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Old Nick
 
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Default How to make a lot level

On 19 Apr 2004 10:59:08 -0700, (Don)
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

A warning with all water levels. You must not have any air bubbles in
the line. It can stuff everything up. The same goes for any rises and
falls in the line, as these will probably create air bubbles.

Such is my experience. I had wrong readings because of air bubbles.

I _believe that if the air bubble occurs _and the water levels are
already exactly equal, and you don't alter anything_ then you are OK.
Any change with an air bubble and you will get wrong readings.

IME.

As far as the actual levelling goes, depends what you have. I have
done them with shovels and string lines, working in smaller squares to
keep the scale down to size. I also use a scrape stick once I am close
to get larger areas of flat.

But I would use a compactor very thorougly, then re-level, then
recompact, expecially if you are going to cement/brick/pave afterward.
Also remember that string lines stretch and sag. They need to be
_tight_..did I say _tight_? The better the job, the less cement you
need.

My FIL was a commercial grano worker, and used shovels, but had a
dumpy level and used to place a perimeter of oregon planks , with
spikes in the ground every 2 metres' square or so, and work around
those. The spikes were very accurate (woe betide any poor ******* that
kicked one! DAMHIKT) and stuck up the expected depth of the cement,
say 100mm. When they laid the cement, they would simply work to the
top of the grid of spikes.

The box grader is a good idea, but takes some skill to get really
nice. I would still be finishing with a shovel.

And compact compact compact. This will increase your workload, but you
will not regret it.

My dream is to have a layout that allows a really heavy bar or some
such to be dragged across the top of levelled rails either side,
simply levelling, then comnpacting and filling any missed bits, then
again, and again, maybe working in strips. I have about 4 big pads to
do at least, where I am, so it may be worth my while.
************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.