For those of you looking for an alternative to the big name provider of survey caps I have been using Mountain Mold & Die out of Sevierville, TN for my survey caps. I have been pleasantly surprised by the quickness of delivery and the quality of the caps. Another bonus is they are half the price of the other company if you buy in bulk.
Just a general comment about plastic caps. IF you will lightly spray the tops, with spray paint, it will last alot longer. Blocks the solar radiation.
N
How about acrylic clear coat spray?
@nate-the-surveyor you could also set them just below grade. Soil does an excellent job of blocking solar radiation as well!
I've been using caps from https://bathey.com/ . Price of 0.39? each, quick turn around, great quality, and they hold up well to Montana's extreme temperatures.
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Wow! Thirty-nine cents per hundred.
@hi-staker the caps by MM&D are currently $0.25 if you buy 1,000. They hold up well to the Texas heat and sun.
Most of the PLS numbers I encounter are five digit. I wish the font that is used on the caps would put a bit more space between the digits. I looked at one today that I couldn't tell the threes from the fives or the eights. I understand that this year the newly licensed numbers will be consecutive with all other professional numbers and they they will be using eight digits.?ÿ I don't know how that is going to fit on a cap.?ÿ?ÿ
It would also be helpful if the plastic was not palatable to varmints.?ÿ
I've used Bathey for stainless washers and have been very happy with them.?ÿ
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@daniel-ralph varmits are another reason I tend to set my corners just below grade. To be honest most of my corners are set on new subdivisions during the construction phase so I have my crew set them at a minimum of 6" deep to prevent them from getting knocked out by the contractors.
@nate-the-surveyor or set slightly below the grass, and the grass will grow up to hide it more. I found 2 plastic capped pins, set 15 years prior. They were on opposite sides of the road. One was exposed to sun, other was just under dirt. The under dirt looked brand new, the exposed cap has the cracking on the the top.
Or pay about $3 more for a metal cap. If a property curbed isn't worth enough to spend $3 more why are we surveying it??ÿ
After noticing how many plastic caps have deteriorated I switched to metal caps. Depending on the setting, I either set the flush or sticking up a court of inches. In roads I put them below the gravel layer. I think the metal caps look more professional. Doesn't the client pay for what caps you use?
@skeeter1996 I had a similar experience. I found a 30 year old metal cap in perfect condition, after being accustomed to finding cracked, split, or chewed 10 year old plastic caps. I switched and don't foresee ever changing back. I bumped up our prices a couple dollars for the few time & materials jobs I do.
Plastic caps don't do well in wildfire country either.
I started out?ÿ studying Plastics Engineering. What I found out was so vile, I dropped out to become a poet.?ÿ
Fortunately, I found Land Surveying and Civil Engineering to be more to my liking.
I use aluminum survey caps that are stamped with my name and license number.
Clients like them and they are very good looking too.
