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Hi, I need to auger out some holes. What's the best way to thaw the frosted ground? I have a 2 cycle auger, but I'd like to find a better way to get through the frost than with a pick ax! Thanks, ahead of time.....
-------------------- Tim Whitcher Adrian, MI Posts: 1546 | From: Adrian, MI | Registered: Mar 1999
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This may sound funny but if you wet and dig this should work.Wet-dig Wet-dig and so on.Hope it helped.The water should thaw the ground enough to dig a little then repeat.
-------------------- Randall Campbell Randy's Graphics, 420 Fairfield N. Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 2857 | From: Hamilton Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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We are fortunate enough to live where we don't get much frost, if any. But a friend of mine in Edmonton dogs holes in up to 4 feet of frost routinely.
To get his holes dug he uses a small coal fire. He builds a fire on the ground to thaw the frost, digs, relights the fire until a new level if thawed and then sets a new fire.. etc. It takes time but he says its the only way to get through.
Personally, I like living where I am much better.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8766 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Here along the North Shore of Lake Huron when this time of year comes along we don't dig - we hire a poleline truck with auger - we hire him for an hour, their minimum charge. This actually saves time,our back and money even if it is just a couple of 4x4's - we have done it both ways and compared actual costs based on our hourly rate.
Hope it helps.
Mark
-------------------- Mark Pinkse Laird Signs Iron Bridge ON. Canada Posts: 52 | From: Iron Bridge, ON Canada | Registered: Nov 1999
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Contact a Utillity Line Contractor. These guys have the right equipment for digging holes in frost, as they routinely replace power line poles that have been damaged by accidents. The one I use for winter installations charges $85.00/man hour for digging the holes, but when you consider the time it would take you to go out and dig them yourself, while freezing your butt off, it's money well spent. Make sure that you have all line locates and clearances in hand, as these guys will not dig without having copies of these VERY IMPORTANT documents.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2689 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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Steve is right on!!, Simply the best way and cheapest to thaw ground that we have found, last year a week before we were to install a carved sign in january, we covered the hole areas with calcium chloride( aka ice melt) and a bail of hay, we didn't use a tarp. between that time we had a major ice storm, when we showed up to install, we removed the hay and dug straight through like being at the beach.
It was easier than in the summer.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Tim, Near St Paul a lot of guys that put up pole buildings here say...A bag of charcole after lighting cover with a 5 gal old metel paint can... heats the groung underneathI ...I havent tried it but they say it works great ! Rick
-------------------- Rick Whitmire Trick Communications & Signs Box 1124, Hudson, WI Posts: 132 | From: Hudson, WI | Registered: Nov 2002
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