Cleaning Stal

mrodoc

mrodoc

Well-known member
Anybody used one of these underground? I saw it in a TV ad. Probably unique as an ad I learnt something new from!

https://worx-europe.com/en/all-garden-tools/pressure-cleaner/
 
Length of battery life seems to be main complaint, & you'd obviously need to be careful what you pointed it at...
 
I saw one a while back and thought they could be useful. Even just for cleaning kit while camping and such.

On a recent conservation effort in Crackpot, the backpack pesterside type sprayers were used with a fair amount of success. The don't have all that much pressure but more than a hand held bottle etc.

Some mud splatter in Crackpot was quite well stuck on so maybe having something like the Hydroshot would be good just to loosen the worst bits. I wonder how long the input pipe can be, I suspect not long.
 
I use one for cleaning the mountain bike because it is no where near as powerful as a proper pressure washer .  I think it Would work well on stal.

Tc
 
I may well get one and give it a trial on somewhere near the surface. The water reservoir issue I see being resolved by taking in some cans and placing them under drips well prior to any cleaning trip. it is a lot more compact than a back pack pressure washer as it can be broken down into its constituent parts for carriage into the cave.
 
We used something similar but smaller at our main surface digs to clean mud off the walls before concreting, and it worked pretty well I must say - that just ran off a 12V bike battery. Photo of me using that below. This one looks like a beast, and I'd love to use one on the rest of the clean-up! But a bit pricey for what would only be an occasional use.
 

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Is this something which regional caving councils might look at purchasing? Or if it really is only for occasional use, BCA?
 
Pitlamp said:
Is this something which regional caving councils might look at purchasing? Or if it really is only for occasional use, BCA?
Click to expand...

In true BCA bureaucratic style, I think the 'proper' thing to do would be for a regional council to decide they want one, then apply to the BCA for funding, then the BCA fund it and the regional council purchase it... The BCA might not be 'allowed' to engage in conservation work in this way (by owning one) I think, as that is the remit of the regional councils, but inevitably the BCA would be the one paying. And if it was determined to be 'core' expenditure, I don't even think the BCA gets to say no...
 
We used a 12v caravan water pump very successfully at Crackpot cave clean up, thanks to Fred Rattray and his battery array in a peli case. This borrowed equipment will hopefully be designed and built for the CNCC equipment store and will be paid for by the Stories in Stone project funded by HLF. ( CNCC's partner in cave conservation) It will then be available to any CNCC members.
BCA will have to find something else to spend it's ?300K cash assets on.
 
Well, I went out and bought the Workz model battery powered washer and as far as I know this is the first time it has been used for cleaning stal. For a start it i simpressively light and compact fitting in a medium sized pelibox (apart from the hose and optional head extender). We fed it from a 5 gallon can hauled up a steep slope to the entrance and manhandled through an awkward crawl and a steep slope to the site of action.This was a lovely stal boss covered in mud in an area where the tapes have been ignored. No problem with battery as I used the smaller one and still had plenty of power after the water had all gone. The jet width can be varied and the washer comes with a soft brush. I just used the jet on the second to narrowest settin gand it worked a treat virtually restoring most of the stal boss to its original state.  Obviously a convenient nearby source of water would be useful or the siting of several buckets under drips prior to the trip. No doubt if the Old Ruminator sees this post he will be able to post some before and after photos.
 
Off he goes.

P7090043 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090044 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Much better now though more can be done.

P7090106 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

This was the main objective. Both areas were protected by tape and the mud smearing looks to be deliberate vandalism. Maybe not by cavers. Superior photo by Mr O'Doc himself showing an appalled ( appalling ? ) image of me.

67188616_10156665359054811_6277280331590533120_o by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

At work on the above.

P7090048 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090050 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

How it looks now. Maybe more can be done.

P7090109 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr



 
Meanwhile time for a few photos elsewhere in the cave.

P7090055 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Lithostrotion bed.

P7090056 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090126 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090119 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090117 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090116 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090124 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7090113 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Time to play with the two Yongnuos. I should have anticipated the shadow on the background flash but it was a rushed trip. Hand held Yongnuo slave with camera in flash exclusion box. Set quite bright. Second flash behind a rock on a lower light setting.

P7090091 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Mr O'Doc has not named the cave nor shall I as conservation work is ongoing. It might be obvious to seasoned Mendip cavers but I cannot see that all and sundry including non cavers knowing would help at this stage.

 
Well I took the Workz Hydroshot into Pridhamsleigh Cavern. This is probably the speleological equivalent of the Augean Stables!  Kieran Ryan and I then spent a happy couple of hours cleaning stal that had had mud hurled at it for years - and it came off. We then cleaned patches of wall to demonstrate to visitors what the cave wouild like if it was teated with a bit of respect.  Photos can be seen on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/peter.glanvill1/posts/10156957753169811?notif_id=1573064370818256&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic
 
Took in two big empty tubs to Pillar Chamber in Shatter this week hoping to find a good drip to fill them. Not one there when you need it. Now for Plan B.

PB030064 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Now if all visitors took in a little bottle to keep topping them up --
 
mrodoc said:
Photos can be seen on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/peter.glanvill1/posts/10156957753169811?notif_id=1573064370818256&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic
Click to expand...

That's quite an improvement! If you ever need a hand then you'd have lots of volunteers from Exeter University who'd be very keen to get involved  :beer2:
 
I am hoping by showing visitors the difference they will refrain from throwing mud about in future (or jamming litter into crevices as Kieran found today :(.)
 
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