spent a day with world's oldest driller and his incredible drilling machine

[@poacher9118]

Now this is the sort of content I’d like to see on KZbin. Capturing a mans history.

[@GAIS414]

Watching this fantastic man drilling this well for the third time.

[@crystallakegarage]

I loved every minute of the video. He grew up in a time when you fixed what you owned yourself

[@mauricekeithjohnson2598]

I'll 2nd that !!

[@GAIS414]

Thankfully a small number of people in younger generations keeps that tradition alive and well. All is not lost... Yet.

[@willtricks9432]

I still am.

[@rustblade5021]

I want to shake this man's hand. The Fred Dibnah of well drilling.

[@mikeznel6048]

Many men of his type that have gone unnoticed. Many, many, many men.

[@Watthead80]

As a 41 y/o driller with 23 years experience, I have nothing but respect for this gent. Would love to sit down and listen to him tell stories and talk shop. The thing about being a driller, you have to be a jack of all trades. From a laborer to an engineer and everything you can imagine in between. I started out on small soil core sample rigs and moved up to large diameter bored well drilling. Started when I was 18 and can't ever see myself changing career's. It's not the most glamorous job, but with out us well drillers the world would damn near stop. No oil, gas or water. I tip my hardhat to you sir, may your back always bend and your holes be straight. Stay safe out there.

[@doonhamer252]

Same here had 25 yrs Diamond drilling and RC drilling .. western Canad to Greenland , High Arctic to Bolivia, Sub Sahara to Namibia..

[@jameshockey6916]

What a true legend and amazing guy, I bet your uncle has forgotten more than most of us will ever learn. The UK would be a much better place with more people like you and uncle.

[@spangy8405]

Any place would be a better place with men like Allistair & Drew there.

[@matthewchastain136]

Your uncle is a certified legend. I hope to be in that good of shape at 78

[@mikeznel6048]

Best keep busy if you want to be in that good of shape. The more you sit around, the sooner you get old and frail.

[@willtricks9432]

@@mikeznel6048 use it or lose it is standing right there.

[@mrmatt2525able]

The fact they are Irishmen make it that much more fascinating, stuff/equipment across the pond is always cooler to me for some reason

[@davidsteen1023]

Met this gentleman today, great character and very wise, enjoyed our chat immensely

[@steveblanco4123]

Absolute magic. Smiled ear to ear whole way through watching. "This is the starter" had tears in my eyes..... thank you for documenting an amazing character and legend at work. Hope I m still as able at 78! wow

[@davidmunro1469]

King Arthur is a myth but I have just watched A living Merlin do magic. There is still one Leprechaun in Ireland.😊😊😊

[@kelleysimonds5945]

total respect for this guy...

[@mrmatt2525able]

Man that’s something to be proud of! The drill rig and the tractor doesn’t owe him anything! Awesome equipment!

[@rjbrown6942]

Another thing is my grandfather told me that him and his father and his grandfather nobody makes the tooling for it so they had to do it. It's a labor of love for me it's in our blood. That man is a national treasure. I sure hope I'm in as good of shape at 79.

[@williammcknight7141]

Thanks for taking the time to record and share this awesome bit of history. Your uncle is an inspiration!

[@WhyBeNick]

Absolutely brilliant work all around. Resourceful is a woeful understatement.

[@denjhill]

One of the most enjoyable videos I've seen in a long while. Grampa Drew is my idol. I'm a mere 75 and hope to be going strong like him at 78. My Welsh roots might get me there.

[@richardcastillo1817]

What an awesome uncle, you are very fortunate to have a great man to still do what he does.

[@H4rleyBoy]

They say hard work never hurt anyone and he looks to be the living proof.

[@shadowbanned69]

That was a cool little journey...uncle has my vote!!!

[@charlesmcmahon4795]

Great video. You need to sit him down and record some of his 60 years experience as I’d say he seen just about it all.

[@michaelwatson4822]

Fantastic to see your uncle still enjoying what he does . They are the back bone of our industries

[@CarlHargreavesRustyRelicsUK]

you can't beat honest, hard working folks 👍🏻

[@drubradley8821]

LOL... I really enjoyed watching this... And to think, the latest generation of men, have no clue how to tie their own shoes, and this man, built a machine, to drill for water, a source of life and was just another day for him... Again, I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you for sharing this.

[@thejoyoftaping8205]

I watched the vid of the Muir Hill Winget dumper a couple of years ago, and then I returned to it yesterday to show my father and ask if it's the same one that my grandfather had, it isn't, but then the next video to pop up was the drilling the augers and I was so surprise to see Drew. I used to operate the 360 excavator at Ballygowan quarry about 20 years ago and every few months Drew would arrive with his rig, and I always enjoyed chatting to him, so this is great to see as I had wanted to catch up with him again, and I see there's another vid of him which I'll be checking out. A great man, full of wisdom, tell him I was asking about him, Paul from Shrigley.

[@terencemckibben2330]

i love the fact that its been cobbled together , the best bit is the little piece of the Dee carpet factory lives on. Im from Ddee...

[@dandonohill]

Now thats what you call one of the old school men..they were great people,,the did great things with whatever they had to work with.

[@iandickson1491]

What a legend, that generation are so resourceful and hard working. Today's youth could do with watching this man and learning a thing or two from him! Thanks for taking the time to make the video, very interesting.

[@slickymick]

Great stuff love the videos with your uncle and the drilling was epic one. Say hello to Drew. Keep the good work up.

[@juddydonk6570]

So cool to see an old timer still going strong.

[@coreynunn3385]

I could work with him everyday on this old girl. This is history and what we call up her in New Hampshire in New England in the USA just good ole Yankee Ingenuity. You've got a new follower. I'm not sure of the relationship between you guys but I am really looking forward to more frome you all. Again Thank You Corey Nunn Concord, New Hampshire USA

[@spangy8405]

Thank you Allistair ... 71 year old Canadian here ... Absolutely enjoyed and loved this video as I do ALL your videos, but this one was very special ... sorry to hear about the hospital visits to your parents and I hope they and you are OK ... GOD bless you all.

[@JonDingle]

Brilliant drilling rig, compressor and Muirhill all working well and those engines sound so sweet. As for the main man, top respect because he is mentally and physically fitter than most less than half his age. What a man! Superb video. I have done a bit of water borehole drilling with a converted ex army Bedford TK 4x4. Again, a great old machine. There was a T piece at the top of the sleeve to divert the water spray and debris away from the rig and operators. I doff my cap in your uncles direction in respect to the man!

[@Gkuljian]

This made me happy. Great crop. Great people. Great tractor. Great location. Wish I were there.

[@Happyfacehotwheels]

I'm sure there is only 1 man crazy enough to operate this machine and we just met him. Your uncle is the real deal! Thanks for sharing his story and creations.

[@MrJudo2go]

Absolutely AWESOME. We see the large amount of knowledge accumulated by him. That's what comes from making some mistakes and not giving up. Thanks for this post. 👍

[@servustuussum7147]

This is a custom piece of machinery it's like Frankenstein he took some bones and then made everything heavy duty after it originally broke very nice people like this make the world keep going no matter what

[@daviddwight5745]

Love the spare oil and grease storage on just about everything

[@janstahl9589]

Holey Craper, has worked 20 y as an hammer driller. This is fun to see, its a picture of The glory days of drilling the 70ths. A that time DTH drilling was under development. When i started my Carrier i was on Italian rigg with a IR 900 kompressorn. 2 stage screw Cat C-15 24 bar. To Day its it's atlax comp with 34-36 bar. Its very stressed upp. 300-400M in solid rock (Sweden/norway). Cheers fore an lovley film. And hope the driller has many years left. Hej is THE real deal. Old school driller with feeling to Day its pure brutal force 🙄🙏👍

[@species8472nl]

Incredible, the man and the equipment. That man deserves a statue

[@ArcticBlues1]

You should be very proud of your family and ancestry! I know I a proud for you :) Prayers for your Mom and Dad. Thank you for sharing this! Keep up the good work! You Rock!

[@johnt839]

Very nice seeing your uncle still having a blast drilling. Spent a few years drilling myself. My hats off to you both.

[@mrmatt2525able]

A follow up with your uncle would be awesome! We all would very much enjoy that

[@allistairc123]

Hopefully coming!

[@sonicfrog1]

They shoulda made that Armageddon movie drilling the killer asteroid with Uncle Drew instead of Bruce Willis, it would have truly been believable and way more fun! Thanks for sharing this with us, and thanks to your uncle for letting us see his masterful command of all the little tidbits of his cool drill... incredible! :)

[@kevinC5611]

Emissions what? Guys like this built the world!!! Pure Gold

[@markthegunplumber8376]

Loved the content. These Older Gentlemen are hard men, harder than Woodpecker Lips. He reminds of my Grandfather and the Man i apprenticed under as a Gunsmith. You need something, you made it. Lots of speciality tools are made not bought and buying new tools is expensive. I spent 24 years working on or around oil rigs onshore and offshore, it gets in your blood and i can see him missing the work. At 78 he's still a Stud.

[@jackking5567]

Family should always come first so please don't worry about video uploads. Aside from that, what a video! I gasped when we first saw the Muir Hill engine - a layer of caked leaked oil. What an incredible throw back to the past though. It's machines like that which built whole countries.

[@allupinyaful]

Salt of the earth the two ofya!!!

[@andrewleigh3065]

the man is a genius. i love the type of machine that has been modified to do a job by the man using it . they always work.

[@bloodswettears234]

Probably the most interesting KZbin vidya iv ever watched👍

[@gliderider7077]

Other than maintenance/ repairs, his time and initial cost of his equipment, he’s on pure profit! Smart hard working man right there. 💪👍🏻

[@scruffy6151]

I enjoyed the video very much. Tell your uncle thank you for letting us see the old drill rig in action.

[@brucejenner5856]

This chap reminds me of a gentleman I knew as a teenager, Willie Shepard, from Benbecula. A true engineer.

[@allistairc123]

My other auntie lived in benbecula for a few years with armed forces

[@brucejenner5856]

@allistairc123 Really? Wow, but it's a long time since I left Uist, 1989.

[@kenrobinson9737]

So.. I understood everything that it takes to use this drill system... Boy oh boy, I am feeling old. Brilliant..

[@jimlepeu577]

Age is a number, no more. I worked from 15 hrs ‘til I was 82. I was made redundant. I reckon yr unc is like me - if you enjoy it don’t stop.

[@derekkinsella2343]

Best vid ive ever seen on utube great to see family together this way , ur dad and uncle are amazing the mods are amazing ,thank you for a great vid 👌👍💯❤

[@woodennecktie]

all the knolidge and knowhow to drill , and a safe distance from electrickery ! delightfull ! (i rolled on the ground laughing at the sight of the compressor ..... when you think you have seen it all )

[@wildrider55]

Thanks allistaire for sharing these pieces of enginuity you really came from nutty ancestry nice for you to have time to share to the world this one

[@raymondrobertson3869]

Great video and an incredible guy. He deserves a medal for all the mods he has made for himself and the drilling industry. Just think alistair they will be making movies like that about you in years to come. Love your videos. Keep them coming mate. Raymond Scotland

[@gabieconlon6597]

That man is amazing....I have no words what can I say 😁

[@workonitm8]

Much appreciation to the old timer for his time an patience to explain and show how it's done. 👍👍👍👍👍 Thanks

[@davetaylor4741]

Loved it. What a character. I know Broken Hill in Australia. That would have been a tough mining town in the seventies. He reminds me of my Grandfather. Wouldn't quit working still at it at 80. As soon as the old tractor came in shot couldn't be anything other than a Muirhill. I have driven a couple in my time. One careful owner driven to Church on Sunday that one. Another video about him would be much appreciated.

[@pierceatchison2837]

Great share, this country is full of characters like your uncle. More work in them than men a fraction of their age. I have an uncle of 91 who still farms every day of his life and is fiercely independent, he always said if he retired tomorrow he would be dead in a week, no time for getting old when there's work to be done

[@josephgiulini9711]

Great video. Fantastic that your uncle is still going and his equipment is too! Thanks for sharing.

[@drewd1726]

I’m grateful to be alive when old school mentors were available for me to witness and learn from….the clock is ticking and someday, death and technology will make this no more. Loved the video and the man in it. Waving from Oregon 👋

[@PSUK]

A proper man. My kind of man. 👏

[@Mrgreendragon3]

great video allistair , your content is brilliant and your channel is growing immensely ,the blue 111 reminds me of a crowd from enniskillen that came to sligo back in the late 80's putting in a new mains sewer close to where i lived , they had a blue 111 with a shawnee poole dump trailer attached , she had a straight exhaust welded on to her , you could her it from miles around and the young fella that was driving it didnt spare her one bit , they had an older 110 as well with a dump trailer running all day with stone to the pipe layers .

[@fulladpipe]

Where there’s smoke, there’s poke

[@garytompkins3761]

Thanks for a wonderful story. As an old timer mechanic (80) and still active I really enjoyed every minute of it. You have a great sense and understanding of human interest. You are not a half bad welder either!

[@christophercairnduff4099]

The good old days I remember him working away with that drill in the quarry

[@carlthor91]

His rig gets the job done. Modern DTH (down the hole) rigs, use mine supply air at 100 psi, with an onboard booster (compressor), to raise the pressure to 350 psi, to run the hammer. Cab optional, usually in underground setup, (that I am used to), fully automatic (as you say), with rotary rod magazine, operator just has to look after bit change/hammer change. Best wishes from Northern Canada.

[@ianpumphrey5041]

Thanks Alistair, very interesting, your uncle is a star.

[@bigdave6447]

Reminds me of the old saying,use it up, wear it out ,make it do,or do without! Could be an old Irish saying!

[@sierraromeo]

Tuned in, expecting to see an old spudder. This is a crude homemade affair, but it is the state of the art. Air driven carbide percussion bit with a two stage rotary screw compressor, awesome!

[@markknights5109]

Wot a piece of history. A great man you uncle is I wish all the teenagers had your uncle work ethic then the world will be a much better place . Give your uncle a whiskey 🥃 or a Guinness from me, the state of his face lol 😂. Top man👏👏👏👏

[@dcw1540]

Love watching this your uncle.young people should be thankful for men like this. Thanks for sharing this with us

[@lukedesselle2491]

Those old timers made do with what they had, true survivors for sure they were with out a doubt the toughest generation to ever live!!

[@eppot1]

Just LOVE this... give us MOOORE old machinery !!

[@paulcooper2897]

That was so awesome! You Uncle probably can still out work most 30 yr olds out there! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@jaredguest7170]

I run a deep rock 150. This was an awesome video

[@stephenhoran7597]

Went to the racing aswell with Jimmy Murphy and up to the led mines on trials bikes while Jimmy talked to Ken. Good times

[@grahamhughes2025]

love it, what a machine.............and the legend behind it

[@kevinauld4367]

lovded it i will be veuing it again later I was in the hospital my self this morning just a herneated disc wish you all the best go with God .

[@RalfyCustoms]

Absolutely outstanding Alistair 👏 go Uncle Drew 👏 🙌

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼………………… Awesome machine and an AWESOME MAN!!!!!

[@Mankan569]

Absolutely wonderful!!! To see you uncle use equipment that 99% of those who drill water wells. Could not handle! And the solutions he has made to facilitate his work. But most amazing how he uses machines and solutions to make everything work. Love the sound from the engines. Please bring your uncle to a Pub for a beer or two. And ask him to tell you about his life as a well driller.

[@dans_Learning_Curve]

Thanks for bringing us along! *Fascinating!*

[@bluethru808]

Absolute GOLD!! They don’t make em like this any more, neither man or machine!! Thanks for sharing this.

[@paddymickiemickie8221]

Hey Mate I’m sitting here in W Australia recovering from a knee replacement operation Your videos are tops and Drew is Inspirational

[@chazer200]

Absolute Legend! Thank you for sharing. The equipment, the Man, the story, all I want is more! Thanks again!

[@stevenandrews6627]

An incredible senior if there ever was once.....both the operator and the machine.

[@glennfryer1539]

Really enjoyed your your Uncle Drew and yourself using all that old kit, amazing, his little techniques, and fabrication of tools to make life easier for a one man band ..he’s got it all sussed, a true master at his profession, too bad the septic tanks stole his idea.. typical.. haaa I thought the tractor looked like a county 4-6 at the first glance.. may your Uncle bore many more bore holes … thanks for sharing.. 👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@506curtis]

That is so great. I love old equipment like that. And a awesome man behind it.

[@mikeyyoyo6464]

I might have known you’d be watching this haha! Have you built one yet ?

[@506curtis]

@@mikeyyoyo6464 Allistar is the man I love his stuff. Nah I haven't quite found a use for a drill like that yet. Hope all is well Mikey!!

[@joeread3596]

Brilliant what a great man long may he continue

[@stephenrobb7114]

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting viewing. Drew is a wealth of knowledge, great to see him enjoying his work.

[@marcusd2380]

First class video. Machines from a day when things were built to last or repaired. One of the best videos fir a while well worth the time and effort

[@kennardjohnson7875]

This old timer has alot of knowledge, and a genius engineer.

[@wullyjohnjockhughmccrory660]

Poetry in motion watching that man work just bloody beautiful that machine, he’s like the 5th member of the a team

[@DirtForester]

Thanks for the video. Great old setup. Hope you’re parents are on the mend.

[@julianhawker7672]

What a cracking chap for 78 years young, good on you sir. :-)

[@bobmorris3758]

I'm new to your channel and gradually working through the videos. This one caught my eye and I wasn't disappointed. What a great guy and a real grafter - he's an example to us all. Also I'm so glad you didn't use any time lapse - I can't see the point in it - the enjoyment is watching it at normal speed. Great channel, great videos and being an owner operator of Bobcats - more of the Bobcat please 👍