Why would you do this?

Over 30 years ago I was working as a tech on a survey crew for a local utility company. We were trying to find a section corner, which was supposed to be close to the centerline intersection of two rural county roads. Got a decent signal, so we started chiseling through several layers of AC, then subgrade, chasing the signal downward. Got down about 18" and found an old bolt or something (not the monument, whatever it was). Removed it - no more signal. Then, the ornery party chief goes over to the survey rig and digs a bunch of scrap metal stuff out of the boxes, throws the bolt and a hand full of other metal junk in the bottom of the hole and tells us to fill it back in and pack it down. What an A-Hole. Never have forgotten that.

In really deep muck and water I've had good luck turning a traffic cone upside down and stuffing over control points in muck and water.
Also cutting the bottom out of a plastic pop container and stuffing the top over 60d nails, rods and pipes.
:8ball:

Maybe I'm the only one that does this, but I keep an empty large dishwashing soap container in the truck for "submerged" corners. Just squeeze all the air out and stick the nozzle down in the hole and let it suck itself full. Rinse and repeat. 😉

Daniel Ralph, post: 431852, member: 8817 wrote: And, your record of survey pretty much lets me know who it was, ladies.

I wouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions; you know what they say about the word ASSUME...

It could've been some lowballer, that doesn't record their surveys; she could found it like that too, and just kicked it back in to the case before she was run over. I'm assuming you cleaned it all out for the next guy...:innocent:

I have a sponge tied to an old boot lace. Dunk it in, pull it out and step on it. Repeat until a sufficient amount of moisture has been expelled and then scoop out the muck with a garden trowel. This is really fun to do in the rain, on a busy street. the challenge is to get it cleaned out before it fills up again...:smarty:

The really slick way to clean these out takes a little planning, but it works great for mud, water, dirt and miscellaneous junk: a shop vac. I think it was Mark Mayer who called me into this, and now I use it whenever I expect a lot of cleaning will be required.

Jim Frame, post: 431878, member: 10 wrote: The really slick way to clean these out takes a little planning, but it works great for mud, water, dirt and miscellaneous junk: a shop vac. I think it was Mark Mayer who called me into this, and now I use it whenever I expect a lot of cleaning will be required.

I have carried "canned air" in the truck to blow out (and off) dusty corners. They never seem to last long enough though and wind up empty when I need them...:(

I had a hand operated bilge pump that I used for a while until grit did it in. I miss that apparatus. I now use a tuna can and sponge when I remember to take it out of the truck.

I have a 20v Dewalt wet/dry vac and blower that has come in very handy

paden cash, post: 431863, member: 20 wrote: Maybe I'm the only one that does this, but I keep an empty large dishwashing soap container in the truck for "submerged" corners. Just squeeze all the air out and stick the nozzle down in the hole and let it suck itself full. Rinse and repeat. 😉

I believe that qualifies you to refer to yourself as a Hydraulic Engineer in Oklahoma 😉

Be thankful you got the cover off (!) and that it's over 32?ø (!) and not in the middle of a four lane at an intersection (!).
By the way these are some great tips.

The worst is when there deep and the existing cut out is only an inch by an inch and full of mud and water.. A spoon is best for that but not when in a travel lane!!

My go-to case mon kit also includes a turkey baster.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siphon-King-36-in-Utility-Hand-Pump-with-72-in-Hose-48072/205346979?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D26P-Plumbing%7c&gclid=CjwKEAjwjunJBRDzl6iCpoKS4G0SJACJAx-VWoRGajwx72WXJUAo9peQR5rYu5sSLTCyCGi-ImHY3xoCP7nw_wcB&gclsrc ="aw.ds"

Don't have the water issue here on the plains, but to get dirt out of a small hole, I keep a plastic ice cream scoop.

Daniel Ralph, post: 431852, member: 8817 wrote: ....it would be a good day to set aside the dreadful SDOT drawing that I am toiling over....

On an a somewhat unrelated note, SDOT standards are cumbersome at first, but there are a few preparation things you can do (both fin the field and the office) to make the process much smoother. If your interested, feel free to shoot me a message.

SPMPLS, post: 431857, member: 11785 wrote: Over 30 years ago I was working as a tech on a survey crew for a local utility company. We were trying to find a section corner, which was supposed to be close to the centerline intersection of two rural county roads. Got a decent signal, so we started chiseling through several layers of AC, then subgrade, chasing the signal downward. Got down about 18" and found an old bolt or something (not the monument, whatever it was). Removed it - no more signal. Then, the ornery party chief goes over to the survey rig and digs a bunch of scrap metal stuff out of the boxes, throws the bolt and a hand full of other metal junk in the bottom of the hole and tells us to fill it back in and pack it down. What an A-Hole. Never have forgotten that.

As far as I know, I have not had a party chief do this or something similar.

If I ever find out one has, their next status will be unemployed and unemployable as a PC.

I've never left a roll of rags, but I believe the reason for leaving hubs at the bottom is to protect the monument from someone destroying it as they are digging it up, and also to let you know you are close. I usually don't do that with cased mons, but definitely on concrete mons buried in gravel roads.

You pull the rags/paper towel out and much of the mud comes out with them. I usually find it to be a welcome find.