Subsoiler for burying PEX

[Attono]

Found this subsoiler on Craigslist listed as a "1 row planter". Talked them down to $80. $20 worth of exhaust pipe from Autozone and I am hope to bury about 750' of 3/4 pex and about 500' of 12/2 UF with it. I will let you know how it works.

 

[jaotguy]

and now for an old car rim or hose reel to hold the pex / wire ...

 

[Attono]

That's what the thing hanging from the ROPS is for. The crossbar comes off and the roll of pex will hang from it. Are you saying the roll of pex won't spool off?

 

[SPIKER]

Attono:

the PEX will need a large rim to UNROLL into the hole a simple axle will work for most of the stuff but PEX will KINK if it is not unrolled correctly. make up a 3 or more spoke rim that will fit inside the ID of the PEX and use some sort of side plates to keep it un-spooling as if you were rolling it across the yard. The UF will work better this way as well but it can twist more than the PEX so having it pull out of a box is not as bad as the PEX would be.

One other thing is for underground I would not use PEX it should be PEX-AL-PEX or the underground rated black poly type materials.


Mark

 

[dstig1]

No it will kink, and right quickly at that. Probably before you have 2 turns off of it. Ask me how I know... You need a spool of some sort. I have made one with 2 pieces of OSB/ply and 4 2x4 stubs cut to the same length. Drill your center hole, lay the PEX down on the OSB, and then place the 4 2x's evenly and screw them in place. Screw on the other OSB piece, and you have a spool. Hard to get the screw locations right the first time, but after that you mark the correct holes and orientation so you can put a new loop of tubing on it quickly.

 

[Attono]

Attono:

the PEX will need a large rim to UNROLL into the hole a simple axle will work for most of the stuff but PEX will KINK if it is not unrolled correctly. make up a 3 or more spoke rim that will fit inside the ID of the PEX and use some sort of side plates to keep it un-spooling as if you were rolling it across the yard. The UF will work better this way as well but it can twist more than the PEX so having it pull out of a box is not as bad as the PEX would be.

One other thing is for underground I would not use PEX it should be PEX-AL-PEX or the underground rated black poly type materials.


Mark

Can you please elaborate on this a little. I was under the impression that PEX was rated for underground burial.

 

[SPIKER]

Can you please elaborate on this a little. I was under the impression that PEX was rated for underground burial.

Attono:

PEX is relatively soft, it kinks and any rocks will compress it and cut off flow. If you have any sharp edges on those rocks or drag it across something it is a gonner. The Black Polly is a bit more robust, has UV protection. The PEX-AL-PEX has the dual layer of PEX as well as a layer of Aluminum which will keep the PEX from getting crushed & make it a lot more hardy should something sharp land on it when it is trenched in.

Mark

 

[Attono]

Thanks Spiker. The soil here about 2' down is mostly sandy loam. Don't think I've ever dug a rock up, so should be good with the PEX I've got. I guess time will tell.

 

[davedj1]

What is the purpose of the pex? Could maybe use regular black plastic pipe. If it's for heat then you need insulated pex.

 

[texasjohn]

I'm a tad confused...750' of pex and 500' of 12/2? Are these two separate burials, or is the 12/2 inside the pex?

Good work and good price on the subsoiler.