Ten years ago we had to have a new well. The well guy, when digging to connect to the house water line severed the underground electric feeding the well pump. No small deal since our house is berm and that wire is about 6 feet deep where it entered the house. He assured me at the time he could make a permanent splice. Permanent actually means ten years. Easter morning we got up to no water. I called a well guy that I know that had bailed us out in the past and he came out monday and diagnosed the problem. The easiest solution was to run a new line from the new pole barn service. We ran a temp line to get water. Yesterday I began digging. It all had to be hand dug due to what turned out to be 10 irrigation lines crossing the path. For some reason I had estimated I was going to have to dig a trench 100ft long and 18" deep. It was the longest 100ft I've ever saw. Mostly because once dug, I needed to measure. To pay for the wire I used that the well guy left with me. My 100 feet was actually 160 feet. I got it dug in one day. Last night was horrible. Lots of angry muscles!
Because of a half ass fix ten years ago, I'm paying for it today.
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When we first ran electric to the mill, we put it in a conduit. We also put an extra bell wire in there, just in case we wanted to run another line. Then, there isn't any reason to dig. Hindsight is 20/20.
If you haven't covered it yet, get a roll of caution tape (cheap) and lay on top of the wire. Preferably a couple inches above, may save you or someone else a cut wire down the road.
That is a good idea that would have saved me twice!
I have heard of using Gray Sand to mark lines.
Yes a conduit would be worth it's weight in gold after that!
I ran a 4"pvc drain pipe for conduit from the house to the well, can change the wires with no digging and to change the water line I only have to dig at the well.
So, speaking of Half-ass. I find myself having to defend my own words because of those that have been reprimanded for swearing or pseudo swearing on the forum in the past.
I used a legitimate term found in the dictionary.
half-assed
ˈhafast/
adjectiveinformal
adjective: half-arsed; adjective: half-assed; adjective: half-ass
done with little effort or care; incompetent or inadequate.
For the Bozo that decided to post openly twice (deleted) and the other two sending me PMs. Big difference. One was reprimanded for using a form of the f word, another reprimanded multiple times and even temporarily banned for intentional profanity. Now this topic is about something else. Don't call me out on this unless you are ready to face what has built up from having to shovel a 160ft trench through rock gravel and roots. I won't play.
We had to run new lines to some of Saddam's palaces throughout Iraq when we inherited them and used them for US military applications and we used the caution tape about 4-6 inches over the new line to help warn anyone digging in the area. Pretty simple to just roll out a line of it over the new electric or water line.
Of course all this is 20/20 hindsight. Sorry about the inconveniences (and cost - repair contractors, backhoes/fuel, new wire, etc. ain't cheap anymore).
Man, Jeff you are a digging machine! I can understand feeling a bit out of sorts after that :o
What I have found helpfull and easy is to keep a ongoing hand drawn overview of anything that goes in the ground around this place. I was here when all conduit was placed 23years ago so was able to record and get pics of what is where. An example is transecting measurements for the septic distrabution box. Also placed decals on ends of some exposed conduits discribing where they went..example..To Barn..or To Well.. To elec Pole.Added a extra conduit with pull string here and there but havent used any of them yet. Maybe I just had too much time but has proven very helpfull and great info to stay with the house and pass on to any new owners . Great job on the trench.
You were lucking on the soil type, I dug 65 foot to bury a gas line, in blackland clay. Never, ever, again.
You've got a back blade for your 8Ns ??? That should help with back filling :)
Dug many footings in dry, hard clay with a tile spade, Jeff I feel your pain. Nice job.
Quote from: Corley5 on April 19, 2017, 09:47:43 AM
You've got a back blade for your 8Ns ??? That should help with back filling :)
Yup, loving having that 8n around!
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I have to dig somewhere about that much to bury a wire. Probably going to rent an excavator since I have a couple of other projects I can use it for to get a days work out of it. Have to replace a wire from building down to a pump for the farm water system.
When dad put it in about 17 years ago it was on a cost share basis with the gov. Tried every-way in the world to get him to bury it then but he insisted on running it overhead on cedar posts. Posts are rotten and the wire has succumbed to UV light. Do it right the first time and forget it.
From a person that dug ditches for a living. Nice backfill job.
That was your second favorite tractor Marty!
That's a lot of shovel fulls right there good job. At least it looks like it was dry digging makes it better for cleanup nice job.
By the way why do those type of things always seem to happen on weekends or holidays? ???
Jeff,
The only good thing about that trench is.. at least it wasn't a old septic tile drain you were re-digging by hand. I can still hear my brother.. "stop slinging it on me!"
I 2nd the nice job on the backfill.. my back would've been toast after that job.
Can I hire you? I need some diggin' done. 8)
Quote from: Engineer on April 19, 2017, 02:38:25 PM
Can I hire you? I need some diggin' done. 8)
N O . :D
Hey Jeff, I have an old drag bucket you can have, it will hook right up to your 3pt hitch...shippings on you though. Can you get approved from the boss to get one of the tow behind back hoes ?
I am almost in tears thinking of digging that trench by hand. Industrial strength Tylenol would be my friend.
It's obvious to me that Jeff is the "get 'er done" type, that would've taken me a week to do, making excuses the whole time of other stuff that needed done ;D Well, hmm actually now that I think of it, domestic water, sewer, and electricity is something that makes all of us get er done types. The wife will see to it ;) I remember at our last house, the septic backed up one weekend. I had to go get my grandpa's backhoe, 75 miles away, dig it up, put in new section of drainfield, return backhoe. The obvious difference in mine and Jeff's story being "backhoe" :D I did have to get my arm down inside a 50 year old septic tank to put a baffle on it. The answer to the question- "can stalactites form from sewage inside a septic tank?" Yes. Yes they can steve_smiley
Quote from: DelawhereJoe on April 19, 2017, 04:05:50 PM
Hey Jeff, I have an old drag bucket you can have, it will hook right up to your 3pt hitch...shippings on you though. Can you get approved from the boss to get one of the tow behind back hoes ?
I have a trip bucket. Didn't need a trench 2 feet wide though, and it would have tore out the irrigation lines.
This was definitely a get-er-done project. no shower and flushing the toilet with the bucket gets old quick. The shower part especially, when you are digging the mother of all trenches. :D
I did find some treasures on this dig. 34 years of raising a family here, who knows what else is buried out there.
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That reminds me of a ditch I had to dig about 3 years ago.
I had a shoulder injury and my basement drain quit.
It had to be hand dug and I did it all with one arm and a bucket.
I had to dig 6 feet down and it was under my front porch that was
only 2 feet off the ground. Then I had to dig 3 feet back up and
under the basement cement floor to the drain. The ditch was 30
feet long. Sure was glad when that was done.
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The wire I am going to replace is actually well wire. I can buy replacement well wire which is direct burial rather than direct burial wire a lot cheaper. Same gauge. Will have to bury one splice. They make a kit for that but should I consider buying a tube of silicone caulk and ripping it open and placing the splice in it and work it around to seal the cable for additional protection?
Liquid electrical tape....
I want to know how the heck you dig with one arm? A garden trowel? It would be impossible up here in rock country. With two good arms you have lots of trouble. Large digging bars rule the day for breaking up rocks.
Jeff - nice work, it looks good afterwards. Digging sucks.
All I have is clay. Lots and lots of clay. I would love to just have some dirt.
Clay soil here, too. Only places there's any dirt is under the trees from the leaves over the decades providing mulch. Out around the house - clay. Clay mud is the worst. Nothing in the world is stickier.
Lay a bucket on it's side and sit on it. Then take a 24" hoe and chop
the dirt and pull it back into the bucket... I had to do something.
Not fun at all...
When I was young, l hooked up city water to my house. The inspector made me dig the trench 5 ft deep and it was 95 ft long. I dug it by hand to save some trees that I had to tunnel through the roots. My biggest problem was the valve on the main was 8 feet down and I had to use a bucket and rope to get the dirt out plus make it big enough to work in. Now I have a little Chinese trencher that makes trenches a easy job. :)
Quote from: 21incher on April 20, 2017, 02:34:25 PM
Now I have a little Chinese trencher that makes trenches a easy job. :)
I hope you mean a mechanical trencher that is made in China? ;D
Quote from: Hilltop366 on April 20, 2017, 04:10:34 PM
Quote from: 21incher on April 20, 2017, 02:34:25 PM
Now I have a little Chinese trencher that makes trenches a easy job. :)
I hope you mean a mechanical trencher that is made in China? ;D
Best thing I read today! :D :D :D
Quote from: Hilltop366 on April 20, 2017, 04:10:34 PM
Quote from: 21incher on April 20, 2017, 02:34:25 PM
Now I have a little Chinese trencher that makes trenches a easy job. :)
I hope you mean a mechanical trencher that is made in China? ;D
Good one.;D ;D ;D ;D
:D :D :D That is funny.
Thanks hilltop 366. I haven't laughed in awhile. I did when I read your post & still am.
I'm impressed Jeff. So impressed I'm going to make an offer you can't refuse. I'll let ya spend a night at my camp in Vermont if you dig my new root cellar. It's only 10x15 with an 8x8 section beside it. Only 4 feet to bedrock. Kind of impossible to get an excavator into the site.
We'll be needing some A.N., diesel, and a blasting cap.
Everybody loves the smell of A.N.F.O in the morning.
I can't even con my own brother into helping with that project. :D
Quote from: Jeff on April 19, 2017, 11:28:10 AM
Quote from: Corley5 on April 19, 2017, 09:47:43 AM
You've got a back blade for your 8Ns ??? That should help with back filling :)
Yup, loving having that 8n around!
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Is that Icey in the background? How's she doing?
Shes doing pretty good, but really starting to show her age this year. She is now in her 12th year. Harley keeps her young i think. :)
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Is that a picture of a 3 dog night?? ??? :D
Quote from: CJennings on April 21, 2017, 05:36:42 PM
I'm impressed Jeff. So impressed I'm going to make an offer you can't refuse. I'll let ya spend a night at my camp in Vermont if you dig my new root cellar. It's only 10x15 with an 8x8 section beside it. Only 4 feet to bedrock. Kind of impossible to get an excavator into the site.
I think it would take him more than 1 night to finish that, better let him stay 2 nights just to be sure.
Quote from: Jeff on April 21, 2017, 11:14:52 PM
Shes doing pretty good, but really starting to show her age this year. She is now in her 12th year. Harley keeps her young i think. :)
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Are you holding something Icey REALLY wants? Love that picture
There is a doggy toy there. I get on the floor quite often and play with the raminals. Not sure why I call them raminals. :D
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For the first time in my life I don't have a dog now. I babysit my son's dogs when I am home and he goes somewhere. They love to come and stay. Sure makes one feel safe of a night when you go to bed and have a hugh Doberman in the bed beside you, a large Weimener on the floor next to you and Smith & Wesson on the nightstand. :D