Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.

"Robert11" wrote in message
...

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Ditch Witch trencher. You can go down a few feet with them. There are
codes for electrical wires, but coax may not have to be so deep as it is not
current carrying.

maybe a pressure washer or shop vac, depending on your soil.
rent a trencher and run some water pipe also deep enough below frost
line and some electrical conduit too.

buffalobill wrote:
maybe a pressure washer or shop vac, depending on your soil.
rent a trencher and run some water pipe also deep enough below frost
line and some electrical conduit too.

"Below the frost line?" Who cares if coax freezes?

"Robert11" wrote:
-snip-

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

I was using a modified hoe last summer [ground the blade to about 3"
wide] -- then I found what looks like a long-handled adze at a flea
market. It was old and I'll need to build a new handle for it soon,
but it works for this old back. Mine has two 2 1/2"wide blades, one
for digging, and the other for chopping. In my root filled soil that
works well. The handle on mine is about 5 feet long, so I don't
have to work all hunched over.

I have no idea what it was used for originally, but it makes a fine
trencher.

OTOH-- If a Ditch Witch is in your budget- it will make short work of
a trench and not tear up the landscape too badly.

Jim

I have a #407 in this picture.
http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jpg
It works good on roots.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
"Robert11" wrote:
-snip-

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

I was using a modified hoe last summer [ground the blade to about 3"
wide] -- then I found what looks like a long-handled adze at a flea
market. It was old and I'll need to build a new handle for it soon,
but it works for this old back. Mine has two 2 1/2"wide blades, one
for digging, and the other for chopping. In my root filled soil that
works well. The handle on mine is about 5 feet long, so I don't
have to work all hunched over.

I have no idea what it was used for originally, but it makes a fine
trencher.

OTOH-- If a Ditch Witch is in your budget- it will make short work of
a trench and not tear up the landscape too badly.

Jim

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:36:36 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

I have a #407 in this picture.
http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jpg
It works good on roots.

That's exactly what i remebered--- but here's the actual tool;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg

[note that my memory betrayed me. The second blade is just smaller,
but on the same plane as the other.]

The whole thing weighs less than 3 pounds, and the handle is as long
as, and straight and round like a hoe-handle. But it has a round
flare so a hoe handle won't work as a replacement.

In the past 30 years I've spent many days looking at old tools at
antique auctions, flea markets and garage sales and don't recall ever
seeing another quite like this.

Jim

I've had one like that for 40 years. When my dad passed, I gave the one he
had to my son.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:36:36 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

I have a #407 in this picture.

http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jp
g
It works good on roots.

That's exactly what i remebered--- but here's the actual tool;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg

[note that my memory betrayed me. The second blade is just smaller,
but on the same plane as the other.]

The whole thing weighs less than 3 pounds, and the handle is as long
as, and straight and round like a hoe-handle. But it has a round
flare so a hoe handle won't work as a replacement.

In the past 30 years I've spent many days looking at old tools at
antique auctions, flea markets and garage sales and don't recall ever
seeing another quite like this.

Jim

"Bob" wrote:

I've had one like that for 40 years. When my dad passed, I gave the one he
had to my son.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message

-snip-
That's exactly what i remebered--- but here's the actual tool;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg


So what do you call it? IMO- Adze implies a woodworking tool. . .
I've always thought of a maddock as a heavier tool. It isn't quite a
hoe. . . .

Jim

Jim Elbrecht wrote:
On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:36:36 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

I have a #407 in this picture.
http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jpg
It works good on roots.

That's exactly what i remebered--- but here's the actual tool;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg

That's a mattock, not an adze. An adze would have either a single
sharp cutter on one side, a single cutter with a hammer face on the
other, or a single cutter with a pin hammer (not sure of the
terminology) on the other for setting spikes in boat building.

We think of an adze as giving a pretty rough finish, but the Spartans
didn't use adzes as they thought the finish was too smooth and
effeminate. Maybe that's why they had marble toilet seats.

R

the picture shows a mattock (mentioned a few times in the Old Testament).
if the small blade is rotated 90°, it's an adze.
both are sold at Home Depot.


"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:36:36 -0500, "Bob" wrote:

I have a #407 in this picture.
http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jpg
It works good on roots.

That's exactly what i remebered--- but here's the actual tool;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg

[note that my memory betrayed me. The second blade is just smaller,
but on the same plane as the other.]

The whole thing weighs less than 3 pounds, and the handle is as long
as, and straight and round like a hoe-handle. But it has a round
flare so a hoe handle won't work as a replacement.

In the past 30 years I've spent many days looking at old tools at
antique auctions, flea markets and garage sales and don't recall ever
seeing another quite like this.

Jim

You have a mattok which is used to for exactlly the purpuse for which you
are using it, digging and trenching. The verticle blade is for chopping
through roots. There are versions that have a more traditional pick head
instead of the chopping blade.

You should be able to find a replacment handle in the garden section of any
home store, its the same as used for picks.

http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/mattock.htm



"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
"Robert11" wrote:
-snip-

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

I was using a modified hoe last summer [ground the blade to about 3"
wide] -- then I found what looks like a long-handled adze at a flea
market. It was old and I'll need to build a new handle for it soon,
but it works for this old back. Mine has two 2 1/2"wide blades, one
for digging, and the other for chopping. In my root filled soil that
works well. The handle on mine is about 5 feet long, so I don't
have to work all hunched over.

I have no idea what it was used for originally, but it makes a fine
trencher.

OTOH-- If a Ditch Witch is in your budget- it will make short work of
a trench and not tear up the landscape too badly.

Jim

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 14:46:43 GMT, "Cliff Hartle"
wrote:

You have a mattok which is used to for exactlly the purpuse for which you
are using it, digging and trenching. The verticle blade is for chopping
through roots. There are versions that have a more traditional pick head
instead of the chopping blade.

You should be able to find a replacment handle in the garden section of any
home store, its the same as used for picks.

http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/mattock.htm

The one I have only weighs just 2.5 pounds- handle and all. The
handle is the same diameter [and length] as a sturdy hoe. The
business end of the handle is a round flare. My clay pick takes the
standard pick handle- but that is too short and heavy to do much
trenching.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here's a collage of the tool I
have;
http://home.nycap.rr.com/elbrecht/adze4.jpg

[note that my memory betrayed me. The second blade is just smaller,
but on the same plane as the other.]


Jim

I doubt if you have to go down that far for coax cable. If you do, rent a
Ditch-Witch or similar brand at your local rental place. If you don't have
to go down too far, see if you can rent an invisible fence trencher.
http://www.dogfencetrencher.com/

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard

Several people in our area have used gasoline powered Sidewalk Edgers to dig
a thin trench as deep as it will go then pushed telephone lines down into
the trench with thin board. Just loaned our Edger to a friend and he did
this. I would not do that as I do not believe you can get deep enough.

Walt Conner

I used to be a dish dealer, and assume you need the coax run for a
satellite install. in any case it really doesnt matter.

DONT DIRECT BURY THE CABLE! If it ever fails you have all that digging
again

Dig a really shallow trench like 6 inches deep, that makes the jb
instantly easier

Then run roll of plastic pipe in ditch, then pull coax thru pipe /
conduit.

use a oversize conduit, things change and one day you might need
another cable in there

backfill the hole. since its conduit the line can be shallow and
wouldnt get damaged accidently

This is how we handled all installs requiring digging.

Our satellite guy used a post hole digger.

amy

On 21 Jan 2006 06:01:27 -0800, "
wrote:

I used to be a dish dealer, and assume you need the coax run for a
satellite install. in any case it really doesnt matter.

DONT DIRECT BURY THE CABLE! If it ever fails you have all that digging
again


I had some cable I buried where I used to live. I got tired of
repeated digging to repair it (I think the cable damage was from some
animal chewing on it).

Dig a really shallow trench like 6 inches deep, that makes the jb
instantly easier

Then run roll of plastic pipe in ditch, then pull coax thru pipe /
conduit.

use a oversize conduit, things change and one day you might need
another cable in there

backfill the hole. since its conduit the line can be shallow and
wouldnt get damaged accidently

This is how we handled all installs requiring digging.

Replacing the cable should be easy, using the old cable (it it's not
completely broken) to pull the new cable throught.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

As several have said, a few inches down
is probably enough. Comcast here
in the Chicago area only goes down about
4" for the drop from the pedestal
to the house. I've used a sod lifter
with the blade perpendicular to the ground
to make a slot. An "ice scraper,"
that's what they are called in the
frozen north,
should also work. Once the slot is
made, the tool is rocked back and forth to
make a V groove. The cable can be
pushed into the V. I used a hand held
weeding tool with a V in the end to push
the cable to the slot in the each. You
have to be careful not to push too hard
and damage the cable. A wooden
piece of 1 x 1 would probably work well.
Once the cable is in, step the 2 sides
of the V groove together. In not time,
the vegetation will disappear the slot.

WConner wrote:
Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard


Several people in our area have used gasoline powered Sidewalk Edgers to dig
a thin trench as deep as it will go then pushed telephone lines down into
the trench with thin board. Just loaned our Edger to a friend and he did
this. I would not do that as I do not believe you can get deep enough.

Walt Conner

I buried a cable in a friends yard last year, and just used a trenching
shovel (the narrowest one possible).
One advantage to this over machinery, is that you can peel the sod off and
put it aside, dig 5 or 6 feet of trench,
saving the dirt in a wheelbarrow, lay in your cable for that segment of
trench, rebury, put the sod back, etc, repeat until you're there.
The trench was about 45' and the whole thing took 4 hours. The best part
was with the sod going right back, and the dirt never piled in the grass,
you could tell it ever happened. An electrical contractor bid this at $1100
with a ditchwitch, and the lawn would have been a disaster.

bill

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.

and btw, i agree with about putting the cable inside
plastic conduit, plastic water line, etc.

replying to bill allemann, Jeff wrote:
There's a tool called a Hitch-N-Ditch that might work if you have a truck or
tractor.

http://www.hitch-n-ditch.com/

Here's a Youtube video of it in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrTGoKb3Bu4

While we are on Youtube, there's also this guy who made a hand tool for short
distances and he also has a "tractor" with a similar trenching tool on it..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYqghiI-ryQ

--
for full context, visit http://www.homeownershub.com/mainten...ire-82842-.htm

On Wed, 07 Sep 2016 12:14:01 +0000, Jeff wrote:

replying to bill allemann, Jeff wrote:
There's a tool called a Hitch-N-Ditch that might work if you have a
truck or tractor. ...

In the *TEN YEARS* since bill allemann made that post, you could have dug
the trench with a plastic spork from KFC.

Why don't you HomeOwnersNoobs ever read the dates to what you are replying?

--
Sam

I suggest using a plastic SPORK from KFC.

I know someone stole my idea.

On Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at 10:45:29 AM UTC-4, Thomas wrote:
I suggest using a plastic SPORK from KFC.

I know someone stole my idea.

Does KFC use special SPORKs or will a generic SPORK work?

Actually, a *metal* SPORK would be better. Even better...you can pop open
your favorite beverage with a SCORK.

http://www.gofastandlight.com/images/scork_large.jpg

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard. Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep
should do it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas on other possible ways of
digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

I'm doing some trenching right now, and I am using my Mantis tiller to do
the work. It is excellent for the job. I am going much deeper than you are
because I am putting in electrical cable and phone lines inside conduit.
Your task should go quickly.

Basically, I run the Mantis tiller back and forth along the path of the
trench, and then the dirt is loose enough to shovel out easily. The Mantis
breaks up the roots and tosses out the rocks, etc. The shovelling is easy,
then. To go deeper, I simply put the tiller back in the shovelled-out
trench and break up the dirt down deeper, then shovel that out and repeat,
until I get deep enough.

Make sure that you shovel the dirt onto a tarp or something. If you just
shovel it onto the grass by the trench, it is much harder to get the dirt
back into the trench after putting in the wire because so much of it is
mixed in with the grass.

+++

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 07:48:55 -0500, Robert11 wrote:

Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

I don't think you even need to go that far down (for a receiving antenna
particularly).

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

The cable company has a tool that essentially slits the turf slides the
cable under the turf. It's maybe 3" down. This is a heavy frost zone
too (north-west Vermont). It seems to work fine and there's no damage to
the lawn.

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work. Is
there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

I think your slave labor idea was a good one. ;-)

--
Keith

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 07:48:55 -0500, "Robert11"
wrote:

Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

The cable tv company has a little vibrator thingy that works while the
guy stands up. It wiggles a blade, I think, and cuts a slit and puts
the wire in the slit at the same time. When he was done, I forget
if he had to walk on it once, but it looked good as new when he was
done.

It might have been gas powered since he does it all day. I don't
think it was electric and it certainly wasn't manual. And I'm sure
the wire wasn't more than 3 inches below the surface, maybe less.

I don't know if rental places have these or not, but for only 40 feet
with a kid some of the other ideas for slitting the ground sound good
enough.

Kids should do hard work between 12 or 13 and 29. It is so much
easier to build muscles then. The smarter they are or the more likely
they are to get a white collar job, the more they should do hard work,
at least some times, when they are that age, because the less likely
they are to do hard work at work, and they often even get white collar
summer jobs once they are in college.

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.



Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

Don't bury it 6 inches deep because two years from now you will have to
do it all over again. The cable guys don't care how long it lasts
because they get paid to fix it. A Ditchwich is what you need. Rent one
and cut a trench at least a foot deep (or hire some local yokels to do
it for $80). Put in a 1" PVC conduit with a pull string. Run two RG6
coax and a couple of CAT-6 lines.

Robert11 wrote:
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was
wondering if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.

Tim Killian wrote:
Robert11 wrote:
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Don't bury it 6 inches deep because two years from now you will have to
do it all over again. The cable guys don't care how long it lasts
because they get paid to fix it. A Ditchwich is what you need. Rent one
and cut a trench at least a foot deep (or hire some local yokels to do
it for $80). Put in a 1" PVC conduit with a pull string. Run two RG6
coax and a couple of CAT-6 lines.

To a receiving antenna? Why the overkill?

R

On 21 Jan 2006 12:28:58 -0800, "RicodJour"
wrote:

Tim Killian wrote:
Robert11 wrote:
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Don't bury it 6 inches deep because two years from now you will have to
do it all over again. The cable guys don't care how long it lasts
because they get paid to fix it. A Ditchwich is what you need. Rent one
and cut a trench at least a foot deep (or hire some local yokels to do
it for $80). Put in a 1" PVC conduit with a pull string. Run two RG6
coax and a couple of CAT-6 lines.

To a receiving antenna? Why the overkill?

R

Someday you may want to put in a (ethernet) camera to watch people
trying to steal your antenna.

Or maybe just an extra pull string, for later additions.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what
to have for lunch. Liberty is a well armed lamb
contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 13:11:17 -0700, Tim Killian
wrote:

Don't bury it 6 inches deep because two years from now you will have to
do it all over again. The cable guys don't care how long it lasts
because they get paid to fix it.

The cable guys don't care because it's just a job, and they do what
they're told. But the cable company cares, and doesn't want to be
redoing work over and over, so if that's what happened next, the cable
company wouldn't do it this way.

My cable went in 22 years ago, but I stopped using cable about 12
years ago. All I can say is that everything was fine for the first
10 years, and it comes from a box about 90 feet away.

A Ditchwich is what you need. Rent one
and cut a trench at least a foot deep (or hire some local yokels to do
it for $80)

And how long before the yard looks decent again? How long before the
depression, or bump, goes away?

It took the cable guy (one guy) about 10 or 15 minutes to install the
line, iirc. No more than a half hour.


.. Put in a 1" PVC conduit with a pull string. Run two RG6
coax and a couple of CAT-6 lines.


Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 20:54:18 -0500, mm wrote:

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 13:11:17 -0700, Tim Killian
wrote:

Don't bury it 6 inches deep because two years from now you will have to
do it all over again. The cable guys don't care how long it lasts
because they get paid to fix it.

The cable guys don't care because it's just a job, and they do what
they're told. But the cable company cares, and doesn't want to be
redoing work over and over, so if that's what happened next, the cable
company wouldn't do it this way.

The cable won't last longer if it's 10 feet deep. It just needs to be out
of the way of the lawn mower. It's a lot cheaper to slit it under the sod
than to dig a deep trench and fix the grass.

My cable went in 22 years ago, but I stopped using cable about 12 years
ago. All I can say is that everything was fine for the first 10 years,
and it comes from a box about 90 feet away.

Mine went in 20 years ago when the house was new. About five years ago
they had to replace the line when I went to Internet cable and digital TV.
THe lead in was fine for analog TV but too much loss for the bits.

A Ditchwich is what you need. Rent one and cut a trench at least a foot
deep (or hire some local yokels to do it for $80)

And how long before the yard looks decent again? How long before the
depression, or bump, goes away?

It took the cable guy (one guy) about 10 or 15 minutes to install the
line, iirc. No more than a half hour.

I didn't even notice when they did mine. They had to lay the cable on the
ground because it was frozen harder than a rock. In the spring I called
to see when they'd bury it. They already had. blush

. Put in a 1" PVC conduit with a pull string. Run two RG6
coax and a couple of CAT-6 lines.

Do you drive an Abrahms too? ;-)

--
Keith

"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do it.

Other than using a square tipped shovel (or forcing my kid to do it), was wondering
if anyone has any "clever" ideas
on other possible ways of digging this very narrow (slit type) of trench ?

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

Thanks,
B.


Why so deep? Just under the turf is usually adequate for coax installations.

You can rent a machine made specifically for the purpose.

http://www.18inch.com/ Click on "Rental Items". Our local rental yards have similar
machines, and they are not as big and destructive as using a "ditch-witch". They are
also much cheaper to rent.

jim menning

Be aware that not all coaxial cables are suitable for burying. Buriable
cables are a special category and probably much more expensive.

I think you should consider running the cable in conduit if you can't
get buriable cable.

Perce


On 01/21/06 07:48 am Robert11 wrote:

Have to run about 40 feet or so of coax wire to a receiving antenna in my
backyard.

Wish to bury it, probably not more than a foot to two feet deep should do
it.

snip