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There might need to be a sister thread: “so I’ve started a hill”

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  • As I posted above, I have a need to dig a few holes on our place, but before that happens I'll tell a story on one of my favorite holes on our place and one that I currently hate the most.  This took

  • CleverNickname
    CleverNickname

  • CleverNickname
    CleverNickname

    Nice Saturday. Got after it about 3 hours. Not a big update, but satisfying.  Used the big jackhammer today. Very hard rock layer. I'm now about 5 ft below the third set. So that means I ca

Posted Images

That random odd pleasure guys get digging a hole can also be found in filling a hole.  I keep waiting for this thread to turn unexpectantly.

You'll see.  This thread delivers in a curiously satisfying way.

10 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

So I have gone down the Surly hole?

Fify

6 hours ago, deft said:

There might need to be a sister thread: “so I’ve started a hill”

 

5 hours ago, MonkeyDoughnut said:

That random odd pleasure guys get digging a hole can also be found in filling a hole.  I keep waiting for this thread to turn unexpectantly.

If you want me to give details about how I filled your mom's hole, I will be happy to do it.

On 8/13/2024 at 7:48 AM, SurlyGator said:

Welcome.  You will never want to leave.

Yep, great thread.  My life is this exciting. 

  • Author

Went up Saturday night, got things ready (ran the extension cord, put up work light, set up pully, let down jackhammer, set up a fan). Got an early start Sunday. 

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Worked pretty hard, 630 to 1130. About my limit. Got out 32 buckets of dirt/rocks, and another 6 buckets of just rocks. Hand clenched up for a good 5 minutes after the 40th or so 12' haul of ~40 lb of stuff. 

So now one side is down to 13'. I still need to get the sides straight, and realistically that's a whole trip right there. I want to get a more portable rock hammer. I think it would make chiseling out the rocky layers easier. 

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Once I clean up that side (space enough for the 4x6 and the 2x shoring - leaving 48x30" ID clear), I can turn the ladder around, and probably raise it a rung or two. Once I get the other side down to 13' it will be time for another set of shoring. I've got the big lumber, but I need 4x 5/8 60" threaded rod, and some angled slot (holds up the 2x lagging). I still have a little lagging I need to finish up and the second level. I like to buy the next set of 4x6 so I can drill the proper 3/4 holes so that they line up well. The rod is pretty forgiving honestly - thank goodness because even with a manual drill press my holes aren't perfectly straight down.

People asked about what I do with the dirt. It is an issue! Sometimes I separate the rocks a bit, and use them for erosion control around the ranch. I have an old pile of dirt from when I started. The hole is in the background.

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A while ago I decided to make use of the dirt. So I stacked some concrete blocks and am making a ramp for the pickup. That way I can load a tiller or whatever a little easier.

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Always a good day when we see your updates.

I recall it was asked prior; what's the ambient temperature like @ ground level vs. bottom of the hole?

Do us some sciencing & try to write this down when you start & when you stop, including the time(s) for start & stop.

 

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And you should sell off the rocks. Souvenirs from the Big Hole or some shit like that. I mean pet rocks were a thing.

  • Author
20 minutes ago, ROFL BOX said:

I recall it was asked prior; what's the ambient temperature like @ ground level vs. bottom of the hole?

I will get a thermometer. I've been keeping just a screen on top (may build some kind frame with 1/4 hardware cloth over bug screen). With a big 3/4 plywood on top, it was trapping to much moisture. 

I would guess down at the bottom it's the mean of the past days temperature. So this morning it was high 80s or so. By the time I left it was 96 outside, but a little cooler inside, even with the fan. But still hot. I do think there is a earth insulating and lagging effect, but without a lid I think the ambiet air temp is the dominant factor. 

There is some lost revenue not having a YouTube channel about this hole. I have watched much dumber videos. 

I have questions.

1. Final depth?  At some point, I'd start to think about Carbon Dioxide build up.  The fan is a good idea to stir/mix the air. 

2. Lifting heavy dirt buckets one at a time or do ya' have a helper?

3.Speaking of lifting, are you using a straight rope and pulley system?  To cut to the cut on my thinking can you use a cordless drill to gain leverage and save work?

Final thoughts, first, nice job on the ramp and dirt usage.  Second, nice job on using Uni-Strut for a bed rack on the truck.  Finally, if you stumble across an entity with horns, pointy tail and pitchfork named Charla you had better bust out a cross or Bible. Lastly, maybe a username to Digger, Prairie Dog, Worm shit or....?

  • Author

1. Final Depth: I would like to do 20-22ft. But I dunno, maybe I'll want to keep going. The book advices 2.5x the height of a side tunnel as overburden. So a 5' side tunnel would need 12.5'. Call it 18', plus another 4 or 5' of insurance. 

2. I have an eye out for a hanging hoist with remote. They are not very expensive ($140 or so?) but I also don't want one that is too slow. I can run power over (just and extension cord for now, but I could run some conduit from the pole I guess).

2. ventilation - I have an elbow and 4" vent come in at about 18" in one short side. My plan is to eventually run 4" pvc down a corner on and do a little forced air. 

I would think it would get warmer as you approach the earth's core.

I have questions.
1. Final depth?  At some point, I'd start to think about Carbon Dioxide build up.  The fan is a good idea to stir/mix the air. 
2. Lifting heavy dirt buckets one at a time or do ya' have a helper?
3.Speaking of lifting, are you using a straight rope and pulley system?  To cut to the cut on my thinking can you use a cordless drill to gain leverage and save work?
Final thoughts, first, nice job on the ramp and dirt usage.  Second, nice job on using Uni-Strut for a bed rack on the truck.  Finally, if you stumble across an entity with horns, pointy tail and pitchfork named Charla you had better bust out a cross or Bible. Lastly, maybe a username to Digger, Prairie Dog, Worm shit or....?



Carbon dioxide doesn’t randomly build up in holes being dug outdoors….Carbon monoxide however might be a problem if a production source was present in or near the hole (internal combustion engine), but the oxygen consumption of a single human’s respiratory drive is incredibly unlikely to render the atmosphere anywhere close to unsafe, especially given the aforementioned ventilatory efforts.
  • Popular Post

I have been in China for almost 2 weeks now. I will be leaving in 3 days. You need to get a move on if you want to be greeted by a Texan when you break through.

34 minutes ago, mininghorn88 said:

I have been in China for almost 2 weeks now. I will be leaving in 3 days. You need to get a move on if you want to be greeted by a Texan when you break through.

UserID sorta checks out but you gotta start digging from your end as well.

1 minute ago, ROFL BOX said:

UserID sorta checks out but you gotta start digging from your end as well.

I have equipment over here digging multiple holes in Inner Mongolia as we speak. 60 tons per scoop.

9 minutes ago, mininghorn88 said:

I have equipment over here digging multiple holes in Inner Mongolia as we speak. 60 tons per scoop.

Well... I hope y'all do horizontal drilling / digging as well.

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22 minutes ago, ROFL BOX said:

Well... I hope y'all do horizontal drilling / digging as well.

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So I have been lied to my whole life??!!!

1 minute ago, mininghorn88 said:

 

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So I have been lied to my whole life??!!!

Haven't we all?  I don't recall seeing on TV any starving kids who wanted my peas or lima beans.

19 hours ago, InkaUtexas said:

And you should sell off the rocks. Souvenirs from the Big Hole or some shit like that. I mean pet rocks were a thing.

I'm thinking @CleverNickname needs to have a hole christening, sorta like they do for boats.  He could make a speech about the arduous effort it took and where he found the inspiration.  He found support from his comrades, blah, blah,....  Hang some banners, invite the Gov or other dignitaries, BBQ some briskets, set up a TV for a little TEXAS football ass kicking on some poor punk ass SEC division rival, you know have a real country Hootenanny.  I'm in for a brisket and bottle of Vodka.

Edited by Bevo&Pevo

2 hours ago, Bevo&Pevo said:

I'm thinking @CleverNickname needs to have a hole christening, sorta like they do for boats.  He could invite the Gov 

I'm thinking too many people would be tempted to roll him to the edge & tip over the chair.

4 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

I'm thinking too many people would be tempted to roll him to the edge & tip over the chair.

mac and me falling GIF

@CleverNickname  any thoughts on running a 20 ft hose to an 18 gallon shop vac to get your dirt out of your hole?  Seems less labor intensive if it had sufficient suction.  I am a hole digging novice however, so I’m sure there is a reason why this wouldn’t work.

^^ Labor output is why I asked about the rope and pulley system.  My come a long has an exposed nut that I can put my cordless drill on and take the arm ratcheting out of the equation.   It sure makes life easier sometimes. 

18 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

Well... I hope y'all do horizontal drilling / digging as well.

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Yea hate to break it to anybody but pretty much anywhere you dig in Texas (really the entire US for that matter)....you're coming out in the Indian Ocean. But, maybe you find MH370 so keep scooping

Edited by Surly Bevo

You could always turn slightly when you reach the creamy nougat center.

[mention=2041]CleverNickname[/mention]  any thoughts on running a 20 ft hose to an 18 gallon shop vac to get your dirt out of your hole?  Seems less labor intensive if it had sufficient suction.  I am a hole digging novice however, so I’m sure there is a reason why this wouldn’t work.

A shop vac wouldn’t have near enough head pressure to pull dirt straight up 20 feet I wouldn’t think
16 hours ago, miguelito said:

You could always turn slightly when you reach the creamy nougat center.

 

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  • Author

Made another trip, this time with my new friend:

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Maybe hard to tell, but I took out another 6 or so buckets, mainly to straighted up the walls. Handheld demo thing worked amazing. Small chisel broke apart rocks just fine, and it is much lighter than the 40 lb jackhammer. I was able to put the ladder on the lower side of the hole. Raised it two rungs. 

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On 8/18/2024 at 2:15 PM, InkaUtexas said:

And you should sell off the rocks. Souvenirs from the Big Hole or some shit like that. 

I don't know if the wife would appreciate that though?

How much have you spent on your hole?  The one you’re digging. 

  • Author
1 hour ago, UT_OB1 said:

How much have you spent on your hole?  The one you’re digging. 

A hole is like a hole in the ground you pour money in. 

I bet I'm over $1k and pushing $2k. 

On 8/19/2024 at 9:18 AM, Bevo&Pevo said:

I'm thinking @CleverNickname needs to have a hole christening, sorta like they do for boats.

But this implies that the hole is completed. I am pretty sure this can never be so.

1 hour ago, CleverNickname said:

A hole is like a hole in the ground you pour money in. 

I bet I'm over $1k and pushing $2k. 

Any idea how many man-hours?

On 8/19/2024 at 6:28 PM, Surly Bevo said:

Yea hate to break it to anybody but pretty much anywhere you dig in Texas (really the entire US for that matter)....you're coming out in the Indian Ocean. But, maybe you find MH370 so keep scooping

It might suck for those that love the Indian Ocean but could help with our drought conditions.

58 minutes ago, ChickenNuggets said:

what do you use to dig? the hole's too narrow for a pick axe, right?

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On 8/24/2024 at 3:08 PM, CleverNickname said:

 

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I'm certain others have thought "Heyyyyy, nice shaft."

  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Video! Hole set up from cabin:

 

Hoisting a bucket 

 

Today I tried to separate the rocks from the dirt. This allows me to reuse the rocks for projects around the ranch.

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Didn't quite get to making the bottom even at 13', but fairly close. I wanted to get home jn time to watch the RRS.

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On 10/12/2024 at 8:50 PM, NotActuallyALonghorn said:

You should try some black powder blasting. Done judiciously...

And filmed, for posterity.....

On 10/12/2024 at 2:46 PM, CleverNickname said:

Video! Hole set up from cabin:

 

Hoisting a bucket 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the most Surly videos I've ever seen.

Edited by ChickenNuggets

  • Author
41 minutes ago, ChickenNuggets said:

These are the most Surly videos I've ever seen.

oh goodness, am I breathing heavy in those? Lol

On 5/8/2022 at 3:21 PM, AUinHsv said:

Exactly...  I second the use of explosives and video

 

Edited by AUinHsv

3 hours ago, BabaYaga said:

And filmed, for posterity.....

 

I had to search but I remembered mentioning that a while back. Did not realize it was post number 3 in this mega thread :)

 

On 5/8/2022 at 3:21 PM, AUinHsv said:

Exactly...  I second the use of explosives and video

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