Will Strong Winds from Mexico Destroy my New Home?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2023
- Our strongest winds here come from the south, and they can make most buildings here vibrate with its power. Naturally I want to be sure my new 16'x40' home that I am currently building is safe just in case some heavy winds show up unexpectedly. I had no idea how to anchor a home properly so I chose to tie it down according to specifications for a mobile home of similar size.
The Adapter tool I purchased was found here:
www.ebay.com/itm/224710801782...
Some have requested to make donations to my off grid living project. Many thanks. Paypal: ibwonet1@gmail.com
For those who asked I create an amazon wish list here it is:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
Please note: With large products Amazon will mention they cant deliver to me but that is not correct. They will fill the order anyway and any deliveries go to the main post office nearby!
For those who want to contact me:
affordabledesertliving@gmail.com
Thanks for watching!
I highly commend you, Don, for your strength and tenacity to tackle your projects. I am excited for You and the new home you are building💚🌵
Thanks so very much for all of that encouragement!
Don,
I know it's "after the fact", but you can rent a machine that's about the size of a walk behind trencher that is designed to spin/drive those anchors right in. I hope that helps anyone who's up against this task.
All that aside, I've got to hand it to you Don, you are one tough bird!
Really kind and encouraging comments. I thought about renting a machine but its all about trying to thrive financially here. I was discouraged by the cost. Thanks so much for your kind input and for watching!
Just down the road from you Don. I used an 8” auger using 40v rechargeable digger. Still hard work. I would start the hole, add water and come back a little later. That system worked but it was still hard to do. Perfect adobe and cob soil ❤️
Yeah at some point I would love to make adobe bricks out of the stuff here on my property. I bet it would be super.
Don, how wonderful seeing you on my screen again. You are a huge inspiration… ❤
Much appreciated comments Bill. All the best!
In order to plant our fruit trees we had to break through the calache with an excavator. One hole was a calache bowl 15 and a half feet deep before we broke through! When we put up our electric fence we had young men who beat themselves up using an auger. Plus they then had to fight granite. Needless to say we know the difficult job you are having securing anything into the ground!😊
Wow thats one rugged job in order to get your Fruit trees established. Hope they are thriving!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 They are thriving and we got three gallons of almonds this year! Pomegranates are bigger and getting ripe and we got tons of mulberries too! Still have that huge hole to fill though. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Looks like it’s going to be very sturdy! Very difficult work. I would have given up. Lol. Way to stick with it!!!❤❤❤ Looks like you had a cute little friend show up at the end there. And wow! I can’t believe that toad jumped out. 😊
Thanks for your fun comments @bondpaz and for watching!
It's great to see you looking so well, and back to building your dream.
Thanks so much Joe! I am super excited for sure.
Way to hang in there Don! I seen one of your little wing friends at the end there; looked like a humming bird. Am sure they know they are safe at Don's Place! 😀
Yep a lovely little black-chinned hummer doing the photo bomb LOL.
Hi Don, it's great to see you making progress with the big house. I'm looking to the next stage. Glad you took the time for a break. Graham and Tim 😊 🐕
Thanks Graham! Appreciate you being here and all of the encouragement mate!
That was a hard job..but you got it done 👍 The lock washer might have worked better on the nut side rather than under the bolt head. Looking forward as you make more progress ! 😁
Thanks Paul. I will definitely take note of that. I actually put lock washers under the bolt and nut side at one point. Needless to say nothing seemed to keep things from loosening. But thats okay it all worked out.
Well done Don. A lot of hard work but well worth the effort to keep your new abode well anchored. We don`t want you and your big house to be gone with the wind .ATB
LOL Thanks Graeme. Definitely dont want to watch that movie... I mean live it literally.
😂 Love it
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND your heat situation . I live in the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas where it has been over a 100 for days . I am age 80 and the heat penetrates your body as soon as you walk outside . I knew why you were taking a break from videos . Maybe some day you will find a unique way to make a wind barrier on the side that the stronger wind comes from . Perhaps have someone bulldoze you a hill to divert the incoming wind . That might even help your snow to be less
Thanks Larry. Yep working in over a 100 I find is do-able but its not wise to really do it for long periods of time. I dont get much snow overall which is great. Thanks so much for watching!
Wow! I know caliche well over in Tucson. So I wimped out and built my planter up with bricks.... instead of down into the ground...aka concrete/caliche. BTW, I did fill the hole with water, thinking it would soak into the caliche overnight..didn't happen. With many trees and bushes to plant, the nursery suggested getting an electric jackhammer. That's what they use to dig!! Jackhammers are reasonably priced and go through 4 inch concrete...about $200 at Home Depot. I can now dig holes in our Arizona concrete desert! Always good to see your work Don, looking forward to watching the next one. Bird videos are also very nice to see.
Thanks so much lawrence. Delighted that you enjoy the bird videos when they happen. Appreciate very much you coming by and watching.
Awsome project young man, I came across your channel a little bit ago and have loved watching this process.
In that heat I 'll only need 1 battery and lots of breaks!!!
Are you going to add cement to fill in the holes???
@@Republic1usa Don talked of calache (his soil) which is almost likea mixture of cement.....at the very beginning of this clip
Awesome, thank you! Delighted you are here. Lots more coming...
Yes indeed going to add a concrete mix to do just that. Thanks for watching.
Looking good, Don!
I don't think you'd have to worry about your house blowing away but precautions always make you feel more secure.
The winds really are strong down there but as long as I've had a house in Sunsites, I've never had any worries like that...
And your house will be much larger than mine.
Can't wait to see more progress!
Your videos are always so great!
I havent lived in Sunsites Joanne but the winds from the south there literally rock my little 200 sq ft cabin so that my computer monitor shakes while I am inside. So naturally I want to make sure my "big house" is solid.
Don, you keep on inspiring those of us who watch you! Your videos are a key essential of my You-Tube experience. Stay well and on the sunny side of life... From Marine Corps veteran Charlie.
That means a lot Charlie. So glad you enjoy the vids.
i wonder if ya added a little water to a started hole if it would soften the clay up some?
My son in law had to dig several holes for solar panels bracing. He poured water down the hole every night. Next day it was soft enough to dig. Yes use water!
For "normal" soil adding water will help a great deal. With Caliche it simply has little effect overall I found. I did that for my first holes but the ground remained largely unchanged. Thanks for your input and watching the vids!
If I'm not mistaken, strapping for mobile homes goes up the walls and maybe over the roof, but under the outside walls. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
It’s been fun watching your adventures. “It’s over a 100 that’s slows you down” lol spoken like a true desert dweller! 😊❤
Yep indeed its been our hottest summer since I moved here. But I would rather heat than cold for sure.
loved seeing that hummingbird ( I think) at the end while you were closing out this video! I really get encouragement from you Don. You just keep plugging away. You research and then work this build with the equipment you have and with the environment you have. Those power drills with the augers can torque your hands/arms sometimes unexpectedly and things go flying 💥 You are amazing and I applaud your journey!🥰 So good to see you and we all look forward to the next one Don! Take care🥰
thanks so very much for all of your fantastic encouragement martha! Yep that was a black chinned hummer doing the photobomb at the videos closing. Many thanks for your faithfully watching these videos!
Number 8 wire mentality here in NZ, fix anything...❤
Will have to look that up in my NZ coloquial dictionary. Grin.
Good evening Dom how about putting some water on the ground before drilling see if that softens the ground to help out? Jerry
I tried that Jerry but my ground is really odd. Its like clay powder and water only penetrates the first inch or so of it. Leaving the underlying layer of dirt hard and dry.
If you have a pressure washer it might be good to make a hole with that first for something like that if you need to do something like that again.
Keep up the good work.
Good suggestion. Although I think the caliche would remain stubbornly in place. But I would have to try that one.
“Which side does a lock washer go?
nut side
Lock washers are designed to be tightened to a required torque beneath an ordinary fastener. They exert a spring tension that keeps the fastener from vibrating loose. They are often attached to the nut side of the fastener.”
Excellent point larry. Good lesson and I took mental notes. Thanks.
A+ for effort, Don. As a Master Mechanical Technician, It drives me crazy when I see things done the wrong way, but I guess this is how tool companies make a lot of money. Good luck with the home build, but be careful.
Yep I often think I drive professionals nuts but in a boyish joker way I actually kind of enjoy that... LOL.
I like to see the struggles and the refining of the process until you are sailing through by the end. Love to see that foundation getting so strong, great work! How about those gorgeous clouds in background!
I just love comments like this. It makes me feel so rewarded for doing my best to show everything that goes into my challenges and victories while living here. Thanks for faithfully watching!
Hey Don, ensure you wrap the strap "completely around" your wooden Joyce's. This ensures as you cinch up the auger end that the strap tightens around the Joyce, tighter.
Thanks Alan. Yep I was just doing a demo to show how they go. Will cinch them up snug later on.
Don, I believe that you will find that using a longer bole and after tightening the nut, adding a second nut and jamming I against the first nut will redice the unscrewing.
Very nice to see you again Sir! You inspires me to grab som tools and build.....something...yeah , you know what I mean, hehe
Yep always rewarding to grab some tools and work at something Morten! Thanks for watching.
Take care of yourself Don and be care full ❤😊
I will Charles. Many thanks for your faithful support.
Making progress … Always look forward to your videos.
Delighted to hear that. Thanks for watching.
Don , super handyman 😁 , nice work bud
Thanks so very much Beach!
Reminds me of the problems I had tying down my tiny house/shed. I bought shed anchors and a friend welded them onto rebar, then rented a jackhammer. Two broke so had to dig those by hand. I used that twisted metal cable to run under the tiny house. It passed Pima County's pull test so I was very happy. The pull test and being the necessary feet away from structures and property line were the only requirements to get a permit.
So glad things passed the Pima County inspection. Thanks for watching!
It’s been amazing watching you from the early beginnings to now. You’re an encouragement. Great work.
Thanks for the lovely remarks Edith!
When I was 10 in about 1953 in dry west central Texas, I was hungry. I decided to grow a garden. Trouble was that the dirt was cliché. I had to till the soil with an old hoe, mix in cottonseed hulls and composted chicken manure; but I did grow a garden and ate much better.
You had to grow a garden at 10 years old to be able to eat? 😢
When we visited my grandmother across town, we ate great meals including garden vegetables and chicken. At home we seldom ate so well and I was perpetually hungry.
Wow thats a tough go. Doing a garden in this kind of soil.
Don you doing fantastic job, just be careful . Don't get to relaxed with heat, don't want you having sun stroke. I want to see your finished 🏠.
Simon 🇬🇧😀
Thanks Simon! Once its too hot for even me I pack it in and rest/hydrate etc. Doing great here and thanks for your encouragement!
@@affordabledesertliving3487
Cannot wait to see your progress, keep going mate.
👍
Don , your lock washer goes on the nut side. It is a flat then lock then the nut . looking good for all your work praying you stay HEALTHY
Thanks a lot for all of the prayers George. So appreciate that!
Keep up the great work, Don!
Thanks Tim! Appreciate you watching.
Looking at the mountains in the background, you live close to my brother...I enjoy watching.
Delighted you are here Daniel!
Glad to see you getting it together. Stay safe.
Good to see you!
You as well and thanks for watching.
In at least one scene you had the tool backwards. The impact gun has to line up with the auger. Love your channel Don
Thanks so very much for being here Eric! I am sure I did so many "learning curve" things with this adventure LOL.
Thanks for the update. Progress looks good!
Thanks for being here and watching!
Wind and home
Build in the wind
A home to be
Future in the desert
Serenity
Beautiful nights
And hot day
Sand and wind
And partial shade
A man's dream
Building alone
Kingdom in the desert
Plans drawn
( Fun to watch..keep it up, brother ).
Muscle and ha
What a lovely poem Dale. I so appreciate you taking the time to write these. So personal. Thank you!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 Thanks...
OUCH 😮😮. I’m glad things worked out 😊 & all is well 😉. You take care 👵🏻👩🌾❣️
Yep things worked out fantastic I figure Dee.
Hi Don!!! I see your really enjoying yourself..😉👍
Be safe Don!!!!
Yes indeed loving this construction life. Thanks for watching!
Sir you are amazing, nothing stops you and your not afraid to learn. I think your motto is getterdone
Yep no question. My motto being the job has to be completed period. So I will find a way.
Good to see you Don! Wow! That was quite a job. Be safe and take care. God bless you!
Thanks so much Don! Great to see you folks here too.
Thank you for this post. I try to explain that ground to my friends... We have it here in Taos County Mesa NM. And your overall building info is great.
Thanks sondra. Yep caliche is a challenge for sure. But the good part of it is, if your home sits on the stuff it isnt going anywhere as far as sinking or becoming unlevel once its been leveled I have found.
Interesting !! I am 71 and live in a schoolbus on my kids property on Taos Mesa. I own 2acres in a Carson National Forest Canyon an hour away I hope to build an 8x15 bunkhouse (under code for a permit)
That impact looks like a wrist breaker! Seems to me that you could have made a few rows of piers deeper with some tie down bolts cemented in.
Hi Peter. It was a bit of a vibration but I have always had pretty sturdy wrists so fortunate here. It was a toss up between going deep with sunk down piers and bolts attached to the frame/skids of the home vs this method. I chose this method and overall believe it or not it was less work. Digging down in the soil here by hand is time consuming.
Hay Sparky glad to see you at it again, looks like you Are making progress, good luck
Thanks Dave! So appreciate the encouragement.
Great job, a lot of hard work.
Thanks so much larry. Appreciate you watching.
Good job my friend. A pair of Nylock nuts would have not likely vibrated off. Glad you were successful. Cheers.
Thanks Lane. Still learning here and need to check out Nylock nuts for future projects.
Good to see ya again!.....Hope all is going well!
Doing super! Thanks for stopping by.
Next time, after digging as far as you can, fill the starter hole with water, wait overnight and the digging gets a little easier.
In normal soil that would work. Caliche? Not so much and I did this already. Thanks for commenting and for watching the vids!
Brilliant tool
It definitely does the trick!
Very interesting!
16K subscribers. Congratulations.
Thanks David and it keeps growing!
Really good to see you back.
Delighted you came by to watch Daniel!
Hi Don, it's great to see you back. Please give us an update on the trees you planted. Have they survived?
I will do a vid on them soon Teena. Thanks for watching!
New subscriber here... Smart choice using them straps. Hope your panels and other items are secured as well.
Thanks so very much for subscribing. The solar panels are lodged very securely with 4x4x cemented into the ground and hurricane ties etc.
Excellent video. Nice to see you again with your projects
Thanks so much for watching as usual Abid!
Hello, with slightly longer bolts you could have worked with lock nuts and an impact wrench that you bought separately can be used to tighten the bolts. Greetings from Berlin
I like that idea a lot hans. The only worry I had was that the bolts if tightened too much would strip and then be useless. Thanks for watching. Much appreciated!
Hi Don, I just finished drilling some 6 in deep holes in bedrock to pin the cement piers with rebar into the bedrock, this prevents lateral movement. I thought i was going to have to epoxy the rebar, to prevent uplift but the building inspector here in NS, said it was not required. We don't have much wind on our lot, but I like the way you are preventing your building from shifting. Also, I wear a sweat band to prevent the sweat from dropping into my eyes. Very informative video. Thanks
Thanks so much and for sharing your NS adventures! Yep got to get one of those ol sweat bands.
Making wonderful progress. Two things...Please please don't pull wrenches toward your face when grunting things together. Easy way to knock a tooth loose. If you're mucking about with your Dewalt and you want to safe the tool, pull the battery off. Click that directional switch by accident and you'll have the family jewels all round up again.
Yep removing the battery would make it super safe.
Wow Don amazing work!
Thanks so much for the encouragement DesertNails!
Great work Sir
Many thanks Roberto!
That is cool my friend.
Thanks so much for coming by and watching!
You're an inspiration!
How kind kathryn! Thank you.
Thank you !!!
No thank you for watching.
As I remember Dynamite worked for Caliche!! 🤣Well Dun!
LOL. Yep that would do it.
What insurance agent? You are opt out, which means no CO, which means you can not get insurance! Also, if you read the AZ mobile home anchoring code, the straps must go around the "steel" beam.
Also, if you add water to your holes and let it soak in, the anchors will go in much easier.
Hi Dan. I am only going by what an opt out resident told me. That Farmers insurance insured him. Mind you I will have to check up on this, but it will spur me on to checking this out. As per the steel beam scenario I agree that mine is wooden not steel. But having had the support of an engineer on this decision I am happy with it. Re: the water to the holes. I did this and left this overnight. The result? A couple inches down was indeed softer. But the caliche beneath was still cement like and unyielding. Always great to have folks comment. Cheers!
Way to go, Don!🙌
Thanks Helen! I hope you and Fil enjoyed the rain break and are making great progress on your lovely little casita. That little building is going to be fantastic!
That is a hard job Don wow take it easy you got there heat there to
Thanks for your care Kriss! Yep I only worked until I was so hot and then I took breaks.
Good ideas my friend
Many thanks for watching!
Thanks Don.
Thanks for watching Wayne!
good progress Don
Thanks so much @emreed1234
so glad your doing good... I was a bit worried there for a bit...🙂 that home is going to be awesome... I just know it.... stay safe and healthy..... Deb from South Dakota
Hey Deb thanks ever so much for that lovely encouragement.
Good to see you again! Very good looking project there, you're making real headway. Those sunken tie-downs are something I could use, I will be paying close attention to your next video (as I do all of them)
So appreciate you here Garegardner6782. Delighted the vids are helpful.
Very useful information, as always! This answered several questions I've been wondering about for my own "buildings to be" when I get moved to my property. I might not be strong enough to do everything myself, but this will help me to know how to make sure it is getting done correctly!
Thanks Cheryl. Its always great to see how things are done and then sort through it and decide whats helpful or not as we watch others on youtube etc.
Just subbed to your channel. I’m your age and find what you are doing fantastic! Can’t wait for your next video! Love from Colorado. Thanxz
Thanks ever so much for the sub and so appreciate you coming by!
Hans and Frans will help you pump up those little girly muscles.
Yeah they are always a great inspiration to all LOL>
Love this cousin 😂❤
Thanks for watching the vid Patti!
God bless you sir
and you as well James.
Don, the lock washers go on the nut side. Not the bolt head side.
Got it. At one point I put them on both sides I was so wanting to make this work.
Wow, Don -- hope your wrists are undamaged! Your determination here reminds me of a big fabrication task I had to accomplish in my younger days, also on some "hard" materials.
After many weeks, and going through several hundred jigsaw blades, 3 or 4 corded jigsaws and a couple of 1/2 inch drill motors, the learning curve was finally surmounted! I was wondering if your goal might be accomplished via a rental of heavy equipment (tractor with auger attachment) -- but that would not only be too easy, the resulting video would be unremarkable at best . . . Stay safe!
Wow Robert congratulations on your incredible persistence with the task you had to perform! Yep the wrists were totally fine. Fortunately have always had pretty strong wrists and hands. Years of tree climbing LOL. A rental would have worked but kicked my budget to the curb. As usual I do whats frugal and usually get a workout as well. grin.
reason why like the three little pigs built it out straw or use brick or wood
fun part try moveing a brick shit house not easy i been around one thing i know is weather
you find a system cause everyones diffent streagth and weakness every areas differt but once you find a system and change with the season day and night makes easy you go man i wish i had know early on like milk and cookies or coffee and dounuts just takes time
Impact5 devices don't work well with long thin shafts... they absorb the impact. In fact they make torque limiting sockets by this method. I welded up a similar adapter. I drill a pilot hole with a Harbor freight auger. I then adapted a gear reducing drive in between the gas auger and the driving socket. Works well... you can tell when you are twisting the Helix anchor shaft as the paint will start to krinkle. If that happens before your depth . Enlarger the pilot hole or dampen the hole.
Wow some serious mcgyverisms you did for sure. Good tips. Many thanks.
Don for the win!
Yep LOL ! Don 12, Caliche 0
Don can you buy one of those foldable canopies to keep the sun off of you? Ofcourse you will have to stake it if it's windy. Also pour alittle water in the holes and dig at the bottom with a 1 inch metal pipe ot rod. Good job.
Hi mr.make. I tried the water in the holes routine but it seemed to not impact things at all. The caliche being so cement like it remains largely undisturbed for the most part. Tough earth for sure. Its pretty hot even with some sort of canopy so I just take breaks and drink enough water. Thanks for watching!
Glad to be riding along with you, 👌💯 coming at you from Spain.
Wow watching from Spain. Cool!
Yet another great video Don! You continue to be such an inspiration; never give up -- find a new way!
Question: Now that you've experienced adding the straps to anchor ... if you had it to do again, would you have done that before delivery of your current tiny house building?
Hi Michelle. For the little tiny house building I would and will do it differently. Lay a 12" deep by 16" deep footing and then anchor the cabin with metal hooks etc down into that. Hard to describe without a drawing to show. It will be anchored well.
ya i been thier see down in mexico we would chat oh plywood 2x4 and chicken wire or stucco wire points are one way is you block the winds how i used all kinds ways i used night working i done rechargeable lights - to oil lamps i used counter wights old tire rope works on calm day to pull or erection of something no pulls or focrum i used soup to nuts ways
were thiers a will thiers a way
Thanks for watching!
Why didn’t you use the impact gun to tighten the bolts? I admire what you have accomplished. Looks nice and sturdy.
Great suggestion John. I only had 2 bolts and nuts and my fear is that they would have gotten stripped. Thanks for the lovely encouraging comments!
Hi Don, I just built a workshop only a few miles from you, and I decided not to truly anchor my building, instead I dug holes and poured some concrete in the corner block holes, and put the corner piers a few inches into concrete. Fortunately its only 3 feet from another building that is somewhat anchored, and i'll be using a massive solar rack made from wood to tie the two buildings together, for stability, and the solar panels will route the wind flow up and over the entire structure. Its a 14x32 building, and so far it hasnt moved! :) I think I need to go back and do a video just on the foundation stuff, but here's a link if you want to see more: th-cam.com/video/3z5hTMdwNfs/w-d-xo.html
I enjoyed your video and I definitely appreciate your input. Looks like you have a lot going on there. Way to go.
I'm still sitting here scratching my head over you putting down a perfectly good torque wrench to tighten bolts with an adjustable wrench and a pipe wrench. ????
I didnt want to strip the nut and bolt assembly to be honest. But that said I totally agree with you that a pipe wrench was not the correct tool for the job. Thanks for commenting buzz I appreciate folks taking the time to offer input.
Don just wondering If water would soften the ground so you could screw the anchor easy?
Great video you do not need to join a health club you get a workout doing what you do!!
I tried it to be honest and it just softened a thin layer of dirt near the surface. Caliche is no joke for sure.
Monolithic Slab on Grade, the only way to go! And save a hell of a pile of money too, not to mention time!!!
As a lifelong builder and master framing carpenter myself, master flatwork pour and finish, the whole affair is not right!
Thanks Dirk but every way I stacked the cost it was super expensive. I also love how I can crawl under the building and work on plumbing, propane lines etc. The great thing is that with the opt out permit I am not subject to inspections on this one. I just have to make sure its sturdy and practical.
@@affordabledesertliving3487thanks for the reply!
You are correct, slab on grade, U need to properly set your plumbing and stub ups, modern plumbing needs little to no maintenance, nonetheless it's buried all the time!
Gas/Propane lines run exterior of the building.
Big plus on slab on grade is winter/Summer. Elevated wood floors require insulation which quickly fills up with nesting rodents, then they naw everything, it's a mess not to mention the poop, Hanta Virus.
Nonetheless everyone has to build what suits them or their comfort zone/level!
That area is beautiful, if I may ask where are you exactly?
Sun Earth makes a great 4' x 8' hot water solar collector panel, I have one. I get 100% of my scalding hot water for free year round, use a 80 gallon solar collector tank, which is a glorified electric water heater with more inlets/outlets.
It does not freeze where I am so all sits outside, 12V Liang solar circ pump plus a 20 Watt PV panel, increases the hot water output tremendously vs convection alone.
Watching your vid again, slab on grade, the time and money saved, would have been tremendous, that said I love your videos!
Ps, get errrr done 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Yep it doesnt happen by dreaming and watching the sunsets here LOL.
Where do I look on here to find the name of that adapter and the company that makes it? It is probably here and I don't know where to look. Also, does the company send a diagram to show us how and where to place the washers on the assembly? We are all beginners learning together and a diagram from the manufacturer woyld be helpful. You did a tremendous job. For people who don't live where there is caliche, adding water to caliche in hopes of softening the earth does not work as well as you would hope...it's a whole 'nother world out there in the Sonoran Desert!
Hi Sheridan. I added a link to the supplier from Ebay where I got the tool. The company doesnt show where to place the washers. I found my trial and error I could make it work. Yep adding water to caliche only softens the surface of the stuff. Thanks for your super comments!
Too late now but you needed to get longer bolts so you would have solid shank against the metal sides and not the weakened threaded area. Then you can drill a hole in the end of the bolt and put a safety pin in the hole to keep the nuts on.
Interesting suggestion. Thanks for watching!