Digging Book

[Space Kadet]

Hello everyone,

There are many caving books out there but has anyone written anything about digging??

SK

 

[Alex]

Can't say I heard of one but there is lots to write about I guess, shoring, capping, best places to dig, how to deal with spoil, issues such as bad air etc. Loads to go at!

 

[Space Kadet]

I haven't heard of one either.  Maybe it's time a digging book was published.

 

[graham]

If you mean how to books rather than tales of derring-do then I don't recall anything after the CRG's Manual of Caving Techniques from 1969 and a BEC Caving Report on the Shoring of Cave Digs written by, I think, Alfie Collins some time prior to the Boer War.

 

[Space Kadet]

There is so much good experience out there it really should be be put together in one place. 

 

[nickwilliams]

The update to the CRG Manual, "BCRA's Caving Practice and Equipment' includes some more up to date stuff than the 1969 version, but its still by no means comprehensive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Caving-Practice-Equipment-David-Judson/dp/0715381555/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365020217&sr=1-1

Nick.

 

[cap n chris]

You might find some useful tips here:
http://www.thelog.org.uk/more07.html
And consider checking out this website:
www.mendipdiggers.co.uk

 

[bograt]

Go for it Space Cadet, all my digging experience was word of mouth, I am sure a lot of other contributers will say the same. Maybe if it was written down it would save a lot of lost effort put in by us lost souls.

 

[Slug]

a BEC Caving Report on the Shoring of Cave Digs written by, I think, Alfie Collins some time prior to the Boer War.

:spank: and 

The problem is that no two digs are ever the same, so whatever method or technique that works in one....etc.,

Any book would only ever be advisory, and would have to be viewed as such, though I do concede that some basic "How To's" on subjects like shoring, or capping might well be of use generally, and apply to many situations.....as long as the reader remembers that Rules are for the Guidance of the Wise, and the Blind Obedience of the Foolish.

 

[rhychydwr1]

My book is nearly finished.  I just Googled: Cave Digging.

 

[paul]

a BEC Caving Report on the Shoring of Cave Digs written by, I think, Alfie Collins some time prior to the Boer War.

:spank: and 

The problem is that no two digs are ever the same, so whatever method or technique that works in one....etc.,

Any book would only ever be advisory, and would have to be viewed as such, though I do concede that some basic "How To's" on subjects like shoring, or capping might well be of use generally, and apply to many situations.....as long as the reader remembers that Rules are for the Guidance of the Wise, and the Blind Obedience of the Foolish.

True. But there are certain common techniques and methods used in digging which apply in almost all digs and having the information available in one place would make thing easier and probably prevent mishaps ocurring (such as capping with no hand protection) due to lack of knowledge.

 

[Les W]

http://www.cavediggers.com/ 

 

[Space Kadet]

Thank you

 

[Alex]

The problem is that no two digs are ever the same, so whatever method or technique that works in one....etc.,

Any book would only ever be advisory, and would have to be viewed as such, though I do concede that some basic "How To's" on subjects like shoring, or capping might well be of use generally, and apply to many situations.....as long as the reader remembers that Rules are for the Guidance of the Wise, and the Blind Obedience of the Foolish.

Aye, but no two caves are ever alike either yet they seem to manage fine to write caving guides such as "Alpine Caving Techniques" etc.