FInding Pipes

[Fourwayz]

I have this week off from work and was working a local park. The curator/do-it-all for the small town stopped to see how i was doing. I explained detecting to him and let him look at my VX3. He asked if it could find sprinkler heads. I said I am pretty sure it could. How about underground pipes? Specifically shutoff valves. I asked how deep? About a foot he said. I told him that I would take a look. We arrived at the site that was a convenience store on I-95 that had been torn down. This pipe/valve MAY be under the asphalt. I have two detectors at my disposal. First and foremost, the VX3. I have the 9.50 and the 6X10. Second, I have my Beach hunter ID. I gave a cursory search with no results but will return in the morning for a more thorough search. Which machine would YOU use? OR maybe both? I hope this works out as this guy has connections in this town that i have been itching to hunt. Besides, I like a good challenge!

 

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[Koffee]

I did this for parks and rec people last year and it opened all kinds of doors. This is also good PR for our hobby. Nice Job

Cheers - Koffee

 

[wingmaster]

The VX3 should find them fine as long as they aren't all plastic heads and valves, the 950 coil would have better depth. HH

 

[FreeMindStuck]

Make sure you turn all your discrimination off. You may be looking for iron pipes.

 

[Fourwayz]

OK, I had a win-lose day yesterday.(WIN) I DID find the pipe, but not the shutoff valve. I went with the 950 on the VX3 and used the relic mode "wide open". It was only 6 inches in the ground at one point. (LOSE) The town manager caught wind of me assisting the guy trying to find the valves and said that was a BIG no-no. They would rather spend the money to hire a company to find the valves. (LOSE) Furthermore if you are using a detector in our town...NO DIGGING. There's underground power lines and other water lines that run through our park (one and only park). I politely thanked them for the opportunity and left them standing where they were. (LOSE) The poor guy MAY have gotten in trouble doing what we did. Typical for the area I live in here in North Carolina.

 

[airscapes]

Wow that's scary.. power lines burred 6" down.. NO DIGGING!~~ Guess I will scratch NC off the list of places to live when I retire..

 

[FreeMindStuck]

Yeah I laughed as well about power lines and water lines at 12 inches. One bad freeze and every pipe in the city must burst!

 

[Produce Guy]

Awhile back I was detecting in my front yard when a guy asks me if that could find metal at least a foot under the ground,I said sure,so I follow him to a sight and I start to find old metal pipes,buried under the ground,about 10 in all.Some were over 50 ft. long.he said he bought the land and was gonna build a pond on the land and wanted them gone.He paid me $25 for about an hours worth of work.

 

[RobRieman]

Wow that's scary.. power lines burred 6" down.. NO DIGGING!~~ Guess I will scratch NC off the list of places to live when I retire..

I'm pretty sure he meant the pipe was only 6" down at one point and not the power lines.

 

[airscapes]

I was being fascias about this line of BS that the town uses to say no metal detecting.. I don't dig much more than 6" to recover a target.. Soooo must be they didn't bury those power and water line deep enough!

Furthermore if you are using a detector in our town...NO DIGGING. There's underground power lines and other water lines that run through our park (one and only park).

Could be I am just ignorant to how things are done where the ground doesn't freeze.

 

[luvsdux]

I always try to dig very carefully in areas where there's a possibility of electrical cables in the ground. Uncovering is one thing, but poking a digger through the insulation is a likely disaster.
luvsdux

 

[airscapes]

From the National Electric code page
Type UF cable is to be used for direct burial wiring needs and is identified by its grey covering. Open wiring not protected in conduit should be buried at least 24" below the surface.

Yeah I know, who follow rules..digger beware!

 

[Fourwayz]

Yep, I hear you all! Besides, if I get my detector close enough to power lines...well you all know what happens.