[TowerTalk] Updated: How to dig tower base hole

[Jim Thomson]

Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2016 05:48:46 -0400
From: Mike <w2gr at aol.com>
To: John Simmons <jasimmons at pinewooddata.com>, Tower Talk
<towertalk at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Updated: How to dig tower base hole
effortlessly

    
That would work if you wanted to install your tower and base on a beach.
Mike W2GR?

##  Actually, Erwin Rommel / aka  desert fox, used the high pressure water 
technique to dig all the holes on the beaches of Normandy etc.   Then in went
all the tall steel poles / tubes, and various other tank trap devices. 

##  for most run of the mill clay / normal  soil conditions, a back hoe  works just fine.
Having said that, at a previous qth back in 1984, the back hoe operator  busted his
real small back hoe clean in half, sheared the  rectangular tubing frame in half.   The hole
was 6 ft square, and 6 ft deep.  Clay down to the 5 ft level, then this rock hard blue clay.
Back hoe would not put a dent on the blue clay.   He even put the scoop on the back end,
face down into the ground, otherwise the back hoe at the front end, when pushed into the
blue clay, would lift the front wheels  right off the ground.   Didnt  work,  snapped the frame
in half.   So had to  dig the last 1 ft by hand, what a pita.  Soaked the bottom with water, then
could shovel the muck into a bucket. Then more water, then repeat the process, etc. 

##  Gong show trying to get the broken back hoe out of my back yard....all held together 
with Giant C Clamps etc.  As is, it barely squeaked through my wide gate. 

Jim   VE7RF