I've always used a mall and chisel to dig up P.K. or Mag nails in the road that have been paved over, but lately it seems that the asphalt is getting a lot harder then it used to be, or I'm getting older 🙂
How do you dig them up?
Just like you. However, it is getting easier for me as I generally just watch the resurrection. Digging in dirt and gravel is my specialty.
Pickaxe,safety glasses and quick escape route if you see a yellow truck.
I have this pick for general digging in any hard material, it works great and is all steel.
http://www.benmeadows.com/heavyweight-mini-pick_s_101247/?searchterm=pick
> How do you dig them up?
Hammer and chisel if they're under a chip or slurry seal; demolition hammer and generator if they're under one or more lifts of pavement. The demo hammer/generator requires forethought, as I normally don't keep them in the truck, but it does make quick work of exposing monuments.
Pickaxe. Railroad spike and sledgehammer.
Went out one day with just my sharpshooter shovel. Made a hole in the asphalt and found the monument, but it wore me out.
> but lately it seems that the asphalt is getting a lot harder then it used to be, or I'm getting older 🙂
>
I bet it's just getting colder. I've seen those little portable "flame throwers" that heat up the asphalt before you work with it. I bet you could open it with a butter knife after using one of those.
And, of course, EVERY crew chief wants a flame thrower on board.
Heat does not work as well as you might think when it is really cold outside.
Start out with hammer and chisel.
If I dug a hole in the roads around here like some of the pictures posted on here, TxDot or the city would send me to jail with a hefty fine to boot. Besides, because of the depth that they tear up the soil and use to build a road base, there isn't anything left undisturbed down there to look for anyway.
Most monuments that fall within the highway r/w and county roads are generally not maintained as set. Their former position is usually referenced by other monuments at or beyond the r/w.
😉
Coffee can and self light charcoal . place on road and heat until desired effect .
Ingrosol-Rand and all the necessaty attachments 🙂
[sarcasm]Why dig them up? Just put a spot of paint where the locator says it is, and tie it in![/sarcasm]
I'm kidding, of course! Unfortunately, we all know it happens... :-/
:good: Digging Bar. Available at your neighborhood Home Depot. Small strokes fall mighty oaks.
As I recall from Engineer Officer Demolition School, that will punch a hole 14 feet deep!
I have a few moles out in the back yard that could use a dose of this....
I needed to get one in a parking lot that was under asphalt. The building owner was renovating some office space.
When I had narrowed the location down to where I was confident within a few inches, he used just a regular cordless power saw and a small chop saw blade to make a nice neat square cut.
I popped the square out and a little shovel work revealed the pin and cap right where it was supposed to be.
Agree!...it makes for a long demoralizing day working with the wrong tools. Rent the generator and jackhammer for multiple lifts. Nothing worse than beating yourself up and wasting valuable time.