home made hydro-vac

this is how I dug the fence posts in my back yard. the area was to tight to use a power auger or hand auger. and I didn't want to ruin the lawn using a shovel. the soil has a lot of roots and clay that makes it a chore to dig. this is similar to the way companies dig around utilities or small deep inspection holes.

[@channelview8854]

I think a lot of viewers may be missing the point. It's not the speed or ease but to protect wires and pipes if the locating job was a little iffy. Everybody that has dug in or near the easement by my house has dug into something. I don't know why the locator guys can't beat that. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@joes5096]

I did 30 post holes for my fence similar as everyone was on a utility locate. Didn't see any wire till my last hole. Had an HP Vac from work on 55 gal drum, just kicked it over into ditch when full.

[@chrisgraham2904]

Yep! I dug 18 fence post holes (for 4X4 line posts and 6X6 corner posts) this summer with a 3200 psi pressure washer and a 60 liter/6.5 HP RIDGID shopvac. In Canada you'll need an extension for your pressure washer gun and a rigid extension for the vacuum to dig the required 4-1/2 feet below grade to get below the frost line. I watched my local electrical commission dig 24" diameter X 12 foot deep holes with a HydroVac truck in 8 minutes, to set 80 ft. long electrical poles and I said; "I can do that".

[@Itseasierthanwemakeit]

I’m the age - I still want to do it myself - but aware it’s not as easy digging as it used to be. This is probably the way I get to.

[@elgoogsucks9005]

Wow. You just saved me a shit ton of aggravation. Thank you

[@ausyd8577]

Impressed mate, I operate a hydro vac on HV truck, ours of course is a lot more powerful, but aye I give credit where it’s due, nice job

[@daveetink]

Amazing what you come up with when the beer has to wait for chores to be done

[@jimbrown7974]

Nicely done. Keep up the Great Work !

[@mv80401]

It's also possible to use a garden hose and a tree root irrigator which is basically a metal rod with a small nozzle. Worked for hardened clay soil.

[@kenb7145]

Worth trying. I've got about 12 holes to dig. Lots of roots and rocks.
Hope it works here. Great idea.

[@daveetink]

Hope it works for you

[@mariomorales8187]

Did it work?

[@gorak9000]

@@mariomorales8187 I used it recently to expose a sprinkler leak in my front yard that they had HDD'ed a cable right over the pipe at some point after the sprinklers were installed, and it was right on the edge of a sidewalk, so could only get to it from one side. Even with a smaller shop vac with the little hose, it worked well. It took all of 5 minutes to completely expose all around the pipe with enough clearance to work, and not damage the cable that was pushed through there either (and that's with having to dump the little vacuum multiple times, and rocks getting stuck in the too small hose). The only real issue is you need a place to dump the "muck" after and let it dry out - then you can basically just dump it back in the hole when you're done.

[@igorchuchro4991]

wow this was amazing to see

[@michaelsimpson9779]

Nice work, well done

[@TheBabypanda10]

Nice
!!!

[@jonathanlee7355]

I want to do this to dig out left over tree roots but will need to empty shopvac multiple times.. where to empty? Maybe a kiddie pool? Hmmm

[@Hatya05]

If you practice i bet you can do it and hold a beer

[@daveetink]

Hatya05 What do you think I was doing when I came up with this 😁

[@ChooChooRooter]

Hatya05 somebody say beer ???

[@BradySzabo]

cool

[@efimmuratov6613]

Is that a 6HP one?

[@Nativtexan2]

'Merica!

[@daveetink]

Nativtexan2 Canada

[@Nativtexan2]

Cool. Couldn't tell from your accent though. Nice job regardless :)

[@xxcrazymarfxx5859]

It's way faster with a shovel XD

[@Levi-j3l]

You trolling?? Lol

[@fencefirst2722]

It is​@@Levi-j3l

[@fencefirst2722]

He literally dug the hole in one minute