Base Jacks, Acros, Trench Struts and Other Ironmongery

[cooleycr]

I cannot see any of these photos for some reason, which is a real shame as I enjoy them..
Anyone else having this problem?

 

[alastairgott]

I cannot see any of these photos for some reason,...Anyone else having this problem?

Try a different computer, mine seems to like them sometimes but not others, but other devices are fine.

 

[Pitlamp]

I like the idea of the base jacks.
I sometime fabricate adjustable stemples from suitable walled and diameter tubing or scaffold pole.
I cut 4 triangular fillets out of the end of the tube, tap the remaining 4 points in and then weld together to create a solid point on the end of the tube.
A suitable diameter short length of studding ground to a point.
2 flats ground to take a spanner.
Pockets can be drilled or chiseled into the wall (if there isn't already a suitable depression) to locate the 2 ends of the stemple.
Pair of stilsons on the tube and spanner on the studding to tighten into place.

Oops! managed to post the photo twice.

Maj.

You need to go caving in Derbyshire and see how t'owd man did that over 2 Centuries ago with a few lengths of oak and an axe. 

By the way, does one of those pictures above show a bit of cryogenic calcite?

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I am using Postimage at the moment for third party hosting of images. I dont know why there should be a problem with that for some. I have a great many Photobucket images hosted on this forum. All will be trashed at the end of next year. I wont give in to their blackmail. They have very kindly (  ) agreed to keep my images running for another year as I had a paid for account previously. I shall lose 20,000 ! hosted images on several forums.

I dont think there are any cryogenic calcite deposits in the previous images but if you want some here is a rock full !



The Frozen Deep might well be two chambers that have become one. The lowest part is not a collapse feature but has breakdown on top of original phreatic sediments. The cryogenic stal is associated with these sediments and on boulders on the sediments. Clearly the sediments and breakdown are older than the cryogenic stal which dates to c. 30,000 years. At least I got the name right originally !

 

[The Old Ruminator]

O Cap,n Chris I have found some ironmongery in your cave. ( Grebe )



Er . And a plastic duck ! :kiss2:

 

[The Old Ruminator]

So the most ironmongery in any British cave dig is at  ---?

 

[The Old Ruminator]

An incredible dig by any standards. May be the longest rail line in any British cave is at -- ?

 

[Duncan Price]

Templeton & Ogof Craig a Ffynnon (NW Inlet)

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Duncan is such a clever chap. Saved my life once -- :hug:

 

[2xw]

This is a great. I've only just started using metalwork in a digging context. Thanks for this.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

A few from this week cus I is bored and its cold outside.

Inserting a base jack on a pinned scaffold pole. The base jack at the top the pin in bedrock at the bottom.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

This choke had collapsed twice and we wanted to get past and under it. OK it looks a pickle but I rather think it artistic. Poles  when horizontal have to be secure at each end and long poles might need bracing. We started off carefully with two horizontal Acros pinned to the solid walls. We then used a modified clip to fit around the larger diameter of the Acro body. After that its all about angles and fixing. Sometimes you need more that one pole to end up where you want to be. You also need to keep access free. Hopefully when all seems secure you can build in rocks to hide some of the pipework.

Phase One.

Getting the Acros in place to make a start.



Getting the bracing in.



Working off the bracing poles to add more choke support.



With enough support in capping offending boulders.





The capped boulders were supporting the choke and now removed checking for any movement.







Looking upwards into the loose void above the choke. e may add mesh above the poles.



Once passed the choke excavating the stream sink against a solid wall.



Group email planning image re the boulder X. This can be cemented in situ or have a pole inserted as shown. Cement would be tidier.



Now the images deteriorate as they are taken in falling water. Following the stream sink beyond and under the choke.



Walling in behind the vertical support.



2m down the final dig the stream sinks below this sloping boulder. ( my knee for scale ). We can open up space below this and if it remains secure all will be well.



The last photo from this week. Glove for scale. The arrow points to open space down which the water runs and rocks drop several metres.



So ever onward ( downward ) and hopefully back to normal digging for a while.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Top of the scaffolded shaft where the larger boulders get hauled.



Intermediate hauling position between the two shafts.







Generator electricity down 70m to the final dig.




Constructing an area for hauled up boulders above the two shafts.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Cropped image showing the modified clip in place. A U bolt bolted to half a swivel clamp. A sprung washer on the bolt to enable the swivel action to still move but remain tight.



Setting up the support on the pin in the wall and through the modified clamp.



The pins I use are cut from galvanized steel rods that are sold by agricultural merchants. They are for holding sheep hurdles together. I cut them into 100mm sections. I have had these long rods in the garden supporting rockeries for many years with any sign of rust.

 

[JasonC]

Have you thought of applying for an Arts Council grant ?

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Here are a few from yesterday.

Getting a bit snug with all of that scaffolding.





Time for a snooze.



A caver appreciates the artistry.



Lifelining the man at the bottom.





The West Mendip plateau yesterday. Not sure it will still be the same colour tomorrow.



All images taken on the battered Olympous TG 2. Haze reduction filter in Photoshop 2018 has accentuated the blue sky in the surface image. I find that I am using it a lot now.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Another from yesterdays run. I like unposed portraiture in a caving context. I thought I caught him about right. Weather he might think this is another matter as some of my  subjects definitely have not seen the funny side of my image of them. Hopefully he does not come on the forum much and wont see it. Scaffolding to keep on thread.

 

[tony from suffolk]

Excellent stuff Mr OR, that's quite a dig you've got there. Good luck with it, your many fans wait with bated breath.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I cant be too specific or the Karst Police will be after me. Needless to say its very slow progress but extremely good fun if you like that sort of thing.

 

[snoboy]

Please, keep it coming. This is a great trove of ideas for my projects. Not too many serious diggers in my area, so threads like this are very inspirational.