Lobster wrote:
Bruce wrote:
Lobster wrote:
Vortex3 wrote:
"gray" wrote in message
...
What the best (but cheapest) way of tracing a mains water pipe in
the ground on private property.
Is ther any thing I can buy, relatively cheaply ??
Dowsing rods like ebay item 250390401499. Look it up, read the
words. [You may need to grow a beard first] :-)
Seriously my gut reaction is that dowsing is complete
horse****....but I know a couple of people who swear by it.
They should go and take the James Randi Challenge then, and earn
themselves a cool million:
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/1m-challenge.html
So far nobody's managed to win it, curiously enough.
There's nothing remotely "paranormal" about dowsing. It's all about
detecting subtle changes in the earth's electro-magnetic fields
caused by buried services and underground flows.
Dowsing isn't well understood and there isn't, as yet, a demonstrable
scientific explanation. That may come in time. But even if it
doesn't, all that matters is that it is a useful, easily learnt,
practical technique that can help you find buried pipelines, cables
and other significant underground features.
I can understand how there could well be some scientific basis for it,
but Randi certainly classes it as paranormal activity and apparently
dowsers are the largest group of applicants for the prize - but he
hasn't paid out yet, so go figure!
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...ay-9-2008.html
I heard him talking about it on TV once - ISTR he had a test
consisting of several buried pipes, through which water could be
diverted at will - genuine dowsers ought to be able to detect
reproducibly which pipes had water running through them - but they
couldn't.
James Randi is a magician by background & well aware of unscientific claims.
The test you refer to is the Kassel Dowsing Test. Scientifically faultless
& conclusive. None of the dowsers could achieve results better than chance.
Its the ideomotor effect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideomotor_effect
The money is still up for grabs
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...verything.html
--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk