I am digging a well with a hand-powered auger. I am 20 feet down and I am hitting a rock. How can I break up this rock so I can continue digging?
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1Easier to move over a few feet and start again, if it's really a rock you can neither bring up or go around. If you hit rock at about the same depth in the new hole, you may be facing something that'll need a rock drill, explosives, or both...– keshlamOct 16, 2015 at 1:55
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@keshlam I have drilled two holes, and I hit a rock on both holes at almost exactly the same depth. The holes are about 20 feet apart.– BrettOct 16, 2015 at 2:42
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2What does a hand-powered auger look like? Does it have really big reduction gears? I would think a gas powered auger would be less exhausting.– ojaitOct 16, 2015 at 3:32
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2Hitting that barrier twice, at that separation, suggests to me that you're looking at something larger than "a rock" and getting through it without pro equipment may be a major challenge. But I'm far from an expert. Good luck...– keshlamOct 16, 2015 at 3:48
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What makes you think you can drill down and hit water where you are?– JPhi1618Oct 16, 2015 at 14:12
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3 Answers
You might want to check with knowledgeable people about drilling in your area. Perhaps you have dug into bedrock. Or there is a large monolith buried there. :-)
- In the U.S., the USGS has much data available for your perusal.
- Perhaps you have neighbors with wells? Talk to them and see what their experience was. Even if theirs were drilled 50+ years ago, well digging stories seem to survive the ages.
- Your municipality might have well digging advice and experience and can advise on best drilling practices.
rig up a 20 foot masonry bit extension and perforate the outline of you hole on it. There is also a product that will shatter boulders by using a material that expands in the holes drilled. heres a link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EUBR2RY?keywords=rock%20breaker&qid=1445003598&ref_=sr_1_12&sr=8-12
Probably way too late but when I ran into rock I took the head off and smashed whatever I was hitting... seemed to work pretty well... Also if you are digging into bedrock you might try dropping a really heavy pipe down there to break it. Unless you live in an area with hard bedrock you could probably get away with this...
