Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Share #1 Posted April 16, 2019 Ugh. Still completing work on my foundation. I have to manually dig the remaining 6 holes in fill dirt crud that's takes forever to remove 2x2x2 area of basically rock and some soil. Yesterday I started on the most difficult hole and about 1 inch deep I hit a rock -- check a friggin' bolder -- that was about 2/3 of the hole. Naturally, I had trouble digging around it because there were gobs and gobs of smaller boulders and rocks making it incredibly frustrating to remove. Well just before dark, I was able to dislodge it and roll it over on it's side in the pit. I left it there because I had been digging almost 2 hours and I was both tired, weak, and in a give-a-rip mood. I was done. So tonight I get to go home and see if I can't hoist this bad boy out of the hole. Not sure I can. I'm pretty zapped at work right now and don't even feel like working. I want to hire @Dirtyhip for financial classes -- but I'm also strongly considering her to remove the rock and maybe do all the rest. I bet if she schralps it a few times, it'll come right out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted April 16, 2019 For 2 hours I've eaten 2 bowls of oatmeal. That's it. That's all I've done. Just sitting around waiting for lunch now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted April 16, 2019 Share #3 Posted April 16, 2019 You don't want to hire me. I will scrub a budget pretty hard. ? Got a pry bar? That is what you need to pry out a boulder. You can bust it up using a sledge to get it into pieces that are more manageable and pry those suckers out.. This is what us trail builders do. Sometimes we leave chunks to keep the trail fun and challenging. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted April 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Dirtyhip said: You don't want to hire me. I will scrub a budget pretty hard. ? Got a pry bar? That is what you need to pry out a boulder. You can bust it up using a sledge to get it into pieces that are more manageable and pry those suckers out.. This is what us trail builders do. Sometimes we leave chunks to keep the trail fun and challenging. Indeed. But this wasn't fools gold. I don't know what the heck it is -- probably titanium with reinforced steel -- but I'm pretty sure it would break the pry bar. They know how to pour fill dirt in my part of town. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheep_herder Posted April 16, 2019 Share #5 Posted April 16, 2019 51 minutes ago, Dottie said: Indeed. But this wasn't fools gold. I don't know what the heck it is -- probably titanium with reinforced steel -- but I'm pretty sure it would break the pry bar. They know how to pour fill dirt in my part of town. What kind of pry bar do you have? I doubt you would break or even bend the pry/tamping bars I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted April 16, 2019 6 minutes ago, sheep_herder said: What kind of pry bar do you have? I doubt you would break or even bend the pry/tamping bars I have. It's a small crowbar I have. Or use a legit pry bar with a large hammer? Not sure how you guys do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted April 16, 2019 Share #7 Posted April 16, 2019 ...buy yourself a come along, rig up an attachment to a nearby tree or other immovable object. Throw a sling around that thing, put on your safety glasses and a hard hat, and winch that sucker out of the hole. this is much safer than explosives, and there is less risk to your back then lifting with a pry bar. Plan B is to just incorporate the boulder into your foundation by building your forms around it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #8 Posted April 16, 2019 Just now, Dottie said: It's a small crowbar I have. Or use a legit pry bar with a large backhoe and a jack hammer? Fixed it for you. "Use the right tool for the right job, son." DadOfKzoo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted April 16, 2019 Share #9 Posted April 16, 2019 ...give me a lever and a place to stand, and I will move the world. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #10 Posted April 16, 2019 Just now, Page Turner said: Plan B is to just incorporate the boulder into your foundation by building your forms around it. The PermitLady will never suspect that... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted April 16, 2019 Share #11 Posted April 16, 2019 Just now, Kzoo said: The PermitLady will never suspect that... ...ikr. Friggin' gubb'mint worker will be too busy calculating her pension payment and earliest retirement date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted April 16, 2019 Just now, Page Turner said: ...give me a lever and a place to stand, and I will move the world. That's part of the problem. It's location is limiting accessible points to dig or hammer with any leverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #13 Posted April 16, 2019 Your wife is loaded now. She can rent you a Bobcat with a backhoe. The rental place will deliver and will be done in a hour with the whole thing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #14 Posted April 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, Kzoo said: The PermitLady will never suspect that... Permit? You think I want my local government involved? I'm trying to take out pipes and electrical conduits if I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #15 Posted April 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Page Turner said: ...ikr. Friggin' gubb'mint worker will be too busy calculating her pension payment and earliest retirement date. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted April 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Kzoo said: Your wife is loaded now. She can rent you a Bobcat with a backhoe. The rental place will deliver and will be done in a hour with the whole thing. Egad. Wrong again, dolt. You don't get access to my backyard with one of those things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #17 Posted April 16, 2019 4 minutes ago, Dottie said: Egad. Wrong again, dolt. You don't get access to my backyard with one of those things. With the right equipment you can. Grow a pair and get the right tools for the job. Or get yourself an electric winch. No not wench... winch. For a couple hundred you can get one to move 5000lbs. Or you can get a wimpy come-along like @Page Turner suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted April 16, 2019 Share #18 Posted April 16, 2019 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #19 Posted April 16, 2019 Just now, donkpow said: Big Bad Dottie. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 16, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted April 16, 2019 17 minutes ago, Kzoo said: With the right equipment you can. Grow a pair and get the right tools for the job. Or get yourself an electric winch. No not wench... winch. For a couple hundred you can get one to move 5000lbs. Or you can get a wimpy come-along like @Page Turner suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 16, 2019 Share #21 Posted April 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Dottie said: I had some flowers I could have sent you but I ran them over with the Bobcat. Got work to do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longjohn Posted April 16, 2019 Share #22 Posted April 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Dottie said: Egad. Wrong again, dolt. You don't get access to my backyard with one of those things. One off those things can make it's own access. i think explosives sound like the most fun. You got any? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #23 Posted April 17, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #24 Posted April 17, 2019 You can see the size of the 'other' surrounding boulders next to the cement pier in the upper right corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD Posted April 17, 2019 Share #25 Posted April 17, 2019 Ditch digging can be very hard work! The ground around my house, which was my parents' house until I was 52 and mom passed away, is hard clay soil. I dug the 30" deep footing required by code for a 10'x12' front porch (though we didn't get it formally inspected) and that was a chore in my 30's. When the roots of an Indian Cigar tree damaged the sewage pipes running from the house to the connection under the street in my late 40's, I was working-full time so I hired a very-strong, out-of-work friend of my brother's at $150/day to dig the 20' long, 6' or so deep trench to the pipes and connection. He took 5 days, using my tools, and the fairly-new, big pick he used had both sides worn down so much it had to be tossed afterward. I'm glad I didn't try to talk my brother into digging it ourselves! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsharr Posted April 17, 2019 Share #26 Posted April 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Dottie said: You can see the size of the 'other' surrounding boulders next to the cement pier in the upper right corner. Perhaps ( I am being nice here, of course I missed it) I missed it, but what are you buiding? Footings for a deck? Have to dig below frost line? Can you just pour the footing on top of that rock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Page Turner Posted April 17, 2019 Share #27 Posted April 17, 2019 4 minutes ago, jsharr said: Can you just pour the footing on top of that rock? ...that's what I would do. No way I'd be trying to move that rock. You're gonna get some soil settling and compaction after all that dirt gets dug and refilled anyway. No reason to make it worse. At this point, I think filling that entire hole with concrete and a custom form up top where you can see it between the decking and the soil surface is a very attractive option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #28 Posted April 17, 2019 54 minutes ago, jsharr said: Perhaps ( I am being nice here, of course I missed it) I missed it, but what are you buiding? Footings for a deck? Have to dig below frost line? Can you just pour the footing on top of that rock? Basically it's footings for a platform to be (most likely) used for an open air shed to store firewood. I may seat a prefab shed on this 12x12ft platform and/or put a roof on it with open air walls to allow for air circulation for firewood only. Or a combo of the two. I haven't decided yet. We are using 4 concrete blocks (rows of 2 with 2 stacked on top) per hole and driving rebar through the center it and then pouring cement through the middle. We are either filling the surrounding holes with concrete itself or just refilling with soil. Also we are casting the top to get a level surface with the idea that some settling will occur. While being level is important -- it's not critical. It mainly has to hold the weight -- up to 2-4 cords of dry wood and, depending on the wood, you're looking at somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds. We've got a total of 25 holes or a 100 concrete blocks. Most of these holes are underground but some of the blocks (and pillars) on the back side of the slope are barely below ground. The picture above is a hole on the front of the slope so it's the deepest. We've raised it high enough to keep the treated lumber considerably above the soil line and for all the rainfall to pass through. It should be around for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 17, 2019 Share #29 Posted April 17, 2019 I see your problem...... besides your inability (read blockheadedness) to use the right tools for the job. You're wearing sneakers!!!! You need work boots. Real work boots. Here's some from a customer of mine. Get something like this and then get that little rock out of the hole. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #30 Posted April 17, 2019 Oh Tire Boy, I have the right shoes. That was the day after I took that. Try to keep up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 17, 2019 Share #31 Posted April 17, 2019 5 minutes ago, Dottie said: Oh Tire Boy, I have the right shoes. That was the day after I took that. Try to keep up. I had to question that based on visual evidence. The same way I question you calling those ordinary field stone boulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #32 Posted April 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Kzoo said: I had to question that based on visual evidence. The same way I question you calling those ordinary field stone boulders. Son, read and learn. https://www.hunker.com/12527343/stone-work-how-to-split-rocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 17, 2019 Author Share #33 Posted April 17, 2019 By the way @Kzoo the name of this thread is 'This ditch digger is tired' and not 'This ditch digger is tire'. I can see why you were easily confused and felt compelled to comment in it. This stuff gets confusing, man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Further Posted April 18, 2019 Share #34 Posted April 18, 2019 So, is the rock out ? A form formed around it ? End the suspense.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share #35 Posted April 18, 2019 I am heading out there when I get home. It rained yesterday. Well see how it goes. I have a sore hammy so not sure how much of an effort I can give it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 18, 2019 Share #36 Posted April 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Dottie said: I have a sore hammy so not sure how much of an effort I can give it. Excuses are for the weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share #37 Posted April 18, 2019 2 hours ago, Further said: So, is the rock out ? A form formed around it ? End the suspense.... There it is! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share #38 Posted April 18, 2019 1 hour ago, Kzoo said: Excuses are for the weak. I fought through it. Does that make me brutish or stupid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted April 18, 2019 Share #39 Posted April 18, 2019 3 hours ago, Dottie said: I fought through it. Does that make me brutish or stupid? You Da Man. ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share #40 Posted April 18, 2019 I've got 4 more of these holes to dig. PITA but the end is in sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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