Drilling a water well

Thanks!!

Brooks in Dallas
brooks@vm.org
brooks.harkey@avnet.com

it's not a science, I'm using a 6" piece of pipe with a chain welded to the top and attached to rope. hung from a pulley and a tripod that is about 12' high. the pipe is cut up the side about 8" and bent in with a 10lb hammer, I welded a ridge inside to help hold in the dirt as bending in the sides wouldn't hold the dirt as well as I wanted. the "cutting edge" is ground on the inside with a hand grinder the whole pipe is 3' long.

wet the ground, let is set up a little, about 30min here, drop the tool over and over until you fill it with dirt then pull it up. I mark the rope when I drop it down and when it has gone another 2.5' I pull it up push out the dirt and do it again.

this is not my idea I saw it in a peace corps book years ago thought it sounded good gave it a try today and I'm down about 35' in less than 3 hours. soil here, once you get down about 6' is damp(not wet) and I didn't have to add anymore water to the hole water is about 150-200 feet the book said they have gone as deep as 300 feet. I'll have a few extra muscles when I'm done but it should be cased by Saturday if I don't get a cave in.

drop in a solar pump and add a 3000 gal tank and I'll have a lawn in the middle of the Mojave desert within 3 weeks and I'll be able to afford to water the trees.

it's not rocket science! it's a hole in the ground!

This site is the best that I've found after searching literally for days!

Also, I'd like to purchase an 8n in reasonable shape and reasonable priced. Prefer Pacific Northwest area. But I'd travel for a deal.

Does anyone no of Plans for putting together a drilling rig?

Thanks-Good luck to all. I sure like this web site!

• This is where you go for Water well/Pump info

Water well drilling is a science. Before you invest in a rig I suggest you contact a well driller in your area. Assuming water is within 40 feet and there are no large stones or rock formations between the surface and the water table an auger will work.

Assuming you want to drill one well and not go into the business it will be cheaper for you to contract with someone who has the equipment.

One book on the subject that I can recommend is "Constructing & Maintaining Your Well & Septic System" by Max and Charlotte Alth, Tab Books, ISBN 0-8306-1654-3. Includes a chaper on Bored Wells. The bottom line is that 20 feet is about it for the do-it-yourselfer.

Soil conditions permiting, you may be able to drive your well in yourself. Book explains how this is done. Depths of 50 feet are possible. Driving rigs are straight forward. Book explains it all.

Good luck!!!

it's not a science, I'm using a 6" piece of pipe with a chain welded to the top and attached to rope. hung from a pulley and a tripod that is about 12' high. the pipe is cut up the side about 8" and bent in with a 10lb hammer, I welded a ridge inside to help hold in the dirt as bending in the sides wouldn't hold the dirt as well as I wanted. the "cutting edge" is ground on the inside with a hand grinder the whole pipe is 3' long.

wet the ground, let is set up a little, about 30min here, drop the tool over and over until you fill it with dirt then pull it up. I mark the rope when I drop it down and when it has gone another 2.5' I pull it up push out the dirt and do it again.

this is not my idea I saw it in a peace corps book years ago thought it sounded good gave it a try today and I'm down about 35' in less than 3 hours. soil here, once you get down about 6' is damp(not wet) and I didn't have to add anymore water to the hole water is about 150-200 feet the book said they have gone as deep as 300 feet. I'll have a few extra muscles when I'm done but it should be cased by Saturday if I don't get a cave in.

drop in a solar pump and add a 3000 gal tank and I'll have a lawn in the middle of the Mojave desert within 3 weeks and I'll be able to afford to water the trees.

it's not rocket science! it's a hole in the ground!