Home made soil probe

NickfromWI

King of Splices
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
4,992
Location
Snowless California
I have been planning on purchasing an insulated soil probe (specifically, the 36" 3/8 Hex rod, $66). But it's one of those things I haven't gotten around to ordering.

I got a call yesterday afternoon from some folks who had a tree removed (upon my recommendation)

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/nickaraya/RandomPicsToShare/photo#5223404191427471362"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/nickaraya/SH1Cb_RSKAI/AAAAAAAAA-M/3JTLzkgM38o/s400/P2140005.JPG" /></a>

The tree has finally been removed. They want to have a new tree put in ASAP. It will be going back in the planter box. I made it clear to the client the stump must be ground to a depth of at least 24" and ideally 36" and that this might cost them a pretty penny.

So they call me back after the tree was removed. "We don't think they ground the stump deep enough. Can you come check."

Long story short, I needed a soil probe fast, so I made one.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/nickaraya/RandomPicsToShare/photo#5223404580280901394"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/nickaraya/SH1Cyn3KnxI/AAAAAAAAA-U/eT84ywLQDs0/s800/36.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/nickaraya/RandomPicsToShare/photo#5223404583895356514"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/nickaraya/SH1Cy1U61GI/AAAAAAAAA-c/DDnuYjToCNU/s800/37.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/nickaraya/RandomPicsToShare/photo#5223404591007123074"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/nickaraya/SH1CzP0fxoI/AAAAAAAAA-k/FosZtspQbjU/s800/38.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/nickaraya/RandomPicsToShare/photo#5223404594972757234"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/nickaraya/SH1Czel-jPI/AAAAAAAAA-s/qZJM6dxbk6Q/s800/39.JPG" /></a>

It worked just fine. I got the info I needed and it cost me less than $6. I'm still going to order the Mighty Probe. This one hurt my hand a bit. I had to put some cusion inside my glove when pushing the probe in deep.

love
nick
 
mine cost me something like $25 or so I think...
 

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thats a core sampler, he just wantd a probe. i make mine but left it at a customers a few weeks back and havent drove the 20 miles to get it
 
All well and good but here's an easy way .Just weld a ball bearing on the end of a 3/8" or 1/2" rod and put a handle on it .A short piece of 1" pipe works great .Drill a hole in it,weld around the rod .Old Al has made a bunch of tile probes .;) To mark depth,a wrap of electrical tape but duct tape works just as well .
 
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