Private Locate Service

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Just a cautionary tale here. I was working at a new marina and the GC hired a surveyor to lay out where the new fixed pier was to go. After it was installed (the pier) it was discovered the surveyor made a mistake. Cost the GC over $20k to fix it (this was back when 20k was a lot more than today). GC went to the surveyor to submit the repair bill to his insurance company and discovered he signed a work order that pretty much indemnified the surveyor and only cost him the premiums earned by his screw up.

If you are hiring a private locator, read what you sign and don't assume you are covered for their errors. Their mistakes cost you not them (most likely).
 
oldsparky52 said:
Just a cautionary tale here. I was working at a new marina and the GC hired a surveyor to lay out where the new fixed pier was to go. After it was installed (the pier) it was discovered the surveyor made a mistake. Cost the GC over $20k to fix it (this was back when 20k was a lot more than today). GC went to the surveyor to submit the repair bill to his insurance company and discovered he signed a work order that pretty much indemnified the surveyor and only cost him the premiums earned by his screw up.

If you are hiring a private locator, read what you sign and don't assume you are covered for their errors. Their mistakes cost you not them (most likely).
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Yep… see post #12
 
ptonsparky said:
The guy that used to do locates for me used rods. I told him no pay unless he got the real stuff out. always close enough.
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I hired a guy to locate in a boiler room for me and after he used the electronic locating equipment, he pulled out the rods. I was giving him a bit of a hard time and he told me that he finds things with the rods that he does not find with the electronic equipment.
He also sells that equipment and teaches classes on how to use the equipment. He talks about the rods in his classes and lets the students play with them...about 50% get the rods to cross over known underground facilities.

My project was at a junior college and he running track was outside the boiler house. He took me out to the track and handed me the rods while I was standing off the track and told me to close my eyes and walk forward until I felt the rods moving in my hands....then open my eyes....when the moved the vertical ends of the rods were pointed down at the lane stripe in the track.
There is absolutely nothing in science that supports the idea of the "witching sticks" working, but I have seen it enough times to say that they do work for some people. I have located empty PVC raceways using the sticks or rods.
 
AC\DC said:
How do they find them then? Was doing a service Monday and well driller was using dowsing rods and found water on second attempt.
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The "finding water" thing doesn't even make sense. Generally The water table is relatively consistent and gradually changes. There is water everywhere. It's not like there is this one spot that has water and there is no water all around it. Of course there are some exceptions like artesian wells and perched water tables.
 
electrofelon said:
Study after study has shown that it is hogwash.
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I agree that every study has said that, but have seen them work multiple times.
Two professional locators that I have worked with both use them and have found things that needed to be found with the sticks when the fancy equipment could not find them.
 
Did you happen to find a unit you liked? Just hired a locator and changed me 600 for 2 hours. I am buying a machine today and start doing it myself.
He used a RD 8100
Power company uses a arnett-hj471
Also looked at Dynatel 573A mentioned I. Post 12
 
I haven’t yet.

Im swamped with work, and I just haven’t had time to peruse it at all.

I have probably 1 1/2 years worth of work lined up right now, and people keep calling.
 
I've also got a Dynatel 573A. You can buy them used on ebay for $2-300. Works well enough for the occasional use I need it for. I have been able to locate empty pvc conduit by pushing a metal fish tape into the conduit and transmitting a signal down the fish tape.
 
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