Introducing the Prairie Dog line of Boring Equipment
Effortless underground boring is within reach with Prairie Dog Underground Boring Equipment. Our easy-to-follow instructional videos and comprehensive guide make setup straightforward.
Watch the video, read the instructions, and understand the equipment’s purpose to achieve successful and efficient boring projects. Prairie Dog ensures you get the job done right, every time. Ready to simplify your boring tasks? Let’s get started with Prairie Dog!
Efficient Underground Boring Process with Prairie Dog Equipment
1. Site Preparation and Alignment To begin, excavate a narrow trench at the starting point. Carefully align the drill stem within the trench, ensuring it is level and aimed accurately towards the target location. Connect your fluid source (water or drilling fluid) to the equipment to facilitate the drilling process.
2. Drill Stem and Pilot Bit Installation Attach the pilot bit to the drill stem and install the assembly onto the boring machine. Once securely in place, activate the water supply to begin the boring operation. The fluid will help to cool the pilot bit and, more importantly, remove cuttings from the borehole.
3. Bore Progression Initiate the rotation of the pilot bit and slowly advance the machine forward. As the pilot bit progresses, incrementally add sections of the drill stem to maintain a continuous boring operation. Carefully monitor the progress of cuttings coming from the hole, feedback through the advance handles and audible feedback from the engine. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure a successful bore. Continue this process until the desired endpoint is reached.
4. Bit Replacement and Back reaming Upon reaching the target point, disconnect the pilot bit from the drill stem. Replace it with a back reamer of the appropriate size for your project requirements along with a cable swivel. Reversing the machine’s direction but not the direction of rotation, pull the back reamer back through the pilot hole. This step enlarges the borehole to the required diameter, ensuring a smooth and stable underground pathway. Continue to pay attention to the feedback offered by the machine.
By following these technical steps, you can achieve precise and efficient underground boring with Prairie Dog Underground Boring Equipment. This methodical approach ensures accuracy, minimizes disruptions, and optimizes the overall boring process.
Ditch the Missiles
Prairie Dog Underground Boring Equipment: Advancing Precision in Utility Boring
Experience the future of utility boring with Prairie Dog Underground Boring Equipment, where nearly 60 years of experience meets precision manufacturing and efficiency. Designed to outpace the limitations and uncertainties of conventional missile systems, expensive hydraulic moles, and tractor-pushed rods, our machines excel in diverse soil conditions with unrivaled accuracy.
Precision Engineering: Traditional missiles often suffer from target deviation, leading to financial setbacks and operational complications. Prairie Dog Machines leverage time-tested methods, revolutionized by us over 50 years ago. Our machines maintain more precise trajectory and operational dependability, effectively mitigating the risk of obstructions or loss. Our technology ensures minimal surface disruption and safeguards existing infrastructure from potential damage.
Advanced Capability: Prairie Dog Underground Boring Equipment is engineered to handle a variety of soil conditions with seamless performance. The robust design and sophisticated control systems provide unparalleled accuracy compared to missiles, making it ideal for complex and critical boring projects. The versatility of back reaming to different sizes can’t be matched by other current methods and sets Prairie Dog machines apart in efficiency and cost.
Investment in Innovation: By choosing Prairie Dog, you invest in a technology that offers a competitive advantage through superior performance and reliability. Our machines are designed to reduce operational downtime and enhance project outcomes, delivering consistent and exceptional results.
Transform your utility boring projects with Prairie Dog’s time-proven equipment. Embrace the continued tradition of precision and reliability in underground boring and achieve unparalleled success in your ventures.
How It Works
🎥 Watch the Instructional Videos
🌐 For comprehensive guidance, please refer to our detailed manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does the Prairie Dog Boring Machine work?
The Prairie Dog Boring Machine operates by rotating a carbide-tipped pilot bit to create the initial “pilot” hole. The machine is designed to drill a straight-line hole, and water is used to flush the hole as the bit cuts through.
2. How much water is required for the process?
Under optimal conditions, a 40-foot long, 2-inch pilot hole typically requires between 20 and 50 gallons of water. The water should be supplied at a pressure of around 50-70 psi or standard municipal water pressure and flow. While the machines come with a standard garden hose connection, other connections can be accommodated if necessary.
3. How long does it take to complete a bore?
The duration of a bore largely depends on the soil conditions. In favorable conditions, a 2-inch by 40-foot bore would usually take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, depending on the machine model. Back reaming with a 4-inch to 6-inch reamer would take a similar amount of time. As a rule of thumb, adding 20% – 30% to the back reaming time is estimated for each 2-inch increment in the finished hole size.
4. Does the process create a mess?
The amount of mud/slurry created is usually less than anticipated. The water combines with the soil to form a slurry, which typically remains near the entrance of the hole. Any additional water runoff can be controlled by excavating a small sump and either allowing it to soak into the ground or pumping it off. The slurry left in the hole acts as a lubricant when inserting casing, cable, pipe, or conduit.
5. Can the machine bore through rock?
Yes, the machine is equipped with carbide-tipped bits and back reamers that enable it to handle challenging conditions, including boring through rock. Rock can create challenges in any boring job. There are many variables such as size, density in the soil, hardness of the rock etc. Solid rock is easier to bore than boulders, cobble or gravel which all present their unique challenges. The time it takes to bore in these conditions is dependent on all these variable.
6. Can the machine be used in sandy areas without cave-ins?
Yes, in sandy areas, a mixture of bentonite clay (drilling mud) can be used instead of plain water. This drilling mud helps stabilize the hole in granular soils by preventing water absorption and subsequent weighing down of the sand. Bentonite clay, a naturally occurring soil, needs to be thoroughly mixed with water in a tank but does not need to be overly heavy for boring purposes.
7. How does the machine handle sticky clay?
Clay can pose challenges for any boring machine. The soil may not mix well in water, making it difficult to exit the hole, or the clay surrounding the hole may swell and constrict the boring rod. Optimum bit speeds are used to shear the clay and create a well-mixed slurry when possible. In cases where clay resists shearing, inexpensive clay inhibitors can be introduced. Prairie Dog Boring Equipment has clay inhibitors available and can assist with finding help from individuals and companies in your area experienced with your particular soil conditions.