure 3 feet.  The last
> one was a virtually perfect 3x3x6; almost hated to pour concrete into
> it.  Exactly 2 yards did it.  BTW, this was dug through waterproof
> "cemented hard pan."  No rocks though.  The other 2 holes were dug through
> ordinary clay (watered first) but with rocks.
>
> Getting down to 7 1/2 feet may require a helper to pull the bucket
> up with a rope and help with the ladder.
>
> It can be done!
>
> If you want to use a machine, get a well digger truck with a 4 ft
> auger and make the holes a 4 ft circle.  They will be very accurate.
>
> Rick N6RK
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