Hand Driven (Sand Point) Well Install on our Homestead Property | Part 1

Finally, we started work on our hand pump well! Our two-part journey is full of ups and downs and lots of frustrations (as per usual). But we know this is an essential step of securing water access on our land, where our homestead will be fully off grid.
In part one, we face the challenges of driving a sand point well through rocky and hard ground in a place that we think we can find water.
We dealt with quite a few frustrations with the pipe threads, but overcame them by learning how to cut and thread steel pipe, ensuring progress (even though still very slow).
Stay tuned for part two, where we just might find water for our future home!
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#handpumpwell #drivepointwell #sandpointwell

[@jpwdowiak]

I found your video struggling with the same thing of smashing the threads. I can definitely feel your pain.

[@thiscreativehouse]

@@jpwdowiak Sorry you can relate. 🙈 It's so frustrating.

[@jpwdowiak]

@@thiscreativehouse did you find a solution for your well yet? I was looking through your uploads and haven’t seen an update. I’ll be giving mine a go again this weekend coming. Have to finish all my ground work to pour concrete on our garage + apartment before it gets cold!!

[@thiscreativehouse]

@@jpwdowiak We picked a new spot this season, and pounded it in slowly and gently with a post driver by hand. So far, we're about 11 feet in the ground, have hit a good amount of water, but still trying to reach the gravel layer (still stuck in some clay). I've been waiting to post so that the full video is start to finish, but boy, it's been SLOW this season with all of the rain we've been getting. So far, all the fittings have stayed tight, and we're not crushing any threads/haven't had to cut any pipe like last year. We're hoping to pound it in another 2 feet this week, and give the pump another try to see if we're out of the clay. Look into jetting a well with a pressure washer. Granted, you need to water and power (which is our problem), but if these last few feet don't go as planned, I think that's what we'll try!

[@lorettaandjasonoffgrid]

So much work! We will have similar issues when we dig a well. Most likely will not be able to use this method due to the rock! For now we have a generous neighbour with good water so we can use his till we figure it out!

[@thiscreativehouse]

We need to find an easier and faster way to get it in, so we know if we need to scoot over and try again. It is ROCKY in this forest, but we hoped hitting the gravel layer would make the spot promising.

[@benbeemer5905]

You have to turn the pipe as your driving it down to keep the point clear

[@derekadams729]

There is an easier way. If you have water pump and water source. Add a fitting to the top of your pipe and pump water down the pipe and rotate it as you are pumping. Beter if you had and pointed taper with blades on the bottom of old pipe to initially drill the well. Usually using this methid you need a 12 foot tripod with a pully hanging from the top so you can attach a rope to the top of the drilling pipe to lft it and drop the pipe as you rotate it. The water will pump the cuttings up the outside of the pipe to the surface. Also better to have starting head pipe 3 feet into the ground with a side outlet for water and cutting returns. I drilled 2 wells here in the filippines to 100 feet each took about a day and a half. Hope you understand what I mean. Good luck

[@thiscreativehouse]

Thanks for the tips! Wish we had the resources to do what you're suggesting. We'll keep it in mind! Really like the tripod idea - I think that's what we'll try in the Spring to pound in it at the least.

[@NicholasPeterson-vy9fl]

I wonder if you could use that tractor in the background, just use the bucket to push it down.

[@thiscreativehouse]

We chatted about that, but John's worried it'll be too much force and will bend the pipe. 😬 Hhh.