Now guys, (and gals), here is the latest challenge in my ground water collection project - see "Underground water tank" post.

I now need to figure out how to create several lengths of very narrow trench to take the geo-composite product (Turfdrain) that appears most suitable. The total length of trench is about 100 metres and the width is 40mm and depth is 200mm.

I would normally use a mechanical trenching machine but access to the area to be drained is via a 700mm wide door and so far I have been unable to find a hire shop that can provide a trencher with a transport width of 700mm or less.

So the challenge is to excavate 100M of slit trench to the depth/width mentioned above.

The soil is heavy clay.

Let the imagination run wild!

Perforated land drain pipe & stick a patio on it?
It's getting obsessional

Jim K

In message , JimK
writes
Perforated land drain pipe & stick a patio on it?
It's getting obsessional

The perforated land drain I use is 100mm. For which a narrow trenching
spade would work in stone free clay. Backfill with pea gravel.

I think 200mm is too shallow. If it is successful in removing water the
land will show *striping* in dry weather.

I am waiting for someone to estimate how many barrow loads of wet clay
are going to come out of the *soft water well* hole:-)

--
Tim Lamb

"JimG" wrote in message
...

Now guys, (and gals), here is the latest challenge in my ground water
collection project - see "Underground water tank" post.

I now need to figure out how to create several lengths of very narrow
trench to take the geo-composite product (Turfdrain) that appears most
suitable. The total length of trench is about 100 metres and the width is
40mm and depth is 200mm.

I would normally use a mechanical trenching machine but access to the area
to be drained is via a 700mm wide door and so far I have been unable to
find a hire shop that can provide a trencher with a transport width of
700mm or less.

So the challenge is to excavate 100M of slit trench to the depth/width
mentioned above.

The soil is heavy clay.

Let the imagination run wild!

In my experience of field drains a 40 mm wide slit trench will be next to
useless. You need a decent width and depth of pea shingle round your drain
as both a collector and as a filter to stop your perforated pipe being full
of blocked perforations. 600 mm deep minimum and 200 mm wide minimum. I
would hire the small size Kubota K007 excavator and dig it with it, (except
I own one and don't need to hire it !!) That will fit through narrow doors
when the tracks are retracted, then expand them when in the open.

Andrew

On Wed, 23 Apr 2014 20:24:36 +0100, Tim Lamb wrote:

I am waiting for someone to estimate how many barrow loads of wet clay
are going to come out of the *soft water well* hole:-)

Somewhere between "Aaagh, I'm in agony" and "sob"

On 23/04/2014 20:24, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , JimK
writes
Perforated land drain pipe & stick a patio on it?
It's getting obsessional

The perforated land drain I use is 100mm. For which a narrow trenching
spade would work in stone free clay. Backfill with pea gravel.

I think 200mm is too shallow. If it is successful in removing water the
land will show *striping* in dry weather.

I am waiting for someone to estimate how many barrow loads of wet clay
are going to come out of the *soft water well* hole:-)


1.5m x 1.5m x 2.85m ~ 6.5m3

Not sure the density of clay, say 10 tonnes?

Barrow load say 1cwt / 50kg, more if you're young and fit.

200 wheel-barrow loads?

Plus allow for 'bulking up' of disturbed ground could add another 1/3rd to 1/2 by volume

Jim K

In message , Fredxxx
writes
On 23/04/2014 20:24, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , JimK
writes
Perforated land drain pipe & stick a patio on it?
It's getting obsessional

The perforated land drain I use is 100mm. For which a narrow trenching
spade would work in stone free clay. Backfill with pea gravel.

I think 200mm is too shallow. If it is successful in removing water the
land will show *striping* in dry weather.

I am waiting for someone to estimate how many barrow loads of wet clay
are going to come out of the *soft water well* hole:-)


1.5m x 1.5m x 2.85m ~ 6.5m3

Not sure the density of clay, say 10 tonnes?

Barrow load say 1cwt / 50kg, more if you're young and fit.

200 wheel-barrow loads?

Isn't that the internal volume? Surely more excavation will be required
for hard-core base and working space around the walls.

Also this may be buried at some depth? The OP has not said if the
surface will be patio or lawn. To drain successfully the collectors will
need a fall so deeper than the proposed 200mm:-)


--
Tim Lamb

"JimG" wrote in message
...
Now guys, (and gals), here is the latest challenge in my ground water
collection project - see "Underground water tank" post.

I now need to figure out how to create several lengths of very narrow
trench to take the geo-composite product (Turfdrain) that appears most
suitable. The total length of trench is about 100 metres and the width is
40mm and depth is 200mm.

I would normally use a mechanical trenching machine but access to the area
to be drained is via a 700mm wide door and so far I have been unable to
find a hire shop that can provide a trencher with a transport width of
700mm or less.

So the challenge is to excavate 100M of slit trench to the depth/width
mentioned above.

The soil is heavy clay.

Let the imagination run wild!

Call the cops and tell them fred west used to do the gardening for you,

they will be round to dig your garden up for free in no time

O



1.5m x 1.5m x 2.85m ~ 6.5m3



Not sure the density of clay, say 10 tonnes?



Barrow load say 1cwt / 50kg, more if you're young and fit.



200 wheel-barrow loads?

Comes out at 10.5 tons but some will go back around outside of tank plus some on top as it will be lawn at surface level.

If I have 2 doing digging and two running the barrows then should take 2 days??

If I go down the Old Kent Road, there's lots of migrants there outside B&Q looking for work cash in hand.

On 23/04/2014 19:55, JimG wrote:
Now guys, (and gals), here is the latest challenge in my ground water collection project - see "Underground water tank" post.

I now need to figure out how to create several lengths of very narrow trench to take the geo-composite product (Turfdrain) that appears most suitable. The total length of trench is about 100 metres and the width is 40mm and depth is 200mm.

I would normally use a mechanical trenching machine but access to the area to be drained is via a 700mm wide door and so far I have been unable to find a hire shop that can provide a trencher with a transport width of 700mm or less.

So the challenge is to excavate 100M of slit trench to the depth/width mentioned above.

The soil is heavy clay.

Let the imagination run wild!



what about one of those tracked irrigation installation machines, like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dMZDM20pM

I saw a small tracked one being used on a TV prog very small.




--
UK SelfBuild: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Selfbuild/

On 24/04/2014 18:05, Rick Hughes wrote:


what about one of those tracked irrigation installation machines, like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dMZDM20pM

I saw a small tracked one being used on a TV prog very small.






Now found a link to machine I saw ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoYsg8yIka0




--
UK SelfBuild: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Selfbuild/

On 24/04/2014 18:06, Rick Hughes wrote:
On 24/04/2014 18:05, Rick Hughes wrote:


what about one of those tracked irrigation installation machines, like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dMZDM20pM

I saw a small tracked one being used on a TV prog very small.






Now found a link to machine I saw ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoYsg8yIka0







and an even smaller on .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2BLpoVvb2I





--
UK SelfBuild: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Selfbuild/

On 24/04/2014 18:06, Rick Hughes wrote:
On 24/04/2014 18:05, Rick Hughes wrote:


what about one of those tracked irrigation installation machines, like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dMZDM20pM

I saw a small tracked one being used on a TV prog very small.






Now found a link to machine I saw ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoYsg8yIka0







found a few more options for you ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWLBxxxUFbU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZSn9JKnzPk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sxnaw9ftos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yRB3da_BKQ
The last one looks so neat


and as this is diy ... how about this version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WpiHAuZvFk



--
UK SelfBuild: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/UK_Selfbuild/