I need to plant some sticks for support in a gravel area, 5/8 minus hard packed. The sticks are 3/8″ wood and need to go down about 4-5 inches for best support. I have to do a lot of them, and don’t relish trying to dig into the gravel with a shovel. I tried a 3/8″ masonry bit in the cordless drill, with some success. The problem I have is that when the drill is extracted, sand and material fall back down the hole and fill it up.
Is there a better way to do what I’m trying to do?
Replies
Drive in some rebar pieces cut to an angle point, with a sledge hammer.
That would work if I needed a rebar support...but what I'm trying to do is plant little flags in front of people's houses in the neighborhood as a promotion for my business. And the flags are on 3/8 wooden sticks.
I mean, sure I could plant the rebar and then tie wrap the flags to it, but that's a bit overkill for this project. I have 900 flags to plant in the next 20 hrs.
not ALL of them go into gravel, but enough that it's worth finding a good solution.
Get an auger bit meant for drilling holes for flower bulbs - they pull up the soil with it. Mayeb they are 1 1/2 to 2" hole. Then push the extra soil back in around the little sticks.
better think twice about planting flags on somebody elses property without permission. you are likely to piss off potential customers and even face tresspassing or littering charges. it has happened.
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where did he say it's without their permission?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
he doesn't, but can you see him knocking on 900 doors in 20 hours and getting permission to plant little banners to advertise and promote his business?
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U do have a point there ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
now you've gone and made me re-read and re-think the whole scenario. maybe these houses line a street where there was to be a parade and the flags are the red,white, and blue, and he was acting on a volunteer basis, with just one notice made that his company was doing the public service...
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Around here public roads typically have a right of way that might be 45' wide and the actual pavement is maybe 30' wide meaning that each property owner's parcel front corner stakes are actually set 7.5' back from the pavement. Although people get pretty comfortable with thinking they own right up to the pavement, actually they don't.
Private roads are undoubtedly different.
If I wanted to plant these little flags, I'd maybe use something like a large Phillips screwdriver driven in the ground (gravel) with a hammer, pull the screwdriver out, and push the flag in.
ya, and iffen you use a 'Craftsman' screwdriver, ya kin git a new one when yur dun...75576.1
<g,d,&r>
"there's enough for everyone"
Around here public roads typically have a right of way that might be 45' wide and the actual pavement is maybe 30' wide meaning that each property owner's parcel front corner stakes are actually set 7.5' back from the pavement. Although people get pretty comfortable with thinking they own right up to the pavement, actually they don't.
Right of way does not mean lack of ownership. Right of way does mean that the specific user has a right to enter and maintain something on your property, be it utilities, drainage or whatever is described in the right of way easement on the plot or Platt plans.
A public right of way does not necessarily mean that anyone can use your property for any form of private advertisement, only that they may cross through your property without you explicit permission.
If a property owners line is set back an easement, unless required by jurisdictional ordnances, they need not maintain public property.
I went through a interesting trail by fire when they installed sewers in my last neighborhood. My corner stake where at the edge of the road, but the easement extended 18' into my property. The contractor thought he could leave me with less than acceptable work when restoring my property to its former condition because he was in the "right of way." He found out differently, and I learned a lot about right of ways and easements.
Dave
I'm not gonna spend a lot of time typing...:
Around here public roads typically have a right of way that might be 45' wide and the actual pavement is maybe 30' wide meaning that each property owner's parcel front corner stakes are actually set 7.5' back from the pavement. Although people get pretty comfortable with thinking they own right up to the pavement, actually they don't.
The above is entirely different and unrelated to an easement. As you said - your property corners were right out at the pavement. Indeed, in the above example, the property owner does not own the 7.5' wide strip of property between his property and the paved street. It is owned by the state, county, or whoever owns the road.
Edited 7/5/2006 9:39 pm ET by Matt
I went back and had second thots too!
Now I'm wondering just what the hell is going on?
datails dammit ... we demand details!
and pictures ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Out here, the real estate agents do this for Memorial Day and 4th of July. American flags about 9" x 12", with their business card attached to the stick.
-- J.S.
Where my parents are they do it for Memorial Day also.It's called "Flags In"http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/memorial-day-flags-in-2004.htm
larger dia hole drilled deeper to compensate for the material that will fall back in...
work thru a tin can with both ends cut out.. use the can as a retainer wall system to keep the material from falling back in...
sub it out.....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
work thru a tin can with both ends cut out.. use the can as a retainer wall system to keep the material from falling back in...
basically a cofferdam..........
I agree...............sub it out.
If having a low wage work force was good for a country's economy then why hasn't Mexico built a fence?
Oreo offered....
But what he do with 900 holes he'd need heavy equipment to fill back up...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
How's Oreo doing?
What's the word from the doctors?
Oreo is with me... won't get the skinny till I get back to Colorado...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
But what he do with 900 holes he'd need heavy equipment to fill back up...
LOL
If having a low wage work force was good for a country's economy then why hasn't Mexico built a fence?
ship auger and the coffer dam...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I once got the same task on a union job. had to set a lot of pins into gravel.
simple solution, chuck the pins and drill with a hammer drill. they go right in
Be sure to contact your state's One-Call association before you commence work. Interupting utilities can be dangerous and costly. The calls and locates are usually free and can save you a lot of hassles. Good luck.
Here's a thought - If the sign is not alreday attached to the wooden dowel, you could beat in a length of iron pipe, then put the dowel in the pipe and extract the "tool".
(see attachment)
I don't know if this will work. The center of the pipe may just fill up with the gravel, too. Easy enough to test. . .
Good luck.
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An online journal covering the preparation and construction of our new home.
Edited 7/5/2006 10:35 am by jhausch
Jhausch,I had the same idea, but the OP said that the flags are already mounted to the wooden sticks.I suppose one could cut a whole bunch of 1/2" black pipe and leave a sleeve in every gravel location...homeowners might object to that.Bill
Here's what I wound up doing:
1. Look for a soft spot (lawn, bed, etc.) near the front of the house.
if no such spot is available (due to shrubbery or rockery) and you HAVE to go into the gravel, I used a large slotted screwdriver w/rubber mallet. Brush away some of the gravel at the surface, drive screwdriver in, wiggle now and then, brush away loosened gravel around the shaft, drive in a bit more. Now I have brushed away about 3" of gravel, and have the tip of the screwdriver down another 2" or so. Position the bottom of the flag right next to the driver, and insert quickly into the hole as the screwdriver is removed in one motion, to minimize material falling in. Give the flag a couple of gentle taps with the rubber mallet to seat it, then brush the loose material back into the crater around the flag. It won't pull out or fall over, and that's the goal. Takes a bit longer than just driving it into dirt, but pretty effective.
You guys helped me quite a bit with ideas. I was having good luck with the carbide drill once I switched to a LARGER bit than I needed, but all in all, the big screwdriver was quite effective. Took about 45 seconds or so to plant a flag. Allowing some flexibility in the location also cut down by 75% the need to even go into the gravel.
And so far, my response on the flags has been 100% positive. In cases where people were outside as I came by, I'd ask permission and got a YES in every case, and often people would even thank me for their flags. I had one or two people who were just getting into their cars to go somewhere drive by, open the window and say "Thank you for the flag" as they passed.
The "promotional material" is just my name and # on an address label wrapped around the stick. Most people probably won't see it until they go to unplant the flag, it's the same color as the stick. Kind of "low key" so as not to distract from the general goal of decorating the neighborhood.
Edited 7/5/2006 2:55 pm ET by geoffhazel
I sure would! The frost would heave it out and the mower blades would not like it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
U were right.
I'da never thot to step onto someone's property without permission let alone stake a flag in with my biz name attached.
must be Mayberry ... I'm thinking that's a good way to get yer butt kicked around here! Or arrested and sued in the better neighborhoods I work in ...
funny ... the thot of a "no permission" deal just never crossed my mind ...
just strikes me as wrong.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Here in San Francisco, an American Flag on your property is, sadly, an invitation for vandalism.Bill