[TowerTalk] DIGGING A HOLE WITH A BACKHOE

[K8RI on TT]

On 5/7/2011 12:24 AM, Dick Flanagan wrote:
> I would check with a soil engineer to see how deep the hole needs to
> be.  I worry about things that look too easy!

Digging a hole with straight sides of any depth depends on the soil 
conditions AND the skill of the equipment operator.  Due to the top soil 
digging a large hole with an auger around here would be a lost cause 
with about 2' of loose dirt left in the bottom. (from the top edges 
falling back in) Once you get past a couple feet it's clay and no 
problem there.


73

Roger (K8RI)


> Dick
>
> --
> Dick Flanagan K7VC
> dick at k7vc.com
>
>
> On 5/6/2011 9:21 PM, STEVE LANE wrote:
>> That's why I mentioned it. I have been pricing the rental equipment in my
>> area and think I can do it pretty cheap.
>>
>> On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 8:44 PM, Wes Attaway (N5WA)<wesattaway at bellsouth.net
>>> wrote:
>>> Well, you will get a 36" diameter hole.  It should be pretty accurate.  You
>>> will have to spread all the dirt somewhere.
>>>
>>> ------------------- Wes Attaway (N5WA) ------------------
>>> 1138 Waters Edge Circle, Shreveport, LA 71106
>>>      318-797-4972 (Office) - 318-393-3289 (Cell)
>>>          Computer Consulting and Forensics
>>> -------------- EnCase Certified Examiner ---------------
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>>> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of STEVE LANE
>>> Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 10:16 PM
>>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] DIGGING A HOLE WITH A BACKHOE
>>>
>>> What about using an auger? I am getting ready to put up my w51 and have
>>> been
>>> thinking about using a 36 inch auger to bore a hole 5-6 feet deep.
>>>
>>> Steve K9SL
>>> \
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 5:37 PM, Al Williams<alwilliams at olywa.net>   wrote:
>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Dick Green WC1M"<wc1m73 at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>> SNIP
>>>>> As many have noted, it's hard to dig a perfect hole with a backhoe or
>>>>> excavator. The hole always ends up larger than intended, especially
>>> after
>>>>> you get in and square it up with a shovel. The pier wound up closer to
>>>>> 4'x4'x6' and was more trapezoidal than rectangular (i.e., wider at the
>>>>> base.)
>>>> 1.     Whys square the hole with a shovel? The only need might be to
>>> square
>>>> up the visible part above the hole!
>>>>
>>>> 2.    "...wider at the base."?  I only have maybe 50 hours using my small
>>>> BX22 backhoe but thats enough to know that the holes are always "wider at
>>>> the top of the hole". This is because most backholes have two arms; the
>>>> first attached to the low base of the tractor the arm then tilts up.
>>>> The second arm attaches to the end of the first arm and tilts down to the
>>>> ground. It is difficult to get the outer arm's bucket deep without the
>>>> inner
>>>> arm hitting the ground
>>>>
>>>> Digging a straight down hole requires a lot of coordinated tractor moving
>>>> toward/away from the hole while also changing both arm angles.
>>>>
>>>> 3.    Readers contemplating having a deep, straight sided hole dug should
>>>> find a contractor with a backhoe that has a telescoping/sliding arm
>>> mounted
>>>> on the second (outer arm). This telescoping arm can dig straight vertical
>>>> holes 8 or more feet deep.
>>>>
>>>> k7puc
>>>>
>>>>
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