500 Foot Trench

[sandman2234]

Paul,
I caught that about your trench. My statement was for Dabear, as he said he was going to put in some sprinklers on two acres of his back yard. Figured a trencher like I built would be better for him, and they are easier to build than one with a chain that goes as deep as your did.
David from jax

 

[scuvnut]

Agreed. Deeper trenching not needed for sprinklers.

Is there any information on the site about the one you built? I'd be interested in seeing it.

 

[GaryCrowell]

It may not be "safety conscious" but to tame the walk behind trenchers I've taken a pair of vice grips and used them to hold the bail to the handle. That way you don't have to hold on to the trencher at all, just point it in the right direction and let it go. Much less work than holding on to it and letting it beat you to death.

 

[Rara Avis]

Sandman...I did not trench for a sprinkler....this was a trench for water and electric.

I put in a one inch water line, a 1 1/2 inch conduit for 3, #2 aluminum wires and a copper ground (so I can have 30 amp service) and a 1 inch conduit for "future expansion" (maybe a cable line if I put a gazebo back by the pond and want to watch a ballgame).

WATER LINE BURIAL REQUIREMENTS 2007 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE (CPC)
All water service yard piping shall be at least twelve (12) inches below grade.
The water line shall be approved for potable water use. Copper, PEX, or CPVC water line may be used within a building or structure. PVC water line may be
used up to the building or structure foundation and transition to approved pipe. The use of PEX must be approved by the use of an é„*lternate Material Form?
Water piping shall not be ran or laid in the same trench as the sewer line unless all requirements of 2007 CPC Section 720.0 are met.
Water piping can be ran in the same trench as the electrical line with the water piping below the electrical lines with a twelve (12) inch earth separation.
Water line crossing sewer shall have a min9imum of 12 earth separation. Water line shall be laid on clean compacted soil and covered with a layer of sand. All
rocks shall be removed.

 

[scuvnut]

California codes, eh? About 3000 miles from me! All kidding aside, everything was installed safely and within acceptable parameters. I even placed an plastic warning strip four inches below the surface.

 

[Rara Avis]

California codes, eh? About 3000 miles from me! All kidding aside, everything was installed safely and within acceptable parameters. I even placed an plastic warning strip four inches below the surface.

Nice touch...using the warning strip...

Don't worry...CA Codes are coming to a neighborhood near you Real Soon Now... ...like everything that seems to come out a LALA Land...

 

[mjncad]

I have some shorter trenches to dig, so, how did it handle rocks? roots? How deep did you dig? How deep would the machine dig? Have you had much experience with the walk behind type?
Thanks for posting the pictures. Looks like you had a good day!

If you have the room for a riding trencher, rent it and save your back. A walk behind will tear you up pretty quick. We used a walk behind at my Mom's place for a sprinkler system since the yard was too small for a rider. At the end of the day, my Brother-in-Law and I agreed that walk behind trenchers suck because they beat you up.

 

[daBear]

Paul,
I caught that about your trench. My statement was for Dabear, as he said he was going to put in some sprinklers on two acres of his back yard. Figured a trencher like I built would be better for him, and they are easier to build than one with a chain that goes as deep as your did.
David from jax

Sure would like to see a photo of the trencher you built. Please.

 

[sandman2234]

I am not going to repost that picture. How about just going and looking at it in it's original thread? Here is the link...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...boys-stump-grinder-5.html?highlight=poorboy's

Pictures of the trencher are on the first page. Plenty of good reading in those five pages.


David from jax

 

[scuvnut]

Sandman....thanks for pointing me to that thread. I really enjoyed reading through it.

Sounds like you may have a market - crank out 10 or 12 and I think you have alot of us interested!

On another note, on Wednesday afternoon, I used my york rake to pull all the soil back into the trench, then had to hand rake out the rocks. Took down a 45 foot Birch and then received 20 yards of topsoil. Started around 12 and had a couple of friends join the party at 5. We worked like heck, spread all the topsoil and at 8:30 pm, had all the prepwork done. One of my friends bought his commercial hydro seeder along (big, towable unit). We fired it up and seeded everything. The job is nearly complete. I'll try to get some pictures if it stops raining tomorrow. Used plenty of tactifying agent so it can't wash away!