Drilling test holes

In the summer of 2018 we are building a pole barn on our lake shore property behind our log cabin.  This building will be used to store tools and equipment needed for the building and maintenance of our new cabin (once it is built, hopefully starting that process in the summer of 2019) and other structures on the property.

What is a pole barn you might ask.  Wikipedia states:  it is a simplified building technique, using large poles or posts buried in the ground or on a foundation to provide the vertical structural support.

We will be using 11 reclaimed poles as the vertical structure. The holes need to be about 6′ deep and 12″ around. We know the top layer of soil where the structure is going is clay but we have never dug or drilled 6′ down so we thought it would be a good idea to drill a test hole first.

A new auger of the appropriate size is attached to the old international tractor.

International tractor with auger attachment (not the test hole site)

The auger was aligned and the drilling began. It was slow and steady progress.  Every few minutes the auger was lifted and dirt cleaned off. Then the drilling would resume. Seemed to be going well but the deeper it drilled the harder it was to lift the auger out until it just wouldn’t lift any more. It was stuck in 5 1/2 feet of clay.

July 7, 2018 Auger stuck in 5 1/2 feet of clay

So now what? The adventure of trying to dislodge the auger from the depths of clay begins.  Lets try drilling holes around it with a hand auger to see if that would loosen up the clay enough to release the auger.

July 7, 2018 Using hand auger to drill holes around the stuck auger

No way did that work, it was stuck good and tight.

Okay, back to the drawing board. Maybe we could make a device that would fit in the top of the auger and attach  it to the bucket on the front of the international tractor to lift it out.  The hydraulics on the front of the tractor have more power and more lift then the back of the tractor where the auger was attached for drilling. But no tools at the cabin to build such a device so we have to head home for a few days.

Dan was making the large metal pin in his shop at home. All the necessary materials and tools are close at hand. But during one step of the process the large and heavy pin drops off the bench and lands on his big toe. I never witnessed it but I am sure there was some dancing and swearing going on. He never even told me until the next day. That poor toe was swollen and black and blue for several days, but that did not deter him from finishing building the pin.

July 7, 2018 Large red pin in top of auger

With the pin locked in place on the top of the auger, the tractor is lined up so the pin can be attached just behind the bucket.

July 7, 2018 Tractor attached to pin

Once everything is in place and secured the bucket is slowly lifted. We do not want damage the auger so being very careful.

July 7, 2018 Slowly lifting auger
July 7, 2018 Ahh, success, the auger is out

Lots of learning from drilling the first test hole. We need to fine tune this process as we need to drill 11 holes for the poles supporting the new pole barn.

July 7, 2018 Dan preparing site for test hole #2

So lets drill another test hole. Hope it goes better then the first one.

A couple exciting experiences during the drilling of test hole #1 and even one hazardous to Dan’s big toe.

What adventure is next?