The vacuum excavators I noted in my other post would make the process much faster and easier. Just put the suction hose where you want to dig and start jabbing that area with the air lance. After sucking out some
500 gal of dirt, take a break to dump the vacuum container and then go at it again.
For now I am doing some plumbing (moving bathtub and toilet, insulating hot water lines), adding support under a heavy woodstove, and adding a beam and support to fix a sloping floor.
For the future it would be nice to be able to get under there to run wires or whatever.
The vacuum idea sounds great! Even a shop vac with two people working would probably be an easier way to get the dirt out. Also dust is created when disturbing the old top layer of dirt, so the vac could also remove any dust clouds. Thanks for the idea.
...
Find a badger and pen him up down there a while... :)
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The rental vacuum excavator units I mentioned are a far cry from a shop vac. The units listed in the United Rentals catalog are all 25HP, are trailer mounted and weigh around 5,000#. The collection vessels are ~500 gal and tilt for dumping the contents. A weekend rental of one of these units and your project will be done.
I've done the experiment (only to prove the futility) a reasonably sized shop vac can only do about 1 gpm loose dirt removal. Plus you need time (or a helper) to empty.
You'll need a vacuum excavator which is serious machine.
cheers Bob
Ivan-
I remember your post form last year.
How much dirt have you removed and how long as it taken?
I think you estimated about 2 hrs per cubic yard removed.
For my engineering data base... close were our numbers?
cheers Bob
But they are becoming more available at rental yards and they certainly have a lot of advantages. Some of the machines have a reverse flow feature where the excavated material can be deposited elsewhere on the site or in a truck/dumpster so the machine can keep going.
RicodJour wrote: [vacuum excavators]
-snip-
Got a video of one in action? I've called a couple rental places & haven't found one to look at yet. [near Schenectady, NY]
But this might be the answer to my '10' trencher' question I asked about on a.h.r a couple weeks ago.
I don't need fast- but I need to dig a 10' long horizontal hole about
4-6" in diameter- then 'elongate' the hole vertically down 7-8 feet. The soil is hardpan clay.Jim
Nope, I don't. Try YouTube or one of the manufacturers' sites.
I'm not sure I understand you. You have to dig a small diameter hole that extends 10' horizontally then go down 8' starting at the far end of that hole, or are you saying you have to trench 8' down the whole
10' length? The first one sounds borderline impossible, the second one _might_ be possible with the vacuum excavator if the soil conditions are right, but I think that you'd still end up collapsing the trench as you went due to the vibration. R
Probably video around somewhere. In my 2006 copy of the United Rentals catalog there are four units shown on page 9, two Vac-Tron, a DitchWitch and a Verneer all with similar specs. 1-800-UR-RENTS or unitedrentals.com should point you to the closest location you can call for information. I've not used one of these units personally, but I know they are very versatile and also popular for excavating around utilities since you aren't digging with any kind of blade.
I've used my shop vac to clean out trenches for water pipe, and to remove the loose soil at the bottom of an augered hole. Works quite well.
WILLARD! Attacks! Film at 11!
(sorry, had to do it...)
I suspect, if this is a crawlspace that it is either mice, or chipmonks (damn 'em) doing the damage.
Regardless one needs (must) provide a barrier between the insualtion and the rodent to prevent reoccurance, even if foam insulation is used.
Either that or spray the fiberglass with pepper spray?
I used mine to clean out footing holes (had to be 5 ft, and my post hole digger was not up to bringing the dirt up that high... Mostly sandy soil however, and was a lot of work regardless. Didn't take long to fill that sucker up!
Hey Jim, You caught me!! Of course I meant 27 quart containers. Good eye!!!!
Ivan Vegvary
He is. Several in fact.
Rreplying to RicodJour, 1josh wrote: Stumbled across this thread 8 years later... I hope your job got done by this time. Posting my comment for anyone else surfing for a solution. Start punching 'auger' terms into google and look at pictures. Garden auger, ice auger, earth auger etc. There's some that attach to a regular handheld drill. Some with a short twist and a long stem, which maybe could be shortened. You could get or adapt or magiver a plunge stand for the drill if there's no hand room at first. Giver a look-see though, and I think you'll see the potential. Heck you could even jimmy up something to auger the dirt out from under the house instead of a conveyor. Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope you got er done mate.
replying to Bill, DB wrote: Just hire a vacuum truck, he will do it with no hard labor, all you will have to do is guide the vacuum hose under your house
replying to PeterD, eric wrote: I use quarter inch aviary (chicken) wire mesh, but must staple or otherwise secure ends to finish seal
replying to Bill, eric wrote: I bought a few shop vacs, expecting to burn them out. I figure cut bottom off and secure to sealed garbage can to increase payload and reduce emptying frequency. Haven't tried yet, also looking for screw conveyors for sale from dismantled grain silos, or turning hay bale conveyors to belt, belt patch like a live floor trailer conveyor or carpet swatch conveyors. Maybe rent vac truck and a couple fellas with air chisels and shovels... I really don't want to use low clearance track loader. Good luck... miserable work.
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