I came across this guy using two bent coat hangers to locate underground services !!! I watched him walk the road up and down, every now and then the hangers would swing 90 degrees inwards and he would make a mark on the ground.
He said he uses them to locate any sort of undergound service that has water running in it or a power or telcom cable.
I was doubtful, until he said I should try it out, and popped the two bent coat hangers into my fists, told me to relax my grip and walk slowly, and true's Bob, as I passed over certain services the rods swung 90 degress inwards!!!
I even walked ahead to parts of the road that had not been marked , and found I could quite easily locate the services, it was unbelievable.
This guy tells me that anyone can do it, no special skills needed and you can use any sort of metallic object that can act as a needle and swing freely, walk slowly keeping the rods pointed straight ahead, parallel to the ground.
I was able to locate a water main, sewer crossing and a cable crossing.
Here is a picture of him with the bent coat hangers.... 
Lee
My mother in law and brother in law could do it. My wife tried and got some response but not well defined. The rods just kept right on pointing forward for me when I went over the places they had gotten a response. I'm sure it is because I don't believe in it.
They work. I have always kept them in my truck. All though I use a straw in my hand instead of just putting the end in my hand. It allows those witch sticks to spin easier. Just walk perpendicular to the line you are looking for.
One problem is they will find anything that disrupts the magnetic juju of the ground, typically a trench. Could be the line your looking for, could be an old backfilled pipe, could be Mr Cow's dead possum. But they work great for locating you own septic lines
I've used "witch sticks" before. There is definitely a technique to doing it correctly, you have to hold it with a really loose grip so they can freely rotate, and I was taught to hold them angled downwards ever so slightly.
That being said, they don't hold a candle to a magnetic locator. They don't pick up rebars very well.
-Mark P.
Hasn't dowsing been debunked by reputable organizations many times over?
Some think that and some have had good results using it. I carry a couple of bent brass welding rods in my rig. Saved a bunch of potholing. Those who choose to disbelieve in their use, that's fine by me, enjoy your exploratory digging. Are they always the tool to use, no, like the use of all tools, judgement counts.
jud
I hold them tight and horizontal.
jud
US Army Corps of Engineers Publication: EM 1110-1-1005, dated 1 January 2007
Control and Topographic Surveying
Chapter 2-Overview of Topographic Surveying Techniques and Methods
Section I-- Types of Surveys
2-6 Utility Surveys
a (3) The location of underground utilities by digging, drilling, or probing should be undertaken only as a last resort, and then only whith the approval and supervision of the company involved. Some techniques that work are the use of a magnetic locator, ground penetrating radar, a dip needle, or even "WITCHING" for pipes or lines underground. (caps mine)
I figure if it is good enough for the USACE, then it's good enough for me.
I have witnessed that kind of location years ago, but when I tried it nothing!! So I assume some people have a gift and others, such as me, must rely on technology.
The first time I saw it was by a utility locator who said he couldn't officially tell me for sure that something was there but the sticks told him so.
I went home and tried it for myself and it worked. A cool way to show people is to have them walk under an overhead line...the wire will turn as soon as you're under it.
Shouldn't this thread be in
Politics and religion?
Just today, one of the guys I work for asked me if I had a coathanger in the car so he could find the municipal water line.
So how does it work? Magnetic field? Brass isn't magnetic.
Polarity
I have tried it before with good success. Personally I think it has a lot to do with magnetic fields and how they react with different people. Sort of like the few people who can’t use a compass because the needle won’t point to north when they hold it. Of course i wouldn't show a line as existing without some sort of verification, just kind of a cool thing.
Bunny rabbit. Not an opossum.
Opps,
I do stand corrected. Your jokey post was about a bunny. Nonetheless, subsurface dead furry creatures will distrupt the harmonic juju that allow witch sticks to function. I happen to be blessed with the ability to operate said witch sticks, and feel more blessed than those dead furry creatures who have met their maker.
"Use the Force Luke..." 😉
I learned that from my Dad 40 years ago.
I've seen it find pipes and I've seen them go parallel when there was nothing there.
hen I was apprentice, I forgot the metal detector, the chief was mad as hell as we were wondering around a field looking for a buried iron pipe. He got really made when I went to the truck and got two pieces of tie wire and started wondering around holding the wire. I think his statement was "what the hell are you doing, that doesn't work" about then the wires crossed I kicked the dirt and there she was, and old rusty pipe!! Made a believer out of him, and got me out of the hot seat. Jp
Same with a willow fork which some prefer and have been using for centurys, to locate a promising place to dig a well.
jud
Anyone need a 10 cent utilities locater
Just shoot me now and put me out of my misery. First off, I believe people can locate utilities without any high tech gizmo's. I can do it, you see clean outs, water shut offs, gas meters, low spots in the ground, etc. and you can make an educated guess where the utilities are. As far as witching goes, it doesn't work, its the world of make believe. I've seen it done, I know people will swear they have seen it work, but I'm not buying it.