Any tips on hunting a well?

[gitterdug]

Joeb1999 is absolutely on the money on this one. I am confined space trained, high angle rescue trained, trench rescue trained, and he is correct. Theoretically, you can suck water up, to 33.3 feet, with a perfect vacuum, but that doesn't exist. You might pump the water up, much like a water well. Then you might even pump air down the well. Those issues might be overcome.....or the water table might be constant, due to proximity to the water off the beach, and fill quicker than you can pump.

Regardless, the well is extremely likely to be unstable, especially after all those years of being there. A rock falling on your head will kill you. unstable walls collapsing will kill you. And for what? What could be in the well? IF it is a treasure worth finding, widen the hole. Most likely there might be a few coins, if any, a bottle or two, etc. It is NOT worth your life. THAT is your side of the deal. You are betting your life that you can get down there.

Be wise, don't do it. Sometimes ya gotta just walk away, in wisdom.......be safe, be wise.

HH.....above ground.

Dennis

 

[Merlin cadogan]

Thank you mud, you're a good 'un. The well is actually inside his house, I don't think there will be many dead animals down there, I am going to be very cautious, after it's opened I will have a good look and think. Thanks for your advice guys, I will err on the side of caution.

 

[WaderMike]

I can always send a neodymium magnet,(like this one) down to you mate, to see if theres any iron stuff down there? its good for about 80kg's lift in the right circumstances!or ive got one thats normally used in canals to retreive lost windlass's etc, If there isnt any ferrous losses down there I would imagine non ferrous items such as jewellery are gonna be absent also??

 

[Cupajo]

[size=large][size=large]"a fellow would try to pump or bail out as much of the water as possible, climb down in there, and start scooping up buckets of mud as fast as he could while somebody up top hauls it up and out...two buckets on ropes would be faster...however, the crew on top would have to be very trustworthy and capable"[/size]

As a plumbing repairman specializing in well work in a small Connecticut community where there are many such wells I have done this very thing usually with one helper who pulled up the pail !!!!!!!

(Using a mud sucker pump on the shallower wells and a 5 Gallon pail on a rope when the pump wouldn't work.)

Ventilation was always a major concern because of Radon gas locally right after the condition of the stone lining of the well and working in a space where I couldn't even bend over to retrieve the GI trenching tool set at 90 degree angle I used to scrape out the sludge accumulation from the bottom of the well.

Had I known then what I know now of such things I would have never done it.

Too soon old too late smart!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CJ[/size]

 

[KinTN]

I wouldn't remove the water from the well. It is holding some lateral pressure on the sides. And while I would definitely use a dedicated 02 supply (scuba), blowing out the well with a leaf blower with drain hose attached would be a smart move. You didn't say it had been covered in your op and that makes a difference. Hook up a pully or 3 over the well and a child could pull you up. Or an ATV, or a........


Good thing this country isn't being built today with the genes present. There would never have been any wells hand dug or any risks taken. Don't go in the water, Timmy, a shark might get you! And if the shark don't get you the Undertoad will!

Theres not only risk in getting out of bed, theres risk in staying in bed. Every man has the right to decide what his personal comfort level with risk is and I respect everyone's decision. Too bad I cant say others have the same tolerance.