Okay we had several projects to go check on today. One was a map given to us by a consultant. It missed pretty poorly our computed location from our GIS map. (don't fret, Michael and I did our GIS maps). And we also did the control for this project including the section corners so we knew our map could not be this wrong, but what the heck, an original corner is an original corner even if it's it's off a foot or more.
We locate about 10 other corners and have a nice line of stakes and then find a stake at this one with PC labeled on it. I guess that's for property corner but it sure did not line up with any of the other lot corners. They just have a round dot (supposedly for a 1/2" IP) on their plans.
Michael and I look at each other then take the pinder finder. Sure enough it rings out like a banshie. But we are also armed with another super high tech weapon. We call it simply , "The Truth Finder". Some may call it a shovel.
Well, this is what we find.
Hmm. I'm not aware of anyone ever setting broken saw blades as property corners. Line up with the stakes and get a very faint sound. Dig down about two feet and there is a pin that matches all the others in the subdivision.
Sometimes rocket science is a lot dumber than just plain common sense and some elbow grease.
Sometimes low tech is best tech.
Almost always.
Boundary surveyors must be methodical and slow to accept things that appear to be too convenient. Questioning the obvious is the only way to find the obscure. Unearthing correct, but obscure, data and/or monuments is what separates the true boundary surveyor from the wannabes.
Good post and reminder to not give up easily and miss the prize.
yeh - low tech!
I can remember (pre metal detector days) digging a hole you could bury a small beast in while looking for a reference.
Came back next day after finding some more marks that gave a better fix on the lost one and there was the blessed mark just on the perimeter of our excavations.
I do love my metal detector.
I don't have a lot of time for other surveyors that don't use that old and faithful though. Too much like hard work for many these days.
Hack saw blade for property corner?....Hmmm...In a pinch??
What symbol would you use for that?
There was a period during the 70's that materials like cold steel rod, rebar and pipe became almost impossible to acquire.
We started pouring our version of 3x3x36 concrete monuments and inserted a corrugated brass ground wire as found on a meter pole.
We set whatever we could get our hands on: files, bolts, farm implements, car and truck and other mechanical parts. It got to where when we went out to set monuments our decisions went to what would work best where. In town we started setting worn out cam rods. We actually went to junk yards in search for materials.
I talked one farmer out of his cache of 8ft sections of small gauge rail. Those were set at relocated Headright corners.
> What symbol would you use for that?
Depends, 'round here they used 24 tooth blades and not the 40 tooth and they set them with the teeth pointing down. That was to discourage dishonest people from pulling them out of the ground.
They also used pre 1990 24 tooth blades. They were painted blue instead of bare. The description I've seen on most old time ammonia blue prints was HSB24TH.;-) 😛 😀
You are talking Mid-Late 70's aren't you?
Construction materials went up in price nearly daily and some things were very hard to obtain.
I'm not aware of anyone ever setting broken saw blades...
I beg to differ.;-)
I'm not aware of anyone ever setting broken saw blades...
The contrary has been shown.
(great photo, that’s one big wad of iron they got going there)
I'm not aware of anyone ever setting broken saw blades...
I remember setting a Snap-On Philips screwdriver once. At least I gave the brand. Seems laughable now. That was all I could come up with at the time.