Drilling a well?

[dummy]

I need to replace a hand-dug shallow well with something a little deeper (30-50 feet) to irrigate a wildlife garden. Short of getting all the permits and calling out a drilling company, any ideas? I considered extension rods for my PHD, but am concerned with the torque effects.

 

[wasabi]

Got rocks? If not, you might consider just getting a drill point, pipe and put in a good workout with a sledge for such a shallow well.

 

[dummy]

"Got rocks?"
Only in the head according to wife. Didn't realize you all knew her! Actually, lots and lots of hard,red clay then into sodium bentonite, then a gravel layer. Not impossible, but I think drilling would be easier. Just looking for an inexpensive way out.

 

[RobS]

Here's some instructions for a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://weather.nmsu.edu/hydrology/wellpoint2.htm>driven well</A>. It does sound like a lot of work /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[DUMBDOG]

Just pounded one to 25 feet for irrigation. After busting several pounding caps and wrecking a lot of threads, found that a post pounder, the kind that you find at you local home improvement store made out of pipe with the built in weight works the best. Did it in one afternoon.

 

[Mrwurm]

Dumbdog did it the same way I did, almost. Before I had my tractor I tried my hand at putting in a shallow well. I used a twist type human-powered post hole digger. I kept adding pieces of pipe untill I dug down to about 12 feet. I then got a well-point (sand-point) and some pipe. I drove it down to about 27 feet with a human-powered post pounder. It was'nt that difficult, it just took time. Oh yeah, I never did hit any water. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

 

[dummy]

The no water scenario does make life worse. Dug a 12' deep hole last night with the backhoe and hit water, but I can pump it dry in 2 1/2 minutes. That's why I would like to go deeper and a little larger in diameter.

 

[Mrwurm]

yep, same here. You can dig a hole 3 ft deep anywhere on my property and hit water. So, I thought if I went deeper I would find a good flowing source. No luck.

 

[dummy]

Neat moniker. Just checked your bio. and still find it hard to believe people choose to live in ND. Know people in Bismarck and Fargo. Made a huge mistake by stopping for a visit in February one year. Now I know, for me, if I can't go between July 1 and 15 then I stay home.

 

[wasabi]

Cool link, Rob!