TheClark Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Asking around as a favor for a friend... He has a steel 4" pipe in the ground. It cannot be removed. He needs to drill or cut multiple holes in it around 13 feet down the pipe. It must be drilled or cut from the inside. Looking for ideas, or someone who can be hired for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted October 15, 2017 Share Posted October 15, 2017 Sounds like it needs to be removed. What is he trying to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Hmmm... Lets just say for this discussion removal is not an option. Come on you outta the box thinkers, what say you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 39 minutes ago, TheClark said: Hmmm... Lets just say for this discussion removal is not an option. Come on you outta the box thinkers, what say you? Get some metal eating rats? Sorry man, honestly can't think of a way to do that - guess my out of the box thinking hat is broken today. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Is this a riddle, or a real project? Maybe if you could tell us what he is trying to do it would be easier to come up with a solution. I don't see any way to cut holes in a 4" steel pipe 13' deep from the inside. How big do the holes need to be? Super sketchy, but the only way I can think you would be able to do this would be to lower a cutting torch into the pipe, you would have to rig it up so the blowback wouldn't burn the torch or the lines, only way I can think of other than a hand grenade, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 36 minutes ago, xmas_one said: Is this a riddle, or a real project? Maybe if you could tell us what he is trying to do it would be easier to come up with a solution. I don't see any way to cut holes in a 4" steel pipe 13' deep from the inside. How big do the holes need to be? Super sketchy, but the only way I can think you would be able to do this would be to lower a cutting torch into the pipe, you would have to rig it up so the blowback wouldn't burn the torch or the lines, only way I can think of other than a hand grenade, lol. Hand grenade, nice!! Ah, blowback, yeah. That's a big issue for sure. Smart bunch of people on here so thought I would 'toss' it out there and see if we get any ideas. I was thinking: Lower a right angle electric drill on an extension cord. With an inflatable air bag strapped to the back of it. When far enough down the pipe, inflate the bag (to push on the back of the drill) Then plug in the drill It's sketchy but that is all I came up with. It doesn't need to be a precise location in the pipe if that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 Just a thoughtSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 16, 2017 Author Share Posted October 16, 2017 Wow, cool! Going to some thinking on this before I ask questions. This looks promising! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertareef Posted October 16, 2017 Share Posted October 16, 2017 19 minutes ago, cjmdh said: Just a thought Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I could see this working at some level but at 13 feet into the pipe? Hmm. I guess if you had a wedge at the end of an equally long pole - might need a fiber optic setup or something in order to get it lined up properly from the top (perhaps attached to the same pole as the wedge?). Might be hard to control at that length but at least it doesn't have to be at a precise location. I hope we eventually get the lowdown on what this is for - having a hard time envisioning the purpose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash21 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 (edited) Why not Drill the outside of pipe? Can you set like a Drip pan rigged to a pole so your not using blocks and all? Then you can catch all the shavings. Pipe Fitters do that all the time in clean rooms. Call Charter Mechanical they will do it for a hefty price or even a Sprinkler Fitter?! (Viking) Edited October 17, 2017 by Flash21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 17, 2017 Author Share Posted October 17, 2017 1 hour ago, Flash21 said: Why not Drill the outside of pipe? Can you set like a Drip pan rigged to a pole so your not using blocks and all? Then you can catch all the shavings. Pipe Fitters do that all the time in clean rooms. Call Charter Mechanical they will do it for a hefty price or even a Sprinkler Fitter?! (Viking) Thanks for the tips, much appreciated! In this project, it is not possible to drill from the outside. That's what makes this a unique challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash21 Posted October 17, 2017 Share Posted October 17, 2017 Anything is possible...you should snap a pic and post it so everyone has a visual. Unless this is a Special Ops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Wow just saw this and well if it did get done did you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow If you ask me its about impossible........nothing is going down a 4" pipe 13 feet......they don't even make a drill that small. I think the grenade or dynamite is the only option here 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, spectra said: Wow just saw this and well if it did get done did you find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow If you ask me its about impossible........nothing is going down a 4" pipe 13 feet......they don't even make a drill that small. I think the grenade or dynamite is the only option here I was hoping you would weigh in! Come on... there has to be a way I think @cjmdh is close! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, TheClark said: I was hoping you would weigh in! Come on... there has to be a way I think @cjmdh is close! Good luck finding a drive rod that long that wont twist to hell when the bit bites.........plus I don't even think you will find a 90 attachment and a hole saw that will fit in there...... I say rent a big track hoe and rip it up drill the hole and smash it back down in the ground or dig a hole next to it with the track hoe and drill from the outside....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 It can be done for sure. Maybe not exactly how I envisioned it, but for the right price anything is possible. How fat is the wallet that is financing this project? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 13 minutes ago, cjmdh said: It can be done for sure. Maybe not exactly how I envisioned it, but for the right price anything is possible. How fat is the wallet that is financing this project? There is some budget here. Measured in hundreds not thousands... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjmdh Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 1 minute ago, TheClark said: There is some budget here. Measured in hundreds not thousands... Well... I hear red neck engineering is pretty cheap these days. A case of Old Milwaukee and some beef jerky just might get the job done. 😄😄😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 Just now, cjmdh said: Well... I hear red neck engineering is pretty cheap these days. A case of Old Milwaukee and some beef jerky just might get the job done. 😄😄😄 He could have a whole bunch of help at that rate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xmas_one Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 I got another way to put a hole in that pipe. Make a ceramic plug that closely fits the ID of the pipe. The top of the plug is cut on a 45. Place thermite in the void created by the angle cut in the top of the plug. Wrap the thermite section in foil so it stays put for the ride down. You’ll have a length of magnesium wire in the thermite to ignite it with wires and a power source up top. Lower the whole thing down into the pipe and let it rip. Probably want to do a test run on a section of similar pipe to get the mass of thermite and ceramic plug geometry right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 38 minutes ago, xmas_one said: I got another way to put a hole in that pipe. Make a ceramic plug that closely fits the ID of the pipe. The top of the plug is cut on a 45. Place thermite in the void created by the angle cut in the top of the plug. Wrap the thermite section in foil so it stays put for the ride down. You’ll have a length of magnesium wire in the thermite to ignite it with wires and a power source up top. Lower the whole thing down into the pipe and let it rip. Probably want to do a test run on a section of similar pipe to get the mass of thermite and ceramic plug geometry right. Dang! That is an impressive idea! Got more homework to do now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack-the-reefer Posted October 25, 2017 Share Posted October 25, 2017 Does it have to be a round hole? I was thinking something like a small angle grinder or dremel with a cutting wheel on a long steel pipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted October 25, 2017 Author Share Posted October 25, 2017 25 minutes ago, Jack-the-reefer said: Does it have to be a round hole? I was thinking something like a small angle grinder or dremel with a cutting wheel on a long steel pipe. It does not have to be round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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