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At the end of the day, professional well drilling is not really helpful in a self-sufficiency forum. Think of us as backyard mechanics. We'd rather find a way to do it ourselves. Having to hire someone for every job that needed to be done defeats the purpose of self-sufficiency. Again, I'll direct everyone back to the videos I posted. That is how it's done with minimal tools and a lot of work... by hand. It worked. The guy was pumping water by the end of the video. That water is probably now being used by the village he drilled the well in. This is all the same argument as having a contractor build you a McMansion rather than you building a straw bale home yourself. You'll here 1000 professional home builders and bureaucrats telling you why the straw bale home or earthship or whatever won't work. Yet all you need to do is go out and visit the hundreds of people who live in them to give you a more accurate picture. There are wells around my area that were drilled or dug 150 years ago... by hand. People still drink from them. In fact, I drank from one of them in my teen years for around 5 years. I lived through it.
Sorry, Driller, I forgot to thank you for responding to my invitation to join the discussion. I learned a lot from your point of view.
Nowhere did I state that we would necessarily agree with your conclusions about drilling by hand. That's what makes this such a valuable forum -- all these posters willing to share information to help you make the best decision for your own circumstances.
If I had to drill a well myself this is good survival info, another option. If I lived around Driller 1 and needed a weel drilled I'd go with Driller 1 and take his advice, it's hard to beat a man as his own game.
If I had to drill a well myself this is good survival info, another option. If I lived around Driller 1 and needed a weel drilled I'd go with Driller 1 and take his advice, it's hard to beat a man as his own game.
I like your dogs. I have an American Eskimo boy of eleven and a probably part Border Collie girl of six. Disagreeing about wells is minor. But I can' t stand people who don't like animals. So you're OK in my book.
I don't think anyone is doubting your knowledge and professionalism when it comes to drilling wells. And I don't really know why anyone would expect you to go out of your way to discuss drilling a well for themselves--that would be silly, like slitting your own throat or something. Same thing would apply for me asking a general contractor how to build a house myself. In fact, it would be rather insulting of me to expect that from someone whose livelihood depends on just what I'm trying to circumvent.
At the same time, it is generally the case that those who are interested in self-sufficiency, frugal living, minimalism, etc, are also interested in doing everything they have the ability to do (and want to do) themselves. I know that is the case with me. I'm not trying to advocate ruining anyone's livelihood. I just prefer to learn and do on my own. That said, I've found that the best source for most of these technical sorts of skills is textbooks. For instance, when I became interested in timber framing, I bought all the books I could find on the matter. Some were good, some were not. But they gave me the mental know-how to build a timber frame structure. Of course it took a while to get my hands to actually do a good job with the woodworking and get enough experience to be effective, but it all worked out. Same thing when I became interested in designing small homes. I bought a bunch of books from designers, drafters, architects, historical home designs and catalogues, builders, owner-builders, etc. It's a great way to get started.
There are several books on Amazon about drilling wells by hand. I've had a few on them on my wish list in the past, but I've never bought one. I don't have the time to get experience with that sort of thing right now. So for the OP... you might want to purchase some of these and see if they are of any use.
If I was going to dig,drill,or pound a well by myself, I would contact a witcher.
The decision then is mine to dig,drill, or pound where he selected or a different spot where I selected.
Sure as heck Driller1 isn't goingh to help you locate a well cuz there is no $$$$$ in it for him.
--No money in it--for a witcher also, but they truly are doing it to help you.
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