OT: Do you believe in witching?

OT: Do you believe in witching?

  • Yes, for all items mentioned.

    Votes: 18 15.8%

  • No, not at all.

    Votes: 49 43.0%

  • Yes, for some items mentioned.

    Votes: 47 41.2%
  • Total voters
    114
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George Stolz

George Stolz

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Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
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Hospital Master Electrician
Another thread (here) touched on this question, and left me curious.

Do you believe in witching (the use of devining rods to detect underground objects)?

Do you think they can find electric lines underground? Gas lines? Water lines? Bodies of water or underground streams?
 
From what I've read about it, it sounds like hooey. Would you put your trust in some voodoo if it was a 13.8 kv cable buried below?
 
I talked to a contractor about this awhile back, he said that it never worked for him, but that he had a guy on the crew who never missed.

I've never actually seen it done other than on TV so I couldn't say one way or the other.
 
I have seen the pro's that get $900. a day with all there neat ground pentitrating equipment use them and say they do actually work with the magnetic field from the earth.The water lines cut the line of magnetism.I used them to locate my septic field.
 
I am one of the skeptics as to accuracy and repeatability, but have done it & seen it done. For me, I don't know what I am locating at the time. Could be any thing from oil to, now just recently, ground currents. I have watched while buried tanks were located as well as underground pipes. It could very well have been an educated guess on his part but it sure impressed me. His "real" locator backed him up.
 
About 10 years ago we needed to have the PoCo set a new transformer pole in a small town for an addition to a factory. The town utility super was supposed to take care of locates. He showed up with a willow branch to locate the 12 inch water main and worked his magic. He spray painted the ground where the water main was and the PoCo went at it boring the pole hole with their 20 inch auger a good 10 feet away. You guessed it. Hit the main at about 55 inches. The water ran right across the parking lot and flooded the factory. I don't put any confidence in "witching".
 
I know it works for water..I am one who can do it as my father can too but my brother does not have the touch..in the religous circle it is tabo..I am a God fearing man and it still works for water..I have never tried it on other objects tough..for under ground lines I will stick with the testers..
 
iwire said:
Jim, would it be possible not to find water?

Seriously I am asking.

In my area if you drill deep enough you will hit water.
Click to expand...

What if you were told at what depth that first water would be hit. I personally know a man that has not missed the depth by more than one joint of drill.

He also told one man to keep going another 100 feet after he hit first water and forget about buying a pump. He was right about that well also.
 
i've watched my dad locate 240v ug lines w/ a clothes hanger. i don't know how it works, but whenever he walks over a line, clothes hanger points down. i haven't tried it. he says its easy. maybe he's a wizard.
 
witching

witching

I saw a guy in vermont find a break in an underground feeder. The break was about 4 1/2 feet below grade. All he used were 2 pieces of wire. I don't know why it works but for some reason it does from time to time.
 
Witching has worked great for us when trying to find water lines on the farm. Maybe soil type has something to do with it or depth of water lines?
 
It does work...

It does work...

I have used this method to find everything from Phone to Gas to Electric and more. All you have to do is take two metal coat hangers and straighten them out then bend an end to make a handle. Hold the two hangers shoulders width apart and start walking. The hangers will cross when you are over "whatever".

If you don't believe just try it.

I have been told that you can also get the depth of the "line" as well. I have not yet tried that.
 
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