more at www.drillyourow... This is an example of a Mud Pump Water Well Drilling Setup utilizing a Portable Mud pit. This particular well was dug 24 feet the first day and the next weekend we made it to 49 feet.
Between all the videos, I tried the 2 hose method and found I could only get 14-16'. So I checked a few more of your methods and the website and found the trash pump video. I now have a 37' well, all I have to do now is hook up to my irregation and a few other planed projects. I build swimming pools for a living so I was able to scrounge up a few fittings and spent about $130 total. I will end up spending about $500 - $800 I think by the time I'm done. Between a new well pump (I'm using a 1hp hayward pump which I have to throttle down with a valve), pressure tank and so on. 2 Saturdays and about 12-14 hours total I have a well that produces clean, clear FREE water minus a few bucks for power. I'm thinking about a 1 year return to break even and then I'll save on my overage. Good luck to anyone who tries this. 4" pipe 6' deep 40' of 2" pipe 40' of 1 1/4" pipe 5' well screen 1 1/4" 2" trash/water pump 20 lbs of bentonite drilling clay Misc fittings
Michael Hollis Congratulations Michael! One year 100% ROI is spectacular. If you post a video or send me pictures, I'll be happy to put it in the "Success Stories." I'm thrilled it worked for you.
dawmlw Thanks, between the pool, irregation, my rentals and many other needs for water I end up with an overage of about $700-$800. I still can't believe how well this water well produces. Still working on getting things plumbed in. I wish I took more pics but I do have a few to send you.
Congratulation Michael. I assume you used a jet pump with the packer/ejector in the 2 inch pipe (and that you left the 2 inch pipe in the ground). So did you drop the 5' 1 1/4 inch screen to the bottom of the well, and then pull the 2 inch pipe up 5' to expose the screen? Also, how far up from the bottom of the well was the water table? Using a non-mud pump method, I successfully drilled a 43' well with 2 inch pipe. Once I hit the aquafer, the water pressure went into the aquafer and the clay/sand seeped in and grabbed my pipe. I'm now trying to drive a 1 1/4 inch PVC well point further in past the end of my 2 inch pipe, but it's going nowhere. I tried drilling using a 1 inch drill pipe, however as soon as I pull the pipe out, the sand in the aquafer collapses, and it won't let me push the well point in :-( I'm so close I can taste it.
That is one of the best down to earth video's I have ever seen . I am sure that you have helped many people . Just the best !! I am in the HDD and auger boring business . You have made things so simple. Great job !
+dawmlw Horizontal Directional Drilling It is a process where you can install any type of utility under an roadway , creek/river , or any such thing . There are many youtube videos on the subject . Thanks again
Nice detailed video! On the website you have this instruction about the Bentonite: "To mix the bentonite, set up a five gallon bucket near the drill site. Put about three gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket and pour in the bentonite while you are mixing with a drill and concrete mixing bit." How much Bentonite do you pour in the 3 gallons of water? And how often do you pour such a bucket in this during drilling?
I found Inside PVC Joyner Connector for Schedule 40 PVC Pipe that could be utilized on the inside of pipe much more efficient than the outside pipe couplings , there's less of a chance of fine sand collapsing and building up on the outside of the pipe and having it stuck in the boar then if you are to use and outside the pipe coupling Joiner , outside the PVC pipe coupling can act similar to a Brass Hose Barb/Rigid preventing the pipe from sliding out , I was able to slide a pipe even if left overnight ... not a problem , what sand is worse than dry concrete .
Drilling a sprinkler well in Gulf Shores this month. I have seen many wells done by pros and always thought it wouldn't be that bad to DIY. These vids are great!
That looks like a good setup , where i live in the northwest its all gravel some rocks bigger than a hat and the gravel goes down several hundreds of feet.
I worked for a professional company dewatering an undground path so that a 5 foot diameter pipe could be put under ground from a river to the pumping station for a town water supply. We used 2-2/2 inch 20 foot steel pipe sections with a special drill head made for positive and negative flow. I was the luck lad to carry and hold the 20 foot steel pipe sections vertically by hand while the pipe slowly drilled its way into the ground. Any rocks that got in the way gradually got pushed aside when the surrounding area around the drill head cleared enough space to push them away. We did these wells every 15 feet or so on both sides of the excavation area and had a 600HP portable pump doing the job of water supply and suction.
Just ran across your videos today. Your time , effort and detailed commentary is "Well" appreciated. If I had to guess your previous occupation, I'd guess you were an offshore drilling engineer, project manager, tool pusher, driller, mud-logger, etc... Anyway... Not only an excellent job on your well drilling achievements but also on your documentary production skills as well.
+Quis ut Deus I'm glad you like the videos! I'm just a guy who found a way to drill a shallow well cheaply and put up a website. no background even close. Thanks!
Great and informative video. The only thing I would change is to replace the screen in the box with a dam that is an inch lower than the water level. That way all the cuttings will drop to the bottom on the inlet side and only water will flow over the board used as a dam to the outlet side. Eventually the inlet side will completely fill with mud but you will still be pumping almost mud free water. This assumes that you continue to add water as the level decreases.
3G Green Good point 3G. I basically agree. It needs to be a little lower than 1 inch below the water level to allow for varying water levels but the screen is not optimal.
If your ground water level is 25 feet or higher a shallow well or suction pump will work. If your ground water is deeper then you will need a jet and a jet pump or a submersible pump. Water can only be sucked up from 25 feet or less no matter how much power you have. It is an atmospheric thing. You can push it from any depth.
I've really enjoyed your well drilling videos and I think I'm ready to tackle one myself. I live in the sandhills of NC so I'm looking to go down about 25' to 30'. I plan to use your mud pump technique. Could you please give me some dimensions of your portable mud pit. Thank you so much
Mine is 24 inches wide by 48 inches long. Please check out the website listed in the description for additional information. Good luck with your well! Try a practice hole first. In that sand you will get stuck quickly if you don't use bentonite.
Great video. I have tried jetting and only got to 22 feet and not enough returns to bring cuttings up. Next is to try your method. I have a large garden and the price of water is crazy. East Texas north of Houston. Thanks
Well i'm Down 56' so far and still going, hit hard pan type material which slowed progress quite a bit but i made a Steel bit that i bolted to the end of the Pipe (2") so we'll see how well it works.
It is in south Alabama. As far as where to drill, I'm sorry but I can't help you there. It is kind of impossible to miss where I am. It is really cheap so if you live in a flat area, it is worth a try.
I was able to drill a well to 58' using his techinque and it worked fine. I decided to go deeper, so I built a bigger rig on trailer. This should give some of you some more ideals..Check out what I built
I'm glad you like the videos! You can leave the drill in the hole if you are using bentonite and it is unlikely the hole will collapse on it. It is a risk, though. Regarding legality - In most places a homeowner can drill his own well but you just have to check with your local government.
It won't be quite as strong. Usually, it is fine. It is just that when you are putting a joint 30 feet under the ground you don't want it to break so I always use primer.
Hey, I like your method of drilling! Can you make a video of the water you're pumping out of these wells? And perhaps the flow rate you are achieving? Thanks!!!
There are several photos posted by users of water being pumped. The flow rates vary radically by location but are typically in the range of 4 to 5 GPM for a three foot 1.25 inch screen.
Hello dawmlw..Thanks for your video..Just started my well..change a couple of things..will see how it works out..Being my trash pump has a strainer on suction line I did not install screen in portable mud pit..but did separate with 2 x 6 on edge..I have my guide tube down..and hopefully will start drilling today..I made my own drill bit..using the same concept as on your web site..on mine I used a 2" x 2 1/2" swage will give me a little bigger hole hope this works..Robert
dawmlw ..Good morning dawmlw..yesterday the drilling went smooth ..hit a dead tree at about 17' and at 18' started hitting what appeared to be a good course water sand ..could not find the betonite so I bought a liquid poly-gel made by ECONOMY MUDPRODUCTS CO. HOUSTON,TX..Of course I'm just guessing how to use it..Anyway me and my wife stopped at 26'..we are both in our 70's it was an exciting day..when i started pulling drill pipe out ...pulled it up about 18" and the hole must have caved in because it would not go back down..pulled it out for the night..Then measured down to the water it was 9' from the top of the ground..will measure again this morning ..And also look for your email address ..Thanks Robert
24 feet is about the maximum I can put back down. That is why I quit at that point. I know I can put it in with help and I think I can do it by myself. I'm about to try here in an hour or so. I may have to break it into two pieces and glue it back up. I'll let you know.
I need a video to show using this method and then your encounter a BFR (big rock). Sure you could move over a little but then you have to wonder in you but the same rock or a different BFR. Here in Texas, anywhere you drill, you are almost guaranteed to hit a big rock.
I just tried a 2" and 1" version of this today with a smaller water pump(1" clean water, raised high on the far side of the mud pit). Before my stem started to leak up the sides I was impressed with the results sinking a 1" test hole 10ft in about 20 min. I dont have much water to work with , so this method is great! Now...how to make sure my stem seals better..if thats possible..
I could be mistaken, but I think the surface area of a 2d 2x2" is exactly 3.14x of a 1x1". Now we can just wait for a 'math person' to comment! Thanks again :)
Thank you for sharing this video on the use of the mud pump. Please can you tell me the dimensions of the portable mud pit and the diameter pipe that you used to channel the water into it from the drill hole. I want to fabricate my on set up. Regards Paul.
Ingenious - you can use so cheap materials(!) and do it yourself. Some of your techniques can be used for piles for a house, or tall lighting posts... Thanks for YOUR VIDEOS
Very intriguing how would you go 90 foot deep in sandy soil with no rocks and use a 4in submersible pump? Or would it be even possible with a small rig like this? Thanks
I'm sorry but a 90 foot hole four inches in diameter can not be drilled like this. Or at least I have never done it. I've made it 70 feet with a two inch hole.
I made it to 40 ft in a pure sparta sand and using this method without a bit. It took me several tries. The well collapsed when I pulled the 2 inch pipe, so I had to redrill the last 20 ft again. I didn't use a bit so that I could insert the 1.25 inch sand screen and PVC through the center of the 2 inch drill pipe, then pulled the drill pipe, leaving the sand screen. such fun. It's a very good well now.
this is really cool! !! Thanks for sharing. I live in Pensacola and noticed you filmed this in my area. Could you possiable point me to where I can get that drill bit fabrifabricated sooncated. I need a well for my farm and doing it myself will be a big help. thanks
Thank you for making these videos. You explain things very well. I feel I am getting a good education based on your experience. You have already tried a lot of different ways to do things so we don't have to repeat your mistakes. I am trying to learn all I can to decide if your methods can be used here where there is bound to be gravel. Will a mud-pump work to bring up gravel? Up to what sized gravel, in your experience? In my case I have just paid a crew to reopen a well on my ranch in the Southern Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I hadn't used the well in five years. It is located in deep sandy loam on a desert prairie with dry creek-beds every half mile or so coming down from the mountains. Five years ago there was plenty of water in my well at 24 meters. Now there is none at all at even down to 40 meters. We figure the water table is been over-pumped nearby to supply a phosphorus mine about 20 miles away. I will be looking for another site to locate a new well. I have been water-witching the property and find lots of indications of water under the dry stream beds where it shouldn't be too deep, but there is bound to be gravel and possibly some rock underground. I will have to drill to find out. All around is soft sandy loam soil many meters thick where your method of drilling should work well but the water will be much closer to the surface in the creekbeds. The water I need is probably deeper than I can go with PVC. I am considering starting with 6-inch PVC and then 4-inch, to get a head start and go deeper. Has anybody emailed about having tried that yet?
Linda, A mud pump will bring up gravel. Regarding the four and six inch diameter wells - they are nearly impossible to do with a hand drilling rig. You can drill a two inch hole and then ream it out to four inch with enough patience. I just don't see how six inch is possible.
Good videos. Have helped me work out ground water depth . How to deal with it .and how to utilise it too . Also these drills are cool . I did wounder if it could be done with pvc pipe .
Yeah I've seen a few made . I was going to put the end from a hole cutter on it minus the drill bit in centre the sort of thing you cut lock holes in doors or holes for pipes etc . I plan to add more holes for water to pass threw .
@@dawmlw just trying to help. Yes some of the qick clamp were crap. I made some pipe clamps a few years and purchased the clamp ends made out of cast iron castings.. they my rust..would need to keep they greased up. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, nice job on the vedeo.
@@TheDWZemke Some sort of quick release clamp would certainly be nice. Getting ones that work easily and are also cheap is a challenge I have failed to overcome.
What about a 4" casing? Could you make the metal cutting blade like 5, 6" and use a 6" return pipe at the top, going back to the mud pit? Then come back and set a casing? I think I'm about to go build a mud box right now...
Can always add a little dehydrated lime to improve your quik-gel properties not bad I've drilled all my life unconsolidated mostly some rock not bad for homemade setup. NW Corner OH,NE Corner IN & Southern edge MI lots of water Michindo aquifer Maumee Valley River Basin & Great Black Swamp area !
Fascinating video, and very tempted to "have a go".. My only concern is that where we live here in the U.K, we are on very chalky ground, which is fine, but with the chalk comes lumps of flint - some times very large..What happens if, having got so far down, one stumbles across a large rock or flint..? Also-when you say a "mud pump"- is that what the pumps are sold for, or can I use a conventional water pump capable of handling solids..? Thanks for your help,,Regards,David.
David, I'm glad you like the video. Please be sure and check out the website. This technique will not drill through rock. Sorry. A mud pump is sometimes called a trash pump. A semi trash pump will work too. They are made for pumping water with mud, small sticks, leaves, etc. Be sure and use one that has a cast iron impeller. The sand that comes up in the drilling process will quickly eat up a plastic impeller. Good luck on your project!
Probably not far but I don't know. You might try contacting Bill who is listed under, "Another Home Driller" on the website listed just under the video. He lives in Tampa and has drilled a bunch of them there.
You dont, man.. that's the worst part about having a well dug professionally... they can dig and dig, and if they don't hit water, you still pay for it it's bs.
It is pumped down through the drillpipe to the bottom of the hole where it catches cuttings and comes back up around the outside of the drillpipe in what is called the "annular space."
I attempted digging a well in a remote area where I don’t have water to flow down into hole to wash cuttings out. I used a twist auger to dog down. I hit water at around 14 feet or so. Once I hit water I couldn’t pull out the shavings. If I could get water there with a 250 gallon tote and pump, could I continue to cut with auger but wash shaving to top just by pumping water into hole? Or if I put bentonite/water mix into hole could I pull shaving out with auger?
This is an excellent guide. The challenge for me is no water supply near my property. If I am being quoted $1000 to drill a well, is it worth it as I would have to rent or build all this stuff. @2:40 where do rent or buy that bit? wonder if I can make that? How much on average to rent mud pump? I'm in central Florida.. How do you know when you've dug deep enough?
Hi. You said that it is possible to achieve a hole depth of between 50 and 60ft. I've been told that the majority of pumps can't suck water out at that depth. How did you over come this problem. Regards Paul.
How deep should a well be before its safe for drinking water. I ask because I have an area on my property that I think I'll hit water at about 25 feet, maybe less. Just wondered how far down do you got to get before the natural filtration system of soil will properly clean soil. And yes always get it tested as well :)
I just gave up on my hole, got to 52 feet with a 100mm casing without significant water. overnight the bottom refilled with sticky mud and the casing it probably stuck
You have to use bentonite until you get down to where you want to set your screen. Even with bentonite, though, you can't get much deeper than you did. I've made it 70 feet but that is about it with a human powered drill.
+Peter Draper Peter, unfortunately I don't know. I bought it from a company that went out of business and there is no nameplate on it. It has a flow rate of 100 GPM which is more than you can use. Just get any good small trash or semi trash pump and you will be fine.
Hi. I showed this video to my friend he said it wouldn't work on his land and most of the lands here in Russia. To get good quality water you need to dig really deep(30, 50 metres, maybe more) and there is a big chance that your bit meets a stone or really hard soil, he said. I've tried to google but can't find any information about that topic. And i m not sure if I should give it a go or hire professionals. For some reasons, it really interesting to me to construct it :) Any suggestions guys?
I am trying to figure out the same with nearly the same conditions as you described above. I am looking into building my own "drilling head" made from four "jetters" that would be fixed to a 4 to 5" inch head that would rotate slowly as it digs with water pressure from a pressure washer. -I arrived at this instructional video trying to figure out how to circulate water from my little pond. Actually I am wanting to create a device that will "eat" my pond deeper.
It could have been better but I just used a plasma cutter to quickly notch the pipe. For the larger pointed bit I cut two small triangles and one large and quickly welded them to a pipe union. I plan on working to get further down and will post more progress later
I apologize! Geez, I went to the site and it is gone! It was drillingfab not drillfab. Sorry. Try Northern Tool. Look for a small trash or semi trash pump with a METAL impeller. No plastic impellers. The sand eats them up.
the thrash pump can only go so deep. So this only for shallow wells of about 60 feet if you need any deeper the thrash pump cannot pull the water from that depth.
Actually, the pump is not the limitation. It is the friction between the drillpipe and the earth. It gets extremely hard to turn as you get deeper. And if you let it set overnight it sticks. So, as a practical matter it is best not to plan on a well deeper than 60 feet. Thanks for watching!
Physics says that you cannot suck beyond 30 feet. You have to have a submersed or deep well jet pump to go beyond about 20 feet. Deep well jets have two pipes that go into the well.
It is difficult. You can make an estimate based on information from your neighbors and maybe your county agent. The USGS site may provide valuable info as well. The only sure way to find out I know of is to drill a hole and let it settle overnight. Then measure it.
Do you recommend flushing by using the drill pipe once done with drilling immediately before inserting the well screen or rather by using the well screen after inserting it? Any idea how wide of a hole to expect in sand by using a 3" drill pipe and a bit like yours? Thank you.
Just dump your drilling fluid and start circulating only water when you get to the depth where you are going to set your well screen. I'd recommend using a two inch pipe which makes slightly wider than two inch hole.
Thanks for all your informative videos. Once you have reached desire depth with the drilling pipe, do you just remove it and then run your permanent suction pipe down to the same depth? I will be using this method but I want to make sure I follow your process as intended.
Yes, you do. When you get down to where you will be setting your well screen, quit using bentonite for the last 10 feet or so. Then remove the drillpipe and put the wellscreen pipe back down the same hole.
William, I'm sorry but I won't be doing a packer jet video as I am only 10 feet down to the water. I just never will need one around here. I put one in at a former home that worked well but I don't have a video of the installation. I'm sorry.
Love all these videos! Couple of questions for you. why is it a good idea to pull out the drill if stopping for the day doesn't the hole collapse on itself? Second question is do you need a permit to legally drill a well or is it free game for every one? I live in Jacksonville FL if it matters.
i'm pretty sure one needs a permit for most places there may even be places where you would not be allowed to install a well. cities want you to get water from them so they can tax it.
You may not know about toxic areas that could have unsafe underground water and the other reason for permitting is so a bad neighbor doesn't contaminate the underground water supply that ties all other neighbors together with an improper installation. How would you like it if you spend all your money on an installation and then your neighbor drills near you and ends up dumping toxic chemicals or sewage that leaks into your expensive well? Permitting documents these wells for inspection and regulation for your and everyones safety. Yes the system can corrupt but so can private citizens.
I am currently jetting down a well. I work on it basically every day and I get a few inches a day. Currently at 29 feet. I am currently at a layer of very course sand. Whenever I jet down water my cuttings are small pebbles, but I am getting no mud or sand back. Just pebbles. Would this be when to add clay? How am I moving pebbles but not sand?? I think I might give the well project a break for a day or 2 because I might actually be at water? Gonna wait and see ro make sure my water level isn't artificially high. I've literally pumped 1000 gallons of water down. We'll see. But yeah. Add clay or no?
Assuming you are not within a few feet of where you will ultimately want to set your screen, this is exactly where you should bentonite. Mix it extremely well before you put it in the hole
@dawmlw thank you for your timely response. I'll consider it. Ultimately I know that my static water level is 40-50 feet. This well kinda consumed my life for the past 2 weeks and I'm trying to figure out how to make it all end lol. Do you know anything about using compressed air to pump up water? I'm thinking that if I have my 30 foot of 2 inch pipe in the ground, I should be able to pound down 1 or 1 1/4 pipe the rest of the way and use compressed air to pump up the water. But I think my air hose needs to be a certain amount below the static water level?
@@flecktards3126 Try to stay patient. Do you have any neighbors with wells? How far down are they? Wherever water is the level tends to be the same in the area.
This is covered in detail in the website listed above. The short answer is you will need a "shallow well" pump - a suction pump assuming your ground water level is less than 25 feet. Thanks for looking at the video!
Sir, if you don't mind me asking, whereabouts are you from? All that land around where your at describes where my wife and I want to settle when were out of the Marine Corps. Been watching your videos, awesome information. Thank you.
How deep is that should be to get good clear water ? Also when you said own drill but need to buy all those materials too, like the motor machine I’m not sure how to call it?thank you so much for this video. 💖🙏
Filipina in Australia I reply u even though I'm not the one. Your answer is it depend the area you are, the distance the ground water the longer your pipe sister
Between all the videos, I tried the 2 hose method and found I could only get 14-16'. So I checked a few more of your methods and the website and found the trash pump video. I now have a 37' well, all I have to do now is hook up to my irregation and a few other planed projects. I build swimming pools for a living so I was able to scrounge up a few fittings and spent about $130 total. I will end up spending about $500 - $800 I think by the time I'm done. Between a new well pump (I'm using a 1hp hayward pump which I have to throttle down with a valve), pressure tank and so on.
2 Saturdays and about 12-14 hours total I have a well that produces clean, clear FREE water minus a few bucks for power. I'm thinking about a 1 year return to break even and then I'll save on my overage.
Good luck to anyone who tries this.
4" pipe 6' deep
40' of 2" pipe
40' of 1 1/4" pipe
5' well screen 1 1/4"
2" trash/water pump
20 lbs of bentonite drilling clay
Misc fittings
Michael Hollis Congratulations Michael! One year 100% ROI is spectacular. If you post a video or send me pictures, I'll be happy to put it in the "Success Stories." I'm thrilled it worked for you.
dawmlw Thanks, between the pool, irregation, my rentals and many other needs for water I end up with an overage of about $700-$800. I still can't believe how well this water well produces. Still working on getting things plumbed in. I wish I took more pics but I do have a few to send you.
Michael Hollis Congratulations Michael! Good job!
Congratulation Michael. I assume you used a jet pump with the packer/ejector in the 2 inch pipe (and that you left the 2 inch pipe in the ground). So did you drop the 5' 1 1/4 inch screen to the bottom of the well, and then pull the 2 inch pipe up 5' to expose the screen? Also, how far up from the bottom of the well was the water table?
Using a non-mud pump method, I successfully drilled a 43' well with 2 inch pipe. Once I hit the aquafer, the water pressure went into the aquafer and the clay/sand seeped in and grabbed my pipe. I'm now trying to drive a 1 1/4 inch PVC well point further in past the end of my 2 inch pipe, but it's going nowhere. I tried drilling using a 1 inch drill pipe, however as soon as I pull the pipe out, the sand in the aquafer collapses, and it won't let me push the well point in :-( I'm so close I can taste it.
That is one of the best down to earth video's I have ever seen . I am sure that you have helped many people . Just the best !!
I am in the HDD and auger boring business . You have made things so simple. Great job !
+Richard Getts Thanks! I'm glad it helped you. Uh, what is HDD?
+dawmlw
Horizontal Directional Drilling It is a process where you can install any type of utility under an roadway , creek/river , or any such thing . There are many youtube videos on the subject . Thanks again
I see! Thanks!
Nice detailed video! On the website you have this instruction about the Bentonite:
"To mix the bentonite, set up a five gallon bucket near the drill site. Put about three gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket and pour in the bentonite while you are mixing with a drill and concrete mixing bit."
How much Bentonite do you pour in the 3 gallons of water? And how often do you pour such a bucket in this during drilling?
I like this diy system the best. I’ve seen others adding compressed air to assist lifting cuttings to surface.
One of the better videos on pumping your own well...thank you
I found Inside PVC Joyner Connector for Schedule 40 PVC Pipe that could be utilized on the inside of pipe much more efficient than the outside pipe couplings , there's less of a chance of fine sand collapsing and building up on the outside of the pipe and having it stuck in the boar then if you are to use and outside the pipe coupling Joiner , outside the PVC pipe coupling can act similar to a Brass Hose Barb/Rigid
preventing the pipe from sliding out , I was able to slide a pipe even if left overnight ... not a problem , what sand is worse than dry concrete .
Are you able to get the wellscreen pipe down through it?
Drilling a sprinkler well in Gulf Shores this month. I have seen many wells done by pros and always thought it wouldn't be that bad to DIY. These vids are great!
I'm just north of gulf shores, how did it work? Aprox how deep did you go before water? Thank you
@@jadeherrell9084 I couldn't get past the clay layer, less than 20 feet. It was much harder than I expected
This is a really well done instructional You-Tube video. Many, many others could learn from it. I use a sandpoint well myself here in Florida.
+Tom Stover Thanks!
This is the best video showing how to drill a well.
Thank you for sharing this video. I found it to be very helpful in answering several questions I've had.
That looks like a good setup , where i live in the northwest its all gravel some rocks bigger than a hat and the gravel goes down several hundreds of feet.
New England gravel and rock do not seem to be an option with this set up.
Yes, absolutely. You want a bunch of screen below the standing water level to give the groundwater easy access to your wellpipe.
I worked for a professional company dewatering an undground path so that a 5 foot diameter pipe could be put under ground from a river to the pumping station for a town water supply. We used 2-2/2 inch 20 foot steel pipe sections with a special drill head made for positive and negative flow. I was the luck lad to carry and hold the 20 foot steel pipe sections vertically by hand while the pipe slowly drilled its way into the ground. Any rocks that got in the way gradually got pushed aside when the surrounding area around the drill head cleared enough space to push them away. We did these wells every 15 feet or so on both sides of the excavation area and had a 600HP portable pump doing the job of water supply and suction.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try this on my property.
good luck!
This is genius! Now I need to figure out how to make sure I comply with my local codes while I do this!
Good luck with you well!
Just ran across your videos today. Your time , effort and detailed commentary is "Well" appreciated. If I had to guess your previous occupation, I'd guess you were an offshore drilling engineer, project manager, tool pusher, driller, mud-logger, etc... Anyway... Not only an excellent job on your well drilling achievements but also on your documentary production skills as well.
+Quis ut Deus I'm glad you like the videos! I'm just a guy who found a way to drill a shallow well cheaply and put up a website. no background even close. Thanks!
dawmlw Still, though... Very impressive. And helpful.
Quis ut
Deus m:
Great and informative video. The only thing I would change is to replace the screen in the box with a dam that is an inch lower than the water level. That way all the cuttings will drop to the bottom on the inlet side and only water will flow over the board used as a dam to the outlet side. Eventually the inlet side will completely fill with mud but you will still be pumping almost mud free water. This assumes that you continue to add water as the level decreases.
3G Green Good point 3G. I basically agree. It needs to be a little lower than 1 inch below the water level to allow for varying water levels but the screen is not optimal.
Thank you for the video it will help me alot
Thanks!
If your ground water level is 25 feet or higher a shallow well or suction pump will work. If your ground water is deeper then you will need a jet and a jet pump or a submersible pump. Water can only be sucked up from 25 feet or less no matter how much power you have. It is an atmospheric thing. You can push it from any depth.
Thank you sir for some fantastic ideas . I tried this and it worked great
Super!
This was very helpful and I will put this into use . Good instructors and instructions are hard to come by.
Great!
genius!!! wtf this is the best video on the whole internet im serious!!!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I've really enjoyed your well drilling videos and I think I'm ready to tackle one myself. I live in the sandhills of NC so I'm looking to go down about 25' to 30'. I plan to use your mud pump technique. Could you please give me some dimensions of your portable mud pit. Thank you so much
Mine is 24 inches wide by 48 inches long. Please check out the website listed in the description for additional information. Good luck with your well! Try a practice hole first. In that sand you will get stuck quickly if you don't use bentonite.
If you use Gorilla pvc glue you won't need primer and it is just a flat out amazing product
Great video. I have tried jetting and only got to 22 feet and not enough returns to bring cuttings up. Next is to try your method. I have a large garden and the price of water is crazy. East Texas north of Houston. Thanks
Be sure and check out the website. Much more info. Good luck with your project!
I like it, informative and well narrated, very good job.
Thanks Joseph!
Well i'm Down 56' so far and still going, hit hard pan type material which slowed progress quite a bit but i made a Steel bit that i bolted to the end of the Pipe (2") so we'll see how well it works.
How far did you end up getting?
I'm sorry your project didn't work out. Best of luck on your next attempt!
You mention you have used a packer jet to pump from depth over 25". I would love to see a video of installing this type of set-up.
It is in south Alabama. As far as where to drill, I'm sorry but I can't help you there. It is kind of impossible to miss where I am. It is really cheap so if you live in a flat area, it is worth a try.
Surface penetration under drilling, casing drill and install, production drill and string install and completion.
I was able to drill a well to 58' using his techinque and it worked fine. I decided to go deeper, so I built a bigger rig on trailer. This should give some of you some more ideals..Check out what I built
I drilled 164' and hit a artesion water vein..Water runs slow, but runs freely
Larry Sbrusch Wow! that is impressive!
I'm glad you like the videos! You can leave the drill in the hole if you are using bentonite and it is unlikely the hole will collapse on it. It is a risk, though. Regarding legality - In most places a homeowner can drill his own well but you just have to check with your local government.
Interesting way to drill a well. Thanks for sharing.
It won't be quite as strong. Usually, it is fine. It is just that when you are putting a joint 30 feet under the ground you don't want it to break so I always use primer.
I'm glad you liked it! If you get a chance, check out the website.
Hey, I like your method of drilling! Can you make a video of the water you're pumping out of these wells? And perhaps the flow rate you are achieving? Thanks!!!
There are several photos posted by users of water being pumped. The flow rates vary radically by location but are typically in the range of 4 to 5 GPM for a three foot 1.25 inch screen.
awesome & great techniques
+Al Essa Stripers Thanks!
Hello dawmlw..Thanks for your video..Just started my well..change a couple of things..will see how it works out..Being my trash pump has a strainer on suction line I did not install screen in portable mud pit..but did separate with 2 x 6 on edge..I have my guide tube down..and hopefully will start drilling today..I made my own drill bit..using the same concept as on your web site..on mine I used a 2" x 2 1/2" swage will give me a little bigger hole hope this works..Robert
Robert Ballast Sounds good Robert. Good luck!
dawmlw ..Good morning dawmlw..yesterday the drilling went smooth ..hit a dead tree at about 17' and at 18' started hitting what appeared to be a good course water sand ..could not find the betonite so I bought a liquid poly-gel made by ECONOMY MUDPRODUCTS CO. HOUSTON,TX..Of course I'm just guessing how to use it..Anyway me and my wife stopped at 26'..we are both in our 70's it was an exciting day..when i started pulling drill pipe out ...pulled it up about 18" and the hole must have caved in because it would not go back down..pulled it out for the night..Then measured down to the water it was 9' from the top of the ground..will measure again this morning ..And also look for your email address ..Thanks Robert
24 feet is about the maximum I can put back down. That is why I quit at that point. I know I can put it in with help and I think I can do it by myself. I'm about to try here in an hour or so. I may have to break it into two pieces and glue it back up. I'll let you know.
I need a video to show using this method and then your encounter a BFR (big rock). Sure you could move over a little but then you have to wonder in you but the same rock or a different BFR.
Here in Texas, anywhere you drill, you are almost guaranteed to hit a big rock.
I know of no way to move a BFR. Sorry!
I just tried a 2" and 1" version of this today with a smaller water pump(1" clean water, raised high on the far side of the mud pit). Before my stem started to leak up the sides I was impressed with the results sinking a 1" test hole 10ft in about 20 min. I dont have much water to work with , so this method is great! Now...how to make sure my stem seals better..if thats possible..
Good luck and thanks for watching! Bear in mind the holes get exponentially harder as they get wider. A two inch hole should be no problem though.
I could be mistaken, but I think the surface area of a 2d 2x2" is exactly 3.14x of a 1x1". Now we can just wait for a 'math person' to comment! Thanks again :)
Thank you for sharing this video on the use of the mud pump. Please can you tell me the dimensions of the portable mud pit and the diameter pipe that you used to channel the water into it from the drill hole. I want to fabricate my on set up. Regards Paul.
I built 1 of these and dug into a natural spring and flooded my yard lol now I have built a pipe and a pond with infinite water
Good work! Thanks for letting me know.
Nice set up thsnks
Thanks for watching!
Hand bored a number of test holes but found Grey Marl at 1m deep across the whole plot. I guess this wouldn't cut through such solid ground?
Ingenious - you can use so cheap materials(!) and do it yourself. Some of your techniques can be used for piles for a house, or tall lighting posts... Thanks for YOUR VIDEOS
Very intriguing how would you go 90 foot deep in sandy soil with no rocks and use a 4in submersible pump? Or would it be even possible with a small rig like this? Thanks
I'm sorry but a 90 foot hole four inches in diameter can not be drilled like this. Or at least I have never done it. I've made it 70 feet with a two inch hole.
dawmlw Thanks for the response and thanks for doing the videos!
I made it to 40 ft in a pure sparta sand and using this method without a bit. It took me several tries. The well collapsed when I pulled the 2 inch pipe, so I had to redrill the last 20 ft again. I didn't use a bit so that I could insert the 1.25 inch sand screen and PVC through the center of the 2 inch drill pipe, then pulled the drill pipe, leaving the sand screen. such fun. It's a very good well now.
this is really cool! !! Thanks for sharing. I live in Pensacola and noticed you filmed this in my area. Could you possiable point me to where I can get that drill bit fabrifabricated sooncated. I need a well for my farm and doing it myself will be a big help. thanks
+Robert Madden A local welding shop made mine here in Foley.
Thank you for making these videos. You explain things very well. I feel I am getting a good education based on your experience. You have already tried a lot of different ways to do things so we don't have to repeat your mistakes. I am trying to learn all I can to decide if your methods can be used here where there is bound to be gravel. Will a mud-pump work to bring up gravel? Up to what sized gravel, in your experience?
In my case I have just paid a crew to reopen a well on my ranch in the Southern Baja Peninsula in Mexico. I hadn't used the well in five years. It is located in deep sandy loam on a desert prairie with dry creek-beds every half mile or so coming down from the mountains. Five years ago there was plenty of water in my well at 24 meters. Now there is none at all at even down to 40 meters. We figure the water table is been over-pumped nearby to supply a phosphorus mine about 20 miles away. I will be looking for another site to locate a new well. I have been water-witching the property and find lots of indications of water under the dry stream beds where it shouldn't be too deep, but there is bound to be gravel and possibly some rock underground. I will have to drill to find out. All around is soft sandy loam soil many meters thick where your method of drilling should work well but the water will be much closer to the surface in the creekbeds. The water I need is probably deeper than I can go with PVC. I am considering starting with 6-inch PVC and then 4-inch, to get a head start and go deeper. Has anybody emailed about having tried that yet?
Linda,
A mud pump will bring up gravel. Regarding the four and six inch diameter wells - they are nearly impossible to do with a hand drilling rig. You can drill a two inch hole and then ream it out to four inch with enough patience. I just don't see how six inch is possible.
Good videos. Have helped me work out ground water depth . How to deal with it .and how to utilise it too . Also these drills are cool . I did wounder if it could be done with pvc pipe .
It certainly helps to use a metal pipe nipple as the "drillbit" but PVC works if you sharpen it regularly during the drilling process.
Yeah I've seen a few made . I was going to put the end from a hole cutter on it minus the drill bit in centre the sort of thing you cut lock holes in doors or holes for pipes etc . I plan to add more holes for water to pass threw .
Maybe a quick release clamp would work well on your handle.
I've tried a couple and never found one that worked as well as the horrible hose clamp which needs replacing about every three wells.
@@dawmlw just trying to help. Yes some of the qick clamp were crap. I made some pipe clamps a few years and purchased the clamp ends made out of cast iron castings.. they my rust..would need to keep they greased up. APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, nice job on the vedeo.
@@TheDWZemke Some sort of quick release clamp would certainly be nice. Getting ones that work easily and are also cheap is a challenge I have failed to overcome.
Thanks! and thanks for watching!
Awesome video
What about a 4" casing? Could you make the metal cutting blade like 5, 6" and use a 6" return pipe at the top, going back to the mud pit? Then come back and set a casing? I think I'm about to go build a mud box right now...
The problem with a larger casing like 4" is it becomes too hard to turn by hand.
Can always add a little dehydrated lime to improve your quik-gel properties not bad I've drilled all my life unconsolidated mostly some rock not bad for homemade setup. NW Corner OH,NE Corner IN & Southern edge MI lots of water Michindo aquifer Maumee Valley River Basin & Great Black Swamp area !
Thanks!
Fascinating video, and very tempted to "have a go".. My only concern is that where we live here in the U.K, we are on very chalky ground, which is fine, but with the chalk comes lumps of flint - some times very large..What happens if, having got so far down, one stumbles across a large rock or flint..? Also-when you say a "mud pump"- is that what the pumps are sold for, or can I use a conventional water pump capable of handling solids..? Thanks for your help,,Regards,David.
David, I'm glad you like the video. Please be sure and check out the website. This technique will not drill through rock. Sorry. A mud pump is sometimes called a trash pump. A semi trash pump will work too. They are made for pumping water with mud, small sticks, leaves, etc. Be sure and use one that has a cast iron impeller. The sand that comes up in the drilling process will quickly eat up a plastic impeller. Good luck on your project!
Probably not far but I don't know. You might try contacting Bill who is listed under, "Another Home Driller" on the website listed just under the video. He lives in Tampa and has drilled a bunch of them there.
excellent video, well done, THANKS...God bless...doug
How do u know where the water is? Or when when water is under your feet?
You dont, man.. that's the worst part about having a well dug professionally... they can dig and dig, and if they don't hit water, you still pay for it it's bs.
I just finished. I was able to put the 24 foot piece in by myself. I made it 49 feet down and quit.
How will you get a 24 ft pipe back into the hole?
If I understand correctly water is pumpered to the bottom which is then pumper to the top and don't under stand how it is pumped to the top
It is pumped down through the drillpipe to the bottom of the hole where it catches cuttings and comes back up around the outside of the drillpipe in what is called the "annular space."
I attempted digging a well in a remote area where I don’t have water to flow down into hole to wash cuttings out. I used a twist auger to dog down. I hit water at around 14 feet or so. Once I hit water I couldn’t pull out the shavings. If I could get water there with a 250 gallon tote and pump, could I continue to cut with auger but wash shaving to top just by pumping water into hole? Or if I put bentonite/water mix into hole could I pull shaving out with auger?
This is an excellent guide. The challenge for me is no water supply near my property. If I am being quoted $1000 to drill a well, is it worth it as I would have to rent or build all this stuff.
@2:40 where do rent or buy that bit? wonder if I can make that? How much on average to rent mud pump?
I'm in central Florida.. How do you know when you've dug deep enough?
I made the bit. Instructions on the website listed in description. If someone will drill a well for you for only $1000, do it.
Hi. You said that it is possible to achieve a hole depth of between 50 and 60ft. I've been told that the majority of pumps can't suck water out at that depth. How did you over come this problem. Regards Paul.
You have to use a packer jet. But first you have to get a screen down there.
How deep should a well be before its safe for drinking water. I ask because I have an area on my property that I think I'll hit water at about 25 feet, maybe less. Just wondered how far down do you got to get before the natural filtration system of soil will properly clean soil. And yes always get it tested as well :)
It varyies by area. Geologic maps of the area will tell you that info
THANKS!!! I'm gonna do it.
Good luck!
I just gave up on my hole, got to 52 feet with a 100mm casing without significant water. overnight the bottom refilled with sticky mud and the casing it probably stuck
You have to use bentonite until you get down to where you want to set your screen. Even with bentonite, though, you can't get much deeper than you did. I've made it 70 feet but that is about it with a human powered drill.
@@dawmlw what is bentonite? how does it work and how to use it?
...well done...
Thanks! and thanks for watching!
Thanks for video. Well explained
Thanks!
Wish this would work on my property.
Great video thanks
Great video thank you. Very well explained. May I ask what brand mud pump you were using please and what flow rate it needs to be?
+Peter Draper Peter, unfortunately I don't know. I bought it from a company that went out of business and there is no nameplate on it. It has a flow rate of 100 GPM which is more than you can use. Just get any good small trash or semi trash pump and you will be fine.
Hi. I showed this video to my friend he said it wouldn't work on his land and most of the lands here in Russia. To get good quality water you need to dig really deep(30, 50 metres, maybe more) and there is a big chance that your bit meets a stone or really hard soil, he said. I've tried to google but can't find any information about that topic. And i m not sure if I should give it a go or hire professionals. For some reasons, it really interesting to me to construct it :) Any suggestions guys?
I am trying to figure out the same with nearly the same conditions as you described above. I am looking into building my own "drilling head" made from four "jetters" that would be fixed to a 4 to 5" inch head that would rotate slowly as it digs with water pressure from a pressure washer. -I arrived at this instructional video trying to figure out how to circulate water from my little pond.
Actually I am wanting to create a device that will "eat" my pond deeper.
@@nonyabusiness9747 so how's this going?
@@mynameisearlb lol been busy trying to earn gas money! Tell putin to turn on tha spicket! 😜 jk. Tell em to nuke DC.
It could have been better but I just used a plasma cutter to quickly notch the pipe. For the larger pointed bit I cut two small triangles and one large and quickly welded them to a pipe union. I plan on working to get further down and will post more progress later
I apologize! Geez, I went to the site and it is gone! It was drillingfab not drillfab. Sorry. Try Northern Tool. Look for a small trash or semi trash pump with a METAL impeller. No plastic impellers. The sand eats them up.
I've dug 2 on my property with a backhoe to about 15 ft but this method would be easier thanks
I dug a 30ft well with a posthole hand auger.has 8foot standing water in it.i was wondering if I could done better with your method
the thrash pump can only go so deep. So this only for shallow wells of about 60 feet
if you need any deeper the thrash pump cannot pull the water from that depth.
Actually, the pump is not the limitation. It is the friction between the drillpipe and the earth. It gets extremely hard to turn as you get deeper. And if you let it set overnight it sticks. So, as a practical matter it is best not to plan on a well deeper than 60 feet. Thanks for watching!
With a 2 in well pipe what kind of pump are you using to pull water up from 40 or 50 ft?
Physics says that you cannot suck beyond 30 feet. You have to have a submersed or deep well jet pump to go beyond about 20 feet. Deep well jets have two pipes that go into the well.
Very good idea
Thanks!
It is difficult. You can make an estimate based on information from your neighbors and maybe your county agent. The USGS site may provide valuable info as well. The only sure way to find out I know of is to drill a hole and let it settle overnight. Then measure it.
Thank you for the detailed video! One thing I have a problem understanding is how do you back flush the new well hole to remove the quick gel?
To remove the quick gel, just change out all the drilling fluid and replace it with water.
Do you recommend flushing by using the drill pipe once done with drilling immediately before inserting the well screen or rather by using the well screen after inserting it?
Any idea how wide of a hole to expect in sand by using a 3" drill pipe and a bit like yours?
Thank you.
Just dump your drilling fluid and start circulating only water when you get to the depth where you are going to set your well screen.
I'd recommend using a two inch pipe which makes slightly wider than two inch hole.
Thanks for all your informative videos. Once you have reached desire depth with the drilling pipe, do you just remove it and then run your permanent suction pipe down to the same depth? I will be using this method but I want to make sure I follow your process as intended.
Yes, you do. When you get down to where you will be setting your well screen, quit using bentonite for the last 10 feet or so. Then remove the drillpipe and put the wellscreen pipe back down the same hole.
OK, thanks. I will be giving it a try next weekend.
good luck!
William, I'm sorry but I won't be doing a packer jet video as I am only 10 feet down to the water. I just never will need one around here. I put one in at a former home that worked well but I don't have a video of the installation. I'm sorry.
If I need to use a submersible pump, can I use a 2" drill pipe? Or do I need to use a 4" drill pipe and leave it in as a casing?
You might be a rough neck if you find yourself collaborating your own drilling methods and design . Looks good 👍
Love all these videos! Couple of questions for you. why is it a good idea to pull out the drill if stopping for the day doesn't the hole collapse on itself? Second question is do you need a permit to legally drill a well or is it free game for every one? I live in Jacksonville FL if it matters.
i'm pretty sure one needs a permit for most places there may even be places where you would not be allowed to install a well. cities want you to get water from them so they can tax it.
You may not know about toxic areas that could have unsafe underground water and the other reason for permitting is so a bad neighbor doesn't contaminate the underground water supply that ties all other neighbors together with an improper installation. How would you like it if you spend all your money on an installation and then your neighbor drills near you and ends up dumping toxic chemicals or sewage that leaks into your expensive well? Permitting documents these wells for inspection and regulation for your and everyones safety. Yes the system can corrupt but so can private citizens.
I am currently jetting down a well. I work on it basically every day and I get a few inches a day. Currently at 29 feet. I am currently at a layer of very course sand. Whenever I jet down water my cuttings are small pebbles, but I am getting no mud or sand back. Just pebbles. Would this be when to add clay? How am I moving pebbles but not sand?? I think I might give the well project a break for a day or 2 because I might actually be at water? Gonna wait and see ro make sure my water level isn't artificially high. I've literally pumped 1000 gallons of water down. We'll see. But yeah. Add clay or no?
Assuming you are not within a few feet of where you will ultimately want to set your screen, this is exactly where you should bentonite. Mix it extremely well before you put it in the hole
@dawmlw thank you for your timely response. I'll consider it. Ultimately I know that my static water level is 40-50 feet. This well kinda consumed my life for the past 2 weeks and I'm trying to figure out how to make it all end lol. Do you know anything about using compressed air to pump up water? I'm thinking that if I have my 30 foot of 2 inch pipe in the ground, I should be able to pound down 1 or 1 1/4 pipe the rest of the way and use compressed air to pump up the water. But I think my air hose needs to be a certain amount below the static water level?
@@flecktards3126 Try to stay patient. Do you have any neighbors with wells? How far down are they? Wherever water is the level tends to be the same in the area.
@dawmlw everyone in my area has a 100 foot well, but closest neighbor with the same elevation as I do has a static water level at 40 feet.
It is like drilling an oil well.
Yes! On a much smaller (and weaker) scale....
This is covered in detail in the website listed above. The short answer is you will need a "shallow well" pump - a suction pump assuming your ground water level is less than 25 feet. Thanks for looking at the video!
Eres un genio.
If you pulled the drill pipe out to continue the next day, wouldn't the hole all cave in so youd have to start all over again from scratch?
The sandy layers cave in and the clay layers stay open. The sandy layers where bentonite was used stay open.
What do you do if you hit a very large rock/boulder? Start a new hole?
I guess you would have a bunch of holes in the yard which you would blame on the gophers.
How beep PVH pipe? Do they broking ln drilling? In Kazakhstan we do this work from iron pipe.
🌈😊 very informative the website is excellent as well thank you
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
Sir, if you don't mind me asking, whereabouts are you from? All that land around where your at describes where my wife and I want to settle when were out of the Marine Corps. Been watching your videos, awesome information. Thank you.
Brandon Robbins I live in Foley, Alabama. It is a subdivision, just nothing built behind us so far. Thanks for watching!
+Brandon Robbins lol Jarhead wants to live in subdivision,
+Rob F What the hell does that mean?
Foley, Alabama makes me hungry for throwed rolls!
Wow this was great
I'm glad you liked it!
How deep is that should be to get good clear water ? Also when you said own drill but need to buy all those materials too, like the motor machine I’m not sure how to call it?thank you so much for this video. 💖🙏
Filipina in Australia I reply u even though I'm not the one. Your answer is it depend the area you are, the distance the ground water the longer your pipe sister
mengang nsope I see. Okay thank you. 😘🙏