Got one!?ÿ Back then we had one and used it in concert with an ax.?ÿ I always started the "hole" by chopping out a square in the asphalt.?ÿ The picking came later.?ÿ I could get a better aimed (and heartier) swing with the ax.?ÿ
The diggin' bar like you've shown is by far the best thing to use in compacted aggregate base.
Now that you mention it; I do remember using a pick-ax, back in Omaha. I didn't like using it; you had to close your eyes (and mouth) just before you struck; and then, shake the chunks out at the bottom of your shirt, when you were done.
Once and once only I attempted to use a propane torch to "soften" the asphalt in January.?ÿ Based on how easy things go in July you would think this would be a great aid.?ÿ NOPE.?ÿ Not one bit.?ÿ Maybe if you could use a cutting torch but that handy dandy little propane bottle could not do enough good to matter.
When I was at the highway department my "secret elixir" for asphalt was trichloroethylene.?ÿ?ÿI used to borrow it from the materials lab when no one was looking.
It's used to wash the AC (asphaltic cement) binder from asphalt samples.?ÿ All that's left is a handful of very clean rocks.?ÿ The stuff is amazing.?ÿ Once you have a small divot in the pavement pour some in.?ÿ You can dig a hole with a whisk broom.
But be forewarned.?ÿ The fumes will kill you.?ÿ If you get it on your hands it immediately removes all oils and can burn the skin.?ÿ The stuff evaporates about as fast as you can pour it out and it's flammable.?ÿ But other than that it works great!
The EPA eventually put all sorts of restrictions on the stuff. The lab had to build a separate little shed out back to keep it stored under lock and key.?ÿ That pretty much put the kibosh on my use of the stuff.
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-24F this morning and it snowed overnight so I need to shovel. Im breaking out goggles, lined carrhart pants. Haven't needed them in a long time.
How deep do water lines need to be buried to keep them from freezing??ÿ We keep ours at a minimum of 30 inches.
Around here I believe its 4 feet and that doesn't always work.
When I was young we used an 18" x 1-1/4" bar we called a "bull-prick". We were using it one winter day while blue-topping frozen AB in a parking lot and bent it with a 12 lb. sledge. We ran down to the hardware store, bought another one, and within 30 minutes bent it too. We gave up and went home.
Latitude 42?ø and our building code wants footings to be 42" down. I suppose that goes for water supply lines, too.
It was so cold, the penguins were migrating south....
6' minimum
Well this winter I was working like a banshee.?ÿ Using a 10lb sledge to put monuments in frozen ground.?ÿ Discovered I have numbing in my toes and lower leg.?ÿ Went for an MRI and found out I got a bulge in my disk affecting a nerve.?ÿ Well if things don't improve may be my last year surveying.?ÿ No more spuds or bull pricks for me.?ÿ Crapola.
When you're saying monuments, are you talking about just driving irons, or are you meaning like those BLM 3" pipes with caps, or concrete monuments ?
If it were my choice, there are those gas or electric rotary drills that are getting some good hours out of a battery now.?ÿ
Today is going to be fun.?ÿ ?ÿNeed to feed the cows and search for any new calves.?ÿ Several have arrived this week.?ÿ Cows tend to be affected by significant weather changes, speeding up the birth of calves.
Current temp is 1F with a feels like of -15 F.?ÿ Shows a 17 mph breeze out of the NE but that must be coming later. a bit of snow is gently landing now.?ÿ I would guess between 1 and 2 inches added overnight.
It rarely gets this cold here.?ÿ I think it has been several years.
One source of weather data says our high will be 3 F while another source promises 8 F.?ÿ On a percentage basis that is an outstanding range of error.
It is so cold this morning that the ice in the air created a rainbow arch around the sun. Called a sun dog.?ÿ
-27F yesterday morning, up to -22F today.?ÿ
Hopefully it breaks today.?ÿ
Currently 34f in Puyallup, with about 8" of snow on the ground. it'll all be gone in a couple days...
This morning, SWMBO's I phone, my cell phone doesn't take pictures this good.?ÿ