Digging Colonial wells??

[X-Splenda]

i was walking around a old homesite i found buckles and stuff like that!!! i saw like 5 road sign's... i was like what's that?? i moved them off... and a big/huggest well i ever saw!!! it was like 30 ft down!!!! Later i found out it was a colonial community well The town had planned to digg it out. like 50 years ago... but they ran out of money..... and theres a huge rock wedged in the middle of the well....... and it had 2 iron bars on top of the well...... it is actually very stable...... and the rock is weged good in. and it is very passable..... it was trying to be dug out because it was a wishing welll..... and might be a chache..... it's on town property and a hisorical site... but it's in the middle of the woods. and i will bring 3 people with me... is it worth it and any ideas how to exvacate it??
Your ideas??

 

[X-Splenda]

i live down in NY..... on L.I
Got some good wood's
i stumbed like 4 foundation's
and then the well

 

[X-Splenda]

Is there any way to tell there's enough oxegen to go down there?
the sides of the well has alot of glass shard's

 

[truckinbutch]

Is there any way to tell there's enough oxegen to go down there?
the sides of the well has alot of glass shard's

Buy a live parakeet . Lower it in it's cage to the bottom of the well and leave it for an hour .
Pull the cage up at the end of the hour and if you have a live bird you can go down the next trip with it .
Dead bird .... get another bird and go down with it 2 feet at a time with long rest stops every 2 feet .
When bird #2 flops off it's perch you got less than 2 minutes to unass that area , if that ...
Best advice : first bird comes out of the hole dead ..... STAY THE HELL OUTA THERE !....

 

[Curious The George]

Is there any way to tell there's enough oxegen to go down there?
the sides of the well has alot of glass shard's

There are instruments that people who work in confined spaces take in with them and they give an alarm at a preset point. They ain't cheap. Welders going into tanks or inside boilers to work have them. Miners used to take a canary in a cage into the mine with them. If the bird died, they got out quick. The bird has less tolerance of poisonous gas than humans, so he kicks the bucket first.

They also use blowers with a flexible hose to blow air into the confined space and drive any gas accumulation out.

Years of rotting vegetation can produce methane, please be careful.

 

[X-Splenda]

the well is so welllll built. the best one i ever saw....... i will measure exactly tomorow...
and it looked like somebody tried before.... but it don't looked sucesfull...... it could be 10-20 feet at most

 

[allen]

the unsuccesful one may still be in the well !!!

 

[X-Splenda]

i think that story would of been in the new's

 

[firefighter35]

Permit-required confined spaces - 1910.146 http://www.afscme.org/issues/9787.cfm you would first need a permit, then would have to get a meter to find the o2 levels, then have the proper people standing by. honestly, i dont think its worth the hassel. your better off goin to a tot lot and finding clad than goin 30 feet under to get burried 6 feet under. just my opinion. and btw, the meter cost 400 bucks, here is the website http://www.specmeters.com/Other_Meters/Dissolved_Oxygen_meter.html sorry but it just seems to risky, and i dont wanna see another md hunter lost in the line of hunting! not sure if its happened but it sounded good.

 

[truckinbutch]

Screw all the regs and anal retainers . Driving down the highway is something they can't save you from , although they try .
Basic safety is just that and has been since the beginning of time . You are your own resposibility . Just don't expext the world to pull your tit out of the wringer if you violate the basic laws of survival .
Don't invite the entire carnival in either . They will tell you that you can't rather than get involved .

 

[hammong]

You're going to need to suck the gas/stale air out of the bottom of that hole with an in-line blower and a length of flexible hose if you want to ensure the air is safe to breath. Fresh air will fall into the hole to replace the gas/stale air you suck out. Don't do it the other way around by blowing air into the hole, as this will just leave the heavier-than-air gas in hole.

I wouldn't climb down that hole unless I did a few dredges first to see if there is anything worthwhile down there to begin with. Is the hole dry or wet at the bottom? Old wells can have fungus and mold in them that can be deadly. The curse of King Tut wasn't a curse, it was 2000 year old mold spores that killed those explorers.

Greg

 

[X-Splenda]

it's a dry leafy bottom....
it does not look theres any fungus

 

[truckinbutch]

You can't protect people from themselves . I've never been able to detect mold spores either except
with lab cultures .
This appears to be an academic discussion or foolish rhetoric from a person that is hellbent on their own destruction tomorrow .
No matter to me .... Bunch of old folks here willing to help those that are willing to listen ......
Guess how we got to be OLD FOLKS

 

[timekiller]

I hope you know your friends well enough that they don't get you down there and untie the ropes through them down the hole at you and start laughing.As they go about there business.
Sounds dumb to me. First off on a web site asking other people how to kill yourself basically. Cause assuming you wouldn't be asking if you are qualified.I would go on but I think enough said.

 

[Gilligan]

i just got the word i have permission.....

OK . Post some pictires of the well curbing and a limited view of the surface site cropped enough to not divulge your location . Place a steel tape measure across the opening for reference as to
size and depth to rock that has to be removed . An estimated thickness of the rock as well to calculate the weight that needs to be lifted to clear the opening .
Amazing that you got permission in 3 minutes time ; but , no matter .... Post some pics and we will go from there .

Drill a hole in the middle of the rock and sink a stick of dynamite in=no more rock. I watch the Discovery Channel

 

[Newt]

I'd at least move that big rock that's hanging 30' over my head. If it falls, you'll never know it. Whatever you do, make sure you don't even touch the rocks on the walls.
Good luck!
Newt

 

[hikeinmts]

Want that rock out first, for sure. Throw a chain around it, and winch it out. That should tell you if the rock is holding up the walls. Then, some birds down the hole, or a meter......sorry, they don't have meters (that I know of) to measure for fungus.
That, you'll have to take the consequences of your decisions.
If/when going down the well, leave at least two FRIENDS - FRIENDS on top. Hook yourself into a harness, and LEAVE IT ON WHEN YOU GET TO THE BOTTOM. No telling what kind of build up its had.....and your foot/feet might just sink into something much deeper than you can see.
Get a good, strong light, tie it to the rope/chain that you are hooked on, and go down slowly, looking for the unexpected uninvited guest to your shindig. A seperate rope and digging tool and bucket should allow you to test the bottom, to see if there is any goodies at the bottom in the dirt. (FRIENDS, remember - FRIENDS.......who won't let you drop if/when they see a gold coin or two.
Replacing the stale, perhaps contaminated air, seems like a real, real good idea. This thing might cost you and some buddies a pretty penny.....and you might find enough to pay the bills, or nothing - if someone beat you to it - or you could retire. Who knows. Keep all posted. (The one guy was right......don't invite all the world in to help you, stand by, whatever. You have to decide if the risks warrant it, or not. The authorities will tell you not to do it. Probably quote a rule or two.....and then bring in the proper equipment to get it done, and sell the stuff they find to pay off some of the town/county bills.....or pocket them.
I

 

[bottlecap4t2]

if you can get a come along and try to get that rock safely out of the way good luck keep us posted on what you find.

 

[riverdolphin]

I'm sure it is a great temptation to try and find out what is at the bottom of the well. I can't help but wonder how old you are? Also, the street signs laying on top of the well tells me that this place is well known about and I can't help but wonder if someone else has probably already been to the bottom of the well. But if you decide to go-ahead with your plans, please make sure you remember to replace the signs on top of the well so that no one accidentally falls in. Your level of intelligence and maturity is often shown in your decision making processes and things you chose to take part in and chose not to take part in. The consequences of your decisions have a tendancy to follow you for a life-time.
Take Care,
Riverdolphin

 

[wyattrr]

Hmmm sounds like fun...safety first. Gas could kill ya and air borne mold could hurt ya...is it worth it?? Wear a respirator those drywall guys wear...pretty cheap.

 

[irishmick]

lol no guts no glory

of course no air no you ;o)

How about lowering a candle with a glass enclosure on it just to ascertain that there is indeed oxygen down there. If that stays lit then go the bird route. Once you get the rock out a tripod should get you down fairly easily with a couple of guys on top to keep you off the walls. Just my opinion, but how many of you guys really would not take a little risk for a little glitter? lol