Henro
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2003
- Messages
- 4,982
- Location
- Few miles north of Pgh, PA
- Tractor
- Kubota B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini EX
Like Allan W, stick dowsing has never worked for me. what does work for me is #8 steel fence wire or #8 copper wire (old powerline wire) when looking for underground pipes and cables.
Funny you should mention this. Does not work for everyone, but it does for some. I usually use copper wire or old coat hanger wire.
I do this occasionally, but not enough to remember to use it when I need to! Last time was a couple years ago when I wanted to locate the sewer line cleanout, last one before the pipe entered the main. I knew about where I put my line, and knew I tied to the 6" line the sewer people provided. Also knew where the main line ran, since there are several manholes on my property.
I was able to find the pipe that came from the main line using the two wire method. Found it at a couple points and painted a yellow line between the points and extended it for a bit.
Found the line coming down from the house (not marked but I roughly knew where I put it) and after marking a couple points, drew another yellow line and extended it to where it crossed the first line.
Was expecting to have to scratch the surface for a while with my backhoe, to find the concrete block I used to cover the cleanout. Believe it or not, the first scrape at the intersecting point of the yellow lines, with the backhoe (about 24 inches long), turned up the concrete block, with the cleanout under it.
Plastic pipe. The two wire method finds plastic as well as metal pipes. It will also sense overhead wires, but this does little to prove anything...
Would I try to win that million bucks? Of course not. I would be too nervous and would fail. But without pressure it does work, too frequently to be just chance. BUT it does not work for everybody. For fun I sometimes if I think of it ask a visitor to try it. Some have pretty good results, others nothing. This only happens once in a while, like when I read a thread where it is mentioned, and get curious...