How to Dig with a Turbo Nozzle

[@PopLaCork]

Thanks for taking the time to post this hydro-drilling. This saves buying or renting equipment. As an engineer, I've used hydro-drilling to undermine an 8' x 40' x 5" deep concrete patio to remove and replace a broken sewer pipe followed by flooding the dig with a low psi slurry mix of concrete to permit future digs if something goes wrong. This saved me from ripping out the patio or having a patched surface. With that said, I was planning to install a privacy fence in the method you demonstrate. My plan will be to use a tube to create the hole shape as I hydro-drill the dirt past my needed depth. I will bore all 18 holes and allow them to dry. The next step will be to fill the bottom with stone to allow water drainage to extend the post life and set the elevations. I will then place the post, fill hole 1/3 or so full of water, pour in Fast Set concrete, stir and add water as needed. I will have a removable ring or frame above ground to help elevate the concrete to keep surface water off the post as well. Thanks again for the post. I hope our suggestions will help others in their tasks.

[@Phantombrother]

Curious to know if you ever use the expanding foam post fixer.

[@ephjay6t87]

How did it go? Great ideas.

[@awmclin2]

"See this is hard cemenet." Right after you broke some with your hands, lol.

[@smolbug2975]

Came to the comment section to make sure someone said it xD I do like the potential of water jets for this sort of work but this dude does not know shit about concrete lol

[@chrisgraham2904]

A 60 Liter (16 gallon), 6.5 H.P. ShopVac can be used to suck the water out of the hole for a dryer hole to work with or to reduce the mud slurry around finished landscape. The ShopVac will usually be adequate for one 4 ft. deep fence post hole, without emptying the vac. The City of Toronto has a campaign to replace all the electrical/utility poles with 100 foot poles, which are buried 12 feet deep, throughout the city. The City has HydroVac Excavator Trucks that utilize a combination water jet nozzle and vacuum to remove the slurry as it digs. They complete a 12 foot deep X 30 inch diameter, almost dry hole, in about 5 minutes. The pole is then positioned and plumed into the hole and the surrounding voids are backfilled with a yard of fine limestone screenings from a bulk bag. One crew can replace poles for a 1,000 feet of street in a single day and the linemen are installing the new lines and wiring the next morning. My six year old grandson sat and watched the crew and the machines work for 8 hours. lol.

[@dionysusnow]

Thanks for showing how bad that concrete set.

[@pargolf3158]

too much water in the hole for the concrete.

[@anthonydomench6871]

I always use muddy water to mix my concrete. It makes whatever I’m doing turn into complete shit.

[@redsquirrelftw]

Yeah too much water to concrete ratio. Should have used a shop vac to get most of the water out first.

[@aldomaresca9994]

​@anthonydomench6871 you should not forget to not even mix the cement, just push the wood in and call it a day

[@West_0z]

🤣🤣🤣

[@UTP_ENT]

Could you imagine the mess you would make doing an entire fence.

[@tractortinkerer11]

Nice in sandy soil, how is it in rocky soil?

[@MrMcCoyD4]

This guy has no problem with mud haha. And he definitely sells turbo nozzles

[@KarasCyborg]

Put a 18"x18" foam block on the shaft so that it doesn't blow dirt into your eyes.

[@onjofilms]

Or a trash can lid.

[@silentwraithgaming6904]

Or just be a normal person and wear safety glasses that are like $2 to protect your eyes from flying dirt. It's not that serious. If it is, wear the glasses and it also saves you from having to put foam block and is as easy to take off as, well, taking them off.

[@scott98390]

I'd love how well it works in a rockier environment. Here in my area, it's rocks, rocks, and more rocks.

[@jimfields9491]

Pretty sure that isn’t going to work well here in West Virginia.

[@DIY-Bri]

Having lived where rocks are the norm, I know digging in it is difficult. Most of our "top soil" was river rock, with dirt between all the rocks. Digging with only a shovel was out of the question. Even with a pick it was difficult to dig. Now we own a pressure washer, and I imagine that using it to soften the dirt/gravel mixture would have made digging much easier. I think I could have used a pressure washer to clean the dirt from between the rocks and loosen things up and then used the shovel to remove the loose rocks.

[@nonyabusiness9747]

​@@DIY-Briyes and if you have big boulders packed tight together work and wedge a bar between them and more times than not you and get one to move. Good times.

[@Smurphenstein]

Great in some situations but empty the hole. That "concrete" was mud mixed with cement. Read the instructions on a bag of cement, it tells you to use clean water.

[@OneWildTurkey]

Try using a 20 gallon shop vac with a length of galvanized pipe of the size you want attached to the hose (duct tape or hvac tape). It's a bit slower than water, but leaves the hole empty and workable.

[@MattnUska]

I have seen that method used with a giant vacuum truck to set light posts. It makes quick work of even rocky soil.

[@OneWildTurkey]

@@MattnUska Yep, but those cost a bit more than a shop vac. :) After a hurricane clobbered us, the city got a few of those trucks to do the poles that had to be replaced. They could get the poles planted faster than they were being delivered. It was really cool to watch (and to get the power back!)

[@stevemiller4912]

I built my own "drilling derrick" based on a verticle slide, an electric drill, a dirt auger, and a shop vac. I intend to make a KZbin video--will be in the BigSmiler channel.

[@MattnUska]

@@stevemiller4912 that’s a great idea!

[@kellyq21]

@@stevemiller4912 where can we see it if we don't want to wait? I need to make it now.

[@grettiron]

Wow this is really going to help in replacing my mailbox post. Thanks!

[@threeriversforge1997]

I was just thinking the same thing!

[@stevemiller4912]

When removing a post, I'm sure you don't have to go all the way around. Half should be sufficient, and maybe 1/4 is enough to loosen it. AND the reason you were able to blast the concrete off the post is that you used very dirty water to create that concrete. All considered, I've used this method even for digging trenches. The problem for me is I'm in rural Arizona and water is far too expensive here. I have to have it hauled to me.

[@herbertbell9438]

I've been using a garden hose and flush nozzle to do this kind of work since the early 90's. No one else on the job back then would give it the time of day. Now I see that professionals use this technique.

[@herbertbell9438]

@JustDigItInc I have to inform you, it works! It's awesome! I used it just the other day and got great results! Birds even landed in the branches of a nearby tree and watched me and started singing.

[@TheKlink]

@JustDigItInc this isnt how sinkholes are made

[@keithtaylor1531]

This could be a huge time saver in removing old fence post from chain link fence. Thank you for the demo. What ball gate valve are you using in your demo ??

[@seaknightvirchow8131]

What a great hack. I got bilateral tennis elbow digging 26 holes with a manual post hole digger.

[@damian4608]

Well the reason the concrete was " destroyed" by the 4000psi....is because you didn't mix it properly....dumping dry concrete into muddy water is not a recipe for a strong footing. ....

[@uncommonman]

I've used a low pressure washer to dig/prepare soil for planting. It's quick and easy.

[@threeriversforge1997]

I'm totally stealing that idea!

[@NogGonnaMakeIt]

Do you think 300psi is enough for this purpose?

[@threeriversforge1997]

@@NogGonnaMakeIt If your soil is washable, I don't see why not. I just tried this with my little Greenworks elecric PW and it dug down without a problem. Just gotta use the jet nozzle rather than a fan type.

[@NogGonnaMakeIt]

@@threeriversforge1997 good to know, thanks bud

[@ShyRage1]

@@threeriversforge1997 could these be used for locating under ground pipe?

[@cslloyd1]

It’s like a plasma cutter for soil

[@reece674]

Or maybe a water jet cutter 🤔

[@passiton3801]

Never seen that method before. Much easier an simpler. That's what its all about!

[@MM-M134M4]

29 seconds and he’s pulling out. New record. 😂😂

[@gangleweed]

Yeah, took 5 seconds to push it in.....LOL.

[@Rocketyt]

I'm still a 1 minute man!!!

[@randydeskins9359]

Also works great around electrical wire and pipe lines.

[@michaelnelsonsr9624]

WOW saves a lot of digging, thanks

[@blh3741]

I've set posts for a dock on the lake. Slicker than snot and no compaction/fill needed

[@kennethbolton951]

Your video editing skills are as impressive as your hole digging tips.

[@joeantolak4629]

I like where you head is at , kind of a flamethrower vs snow shovel mindset

[@johnwright456]

I live in PA ground is mostly rock. But looks like nice idea.

[@olddanb1]

Wow, that's "what the Pro's do". I wish I was a pro'. They must be really cool.

[@stephenfaulkner1448]

Very nice getting the hole done. But that concreted mixing is horrible. Should have used a shop vac to suck the slurry out as you dug the hole.

[@vstarcruiser7141]

U can also take a 3 foot piece of galvanized water pipe attach a hose to it w/ gate valve Blast away..we dug many post holes this way.

[@timlewis5096]

I prefer the vacuum digger. Quicker and less mess

[@hugegamer5988]

I use my pressure washer to clean my vehicles, trailer, yard equipment and driveway. Also cleans my rugs and blows the leaves out of my boat. I use it to clean my gutters with the zero degree nozzle and to clean my planters of leaves and sticks. Also use it with my air compressor in winter to make snow. One channel was hydro forming aluminum using a pressure washer. Now also it digs very quickly, is there no end to what a pressure washer can do?

[@TrehanCreekOutdoors]

Why not just dig the holes, wait a few days to let everything dry, then mount the posts normally in a dry hole? Not only would that prevent the post from sucking in so much water but it would allow you to use clean water to set the concrete, achieving a better bonding result. Not to mention much less mess than having to erect all the posts in a mud puddle. Interesting video and probably useful in certain soil conditions.

[@jdilksjr]

This was a demo of technique. You can use it to dig the hole and then let it drain.

[@buda18]

@@jdilksjrpoor demo if we can't even see the quality of the hole that was dug with this method.

[@josephvhoang]

Thank you .

[@meauxsoutdoors8119]

If that truly works that is the most fantastical idea ever. Why didn’t I know about this

[@cue03]

Now that is a great approach. Never thought about doing it like that. You used a gas 3GPM pressure washer but could this also be accomplished with like a 1500PSI pressure washer with 1.2-1.4 GPM?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

We haven't tested this process with a smaller powered unit.

[@mindofmadness5593]

Will also depend on the ground. In Florida was simply used a standard water hose with one of those pointy watering ends to bore thru the sand under sidewalks to put in sprinklers lines. I'm in NC, that won't work but I imagine what you have would-I have similar and plan to try it out on the soil/sand/clay mix here. Texas? It would laugh that Turbo thingy off and ask for More. :)

[@FreedomIsntFree2023]

Just to answer this, I was successful setting a few posts and boring under a sidewalk with the cheap harbor freight PW. This is in So Nevada (compacted dirt/rock, not sandy).

[@cristianoyarzun713]

Hey mate, what pressure were you pumping out of the nozzle in PSI or Bars ?

[@JuanValdezfor88]

I looked up the "whiskey pop" method for removing a post and found nothing. Would you embellish a bit on the whiskey pop please?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

It generally involves a pickup truck and wheel & tire as a lever.

[@JuanValdezfor88]

@@PoweredbyVeloci Gotcha. Thanks!

[@swpo1]

​@@PoweredbyVelociWe call that "stumpin'" in the metta universe.

[@gibsonguy5240]

Wow! This is the way to go. Thank you for this info.

[@lawrenceweber2010]

fine for that type of soil which I could easily dig in same amount of time without the mess. Unfortunately my place is nothing but DG and rocks but I do use this technique when I can.

[@TKayCO]

Didn’t you just say to not let go of the trigger while the nozzle is in the mud? And the you did exactly that around 7:20? Or am I missing something?

[@steringp1434]

Check that time stamp. No nozzle was in the water at 7:20 ????

[@dinosshed]

Works well in soft sand or soft soils. Absolutely no chance of being efficient in anything else. There's a reason why you can buy a 200k hydro unit to do this work.

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Correct, this method is very much soil dependent for the average homeowner.

[@savage6394]

It actually works much better in Rocky soil than you would think. Yes, it takes a bit longer and you also need to pull the bigger stones out by hand. However, it's WAY easier than digging through that same soil using a shovel.

[@Chainsnsprockets402]

Do that in my yard and you’ll get a face full of mud. Clay and rocks. 😅

[@richardwebb371]

Thats great if its fairly soft dirt...

[@snigwithasword1284]

Wonder how much tougher the concrete would have been had you mixed it before pouring.

[@ranger178]

interesting idea i wonder how it would be for digging trench through roots and rocks to put in drainpipe across yard might have to cut out roots with a sawzall but it seems a lot easier than a shovel.

[@adamegrafik]

It is easy with turbo nozzle. When nozzle is close to something which cannot be moved (ex. rock or big root) water with particles will hit back the nozzle and it might get stuck. This is the only thing to watch out. Best to move the nozzle frequently wheen using this method.

[@itsoktoberight4431]

I wonder if you could dig a 10m deep bore with extensions bits?

[@JamesWhite-jg7zd]

Yes

[@FallLineJP]

That’s fracking cool

[@filipelollita806]

Hi, how do you take the mud out? With a pump? Thanks

[@lgrantnelson2863]

When I was young we would get a hose, turn the water on and make holes in the ground saying we were drilling for oil.

[@EVtripper]

Oh, I've heard of people "drilling water wells" this way. Now I see how this works in concept

[@SK-gc7xv]

How does this do against hard clay subsoil?

[@Think-dont-believe]

I'm in Colorado clay soil like cement... planting blueberries they hate coat planting on a slope. Stuck nozzle in ground inch and the clay turned it to butter and flowed down hill... 3ft =5 min.

[@jdubwilson2689]

I been doing this for years, nothing new here!lol. Works well, messy as hell!

[@AEYATES-zl1mu]

Hydro's the way to go, but I find it hard to believe that posts set like that (without removing the mud) will stay firm very long.....I dug mine with curb water pressure (appx.150 lbs. of water pressure), 2' deep, connected to a five foot 3/8" galvanized steel plumbing pipe; cleared out all the mud and dirt debris the next day and set galv. fence posts in the holes with mixed concrete......that was back in 1986-1987, and the posts are as firm now as they were then, the modifying adverb to describe how firm being "very". But I will try the pressure washer method to dig the hole.

[@johndarkification]

I's like to see that in the coral rock soil we have in south florida!

[@waitemc]

Dug a 3ft wide 8 ft deep under my deck that only has 2,5 clearance. Just used 2 shop vacs ti pull all the mud and water. I should have bought a mucker that artached ro press washer. Oh I was installing an out door sump pump. Fyi. Ezpeezy

[@graphguy]

Effective in compacted clay?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

This method will not be as effective in compacted clay. You will need a higher PSI, which may approach that of professional hydro excavation units.

[@Owl4909]

i might try that digging up trees and bushes to relocate

[@gangleweed]

I though the same idea.....I have many seed dropped trees about 2 year old that took root and now I need to get them out without root damage to relocate them

[@gibsonguy5240]

My pressure washer is only 3100 PSI. Is there a nozzle made for this?

[@toddthom4508]

Sorry if I missed it, how deep were you able to go? I need to go 36 inches and there is some rock, just curious how far you were able to go.

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

36 inches is possible, you will need to consider the water and whether or not it needs to be extracted for your purpose.

[@hsbrooks]

I did this about 20+ years ago. Blew mud and muddy water all over me.

[@davidfrost7226]

The guys who operate hydrovac trucks don't wear their Sunday best to work

[@axeo123]

Soft, sandy soil?

[@randywl8925]

Very cool info. 👍👍👍

[@TootieProduct]

Brilliant 👏

[@ryanhansen8312]

Good stuff!

[@jeffbeck6501]

Great demo. I thought they would have a pump pumping out the water out of the hole. I like the idea of the power washer, with a pump pumping out the water best, and the mix the concrete in a concrete mixer and pour it into the hole. The concrete would be better, but that would be a lot more work, and I think just pouring the dry concrete mix into the hole would be good enough for a fence post. To make my fence, the drilled the holes with the big hand held machine that was a beast to control. It was fast and clean, but hard work, and you have to buy that machine, and maintain it. Plus you have to breath all of those gasoline fumes and exhaust. I like the water idea, but I think you could do it with just a spray hose, but the power washer was a lot faster.

[@stich1960]

I am asuming it doesnt work without a huge power unit in heavy clay soils?

[@MrMasterFlash]

I looked up whiskey pop and could not find it.

[@Jetski270]

Your likely to trigger a sink hole in Florida using that method. 😂😂

[@stroln]

What kink of pump did you use? Thanks

[@silentwraithgaming6904]

This works perfect except for that concrete pour method. Add an extra amall few steps, Use a shopvac or something to take the water out of the hole (or if you have something big enough, just fill the hole with that and take it out, if im doing a 4x4 post, im making it 4,5x4,5 and i took a 6x6 and cut it to that same size and installed a handle on the top so it acts like a toilet plunger, once in, once out, about 90% of the water is gone) Then you can put your concrete in, lined properly with your other posts with a string line of course, and if you have a friend or coworker come hold the post and keep it lined up, you can pour your concrete or vice versa. Make sure to pour a little at the bottom of the post as well, a lot of people forget that and it rots from the bottom upward and breaks. This is usually the case on most farms where (sorry to say this but it needs to be said) they hired mexicans for cheap labor who everyone believes does good work. And they do. They do great work. However, that there is one thing they actually forget judt like most everyone else. Anyway, do it this way to ensure it has strong, foundational concrete, and doesnt break easy in 15 years. If its something minor or temporary, dont worry about it and just do as this guy in the video did. If its something you are putting money into, and will have flies coming out of your wallet like a dry spell, you want your moneys worth out of it. So do it how i explained. Best or luck to you all, and hopefully you learned something. Maybe someone will comment and teah me something, who knows.

[@NutmegThumper]

Oh to live somewhere without the rocks of New England!

[@MrBubbadon]

Can you trench with this method?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Depends on the size of the trench, but you would also need a method to remove the water as well.

[@HumbleBearcat]

@@PoweredbyVeloci I was gonna ask the same question. I need to dig a narrow trench about 22" to install a thin plastic root barrier. My power washer is a smaller 1750w electric one with a 20 inch plastic shaft and I wonder if it would work? Can I use a shop vac to remove the water?

[@myronsimanski8086]

this whole video is wild lol

[@ljd5120]

What's the pressure washer you are using? Got a link?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

A very old unit custom assembled Honda 390 powering a Bertolini WMG 4043 pump.

[@macmcleod1188]

This would have saved our internet cable (when burying cats), soooo many times. I swear the thing zigzagged all over the yard.

[@horaciostjeward]

Wil this work on heavy clay ground?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Not likely with a consumer grade pressure washer.

[@j.j.maaskant7287]

Whoa, perfect ! Thanks

[@chriss2295]

Giving the hole a day to dry would be a good idea vs dumping a bag of concrete into muddy water immediately

[@loganryan_music]

Would this dig through caliche soil?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Likely not with your typical pressure washer. Potentially with an industrial unit with high PSI exceeding 5000, but this is uncommon and not tested.

[@xonx209]

So why do professional fence builders still use power auger to dig holes?

[@batvette]

The boots, OMG, the boots, theyre freaking me out.

[@Pharphette]

This is thow the electric company drills holes to expose utility lines. Just learned this todah be they’re in my backyard. Also used by plumbers to shred blockages in pipes.

[@mikehydroseed1282]

What are rits?

[@hsubdarb]

Remove the blue cover if you don't want to loose it.

[@Runehorn]

wow.......my mailbox remake just got bumped up on my list

[@danielbedford6539]

Just looks like mostly sand?

[@coolraul07]

Anybody used this technique for trenching? I need to dig a narrow (~1-2") trench to run underground-rated electrical and networking cables between my house and man-cave/shed). I was considering starting with a lawn edger to mark the route about 2-4" deep, then coming back with the powerwasher to dig it out to the proper depth.

[@EazzyBeezie]

Love it... for digging

[@garywarnoc]

What pressure washer and nozzle size/rating are you using?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

4000 PSI pressure washer. For this application we used a 3.0 nozzle.

[@craigervin7971]

What brand of turbo nozzle are you using. I bought one and it worked for like 10 minutes washing the car and stopped spinning. Thanks

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

We supply German-made RotoJet Turbo Nozzles in various PSI ratings. They can be purchased here: www.mtmhydroparts.com/pages/pressure-washing

[@Martin_Vail_Esq.]

You can take it apart and clean it. Search KZbin for tutorial on your specific type.

[@Will-tm5bj]

Pre-filter would help too. Most of them are repairable

[@pantac4493]

Turbo nozzle is a oscillating 0 degree nozzle, I don’t know what part of car you’re using it on but definitely wouldn’t use on paint

[@savage6394]

@@PoweredbyVeloci I just went to your site and ALL but 2 options of your Turbo nozzles are sold out! Will you be restocking soon?

[@Mrbobinge]

Whiskey pop it? Searched, no results. Turbo-dig last of my Bud-Lite stash - no problem. She'll never know.

[@swpo1]

He said it involves a pickup truck and a wheel and a tire.

[@swpo1]

And I guess you use the tire as a lever? I don't know. thats just what the feller said in somebodys comment that asked the same exact question.

[@Subvac]

Would this work in hard clay?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

This hasn't been tested in hard clay with readily available consumer pressure washers.

[@jessehansen10]

I never pull out.

[@RioVistawaterratehistory-wg4ii]

brilliant

[@p.t.anderson1593]

I use my pressure washer and a turbo nozzle to dig up blackberry roots.

[@greggy9786]

Good vid

[@Palatech]

What PSI? Can you use 2800 psi?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Depending on the soil that may be enough, we start with a 4000 PSI machine.

[@notfound379]

It's all good until you hit that birdbath sized rock. Takes pressure washer, shopvac and inevitably a jackhammer then finally a post hole digger to retrieve the rock chunks. Grab a bunch of GFIs and your patience. A by code footing by me, at three feet deep, is all day job and slow at the end. But this combination will work at least. One downside is your backfill is a slurry unusable clay silt and rocks.

[@_KarlS]

use the same method to plant trees and see how fast you can plant 100 trees

[@m0r0gu3]

A well done how to that ensures your fence post rots as quickly as possible, while doing a crap job of providing structural support.