No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!
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Old 04-20-2008, 08:57 AM   #1
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No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Have you guys seen this technique??


We use it here in Maine & VT. It's -5 degrees out. You wind this into the frozen ground to an engineered depth & poof.....you're done.


No digging/backfilling, no concrete to mix, no waiting to cure. It even has a threaded nut on it for fine tuning your height.

$125 each. Changed the way we build decks & porches............

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Old 04-20-2008, 09:09 AM   #2
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

What's it called? How far down did you go? Why would you not need a footing?
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:11 AM   #3
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

I would imagine it's 'hold' is dictated by friction??
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:13 AM   #4
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Looks similar to the posts they build prefab sun rooms on.

So what if there's a rock 2' down?
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:15 AM   #5
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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Originally Posted by Tom R View Post
I would imagine it's 'hold' is dictated by friction??
That's exactly what it is...He has a gauge on the machine that's telling him how much "friction" the post is generating and matches that with precalculated load specs. Pretty cool.
The city & state has accepted them as substitutes for sono tubes.
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:19 AM   #6
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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Originally Posted by Jason W View Post
Looks similar to the posts they build prefab sun rooms on.

So what if there's a rock 2' down?
Otter Creek 3-Season Room Additions were the folks that turned us on to these.

I watched him hit a rock and he just tweaked the position a little and it worked it's way around it, then tweaked it back to the same spot coming out of the ground. He can hit a hole location within an inch every time.
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:54 AM   #7
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

What About Rock ?
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:59 AM   #8
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by tcleve4911 View Post
That's exactly what it is...He has a gauge on the machine that's telling him how much "friction" the post is generating and matches that with precalculated load specs. Pretty cool.
The city & state has accepted them as substitutes for sono tubes.

Definitely cool.

I'm gonna have to check further into this . . .
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Old 04-20-2008, 09:59 AM   #9
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by tcleve4911 View Post
Otter Creek 3-Season Room Additions were the folks that turned us on to these.

I watched him hit a rock and he just tweaked the position a little and it worked it's way around it, then tweaked it back to the same spot coming out of the ground. He can hit a hole location within an inch every time.
What's this called? Do you have a link?
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Old 04-20-2008, 10:11 AM   #10
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by tcleve4911 View Post
Otter Creek 3-Season Room Additions were the folks that turned us on to these.

I watched him hit a rock and he just tweaked the position a little and it worked it's way around it, then tweaked it back to the same spot coming out of the ground. He can hit a hole location within an inch every time.
Are you renting that machine from Otter Creek? They are the company I saw using those last year. Pretty slick!
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Old 04-20-2008, 10:39 AM   #11
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Techno metal post
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Old 04-20-2008, 11:04 AM   #12
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Techno Post is a franchise. You call 'em they set 'em
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Old 04-20-2008, 11:05 AM   #13
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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What About Rock ?
What about it? It works it's way around rocks. Ledge is a different story. Not sure. But then - you're not gonna dig sono tubes thru rock are ya?
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Old 04-20-2008, 11:15 AM   #14
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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Techno metal post
Thank You!
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Old 04-20-2008, 11:17 AM   #15
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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What about it? It works it's way around rocks. Ledge is a different story. Not sure. But then - you're not gonna dig sono tubes thru rock are ya?
How about a big rock, lets say 16". If you're digging a hole for a sona tube, you can remove it. This thing isn't going to go around it. If it does, it will throw the center of the post off which would change things. Just an observation that's all. Sounds like a good thing either way you look at it.
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Old 04-20-2008, 01:08 PM   #16
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Wouldn't work around here, anywhere west of IH35 is solid rock. Last spa pad & concrete patio I poured required getting a drilling truck out who used a core bit, the auger bit just bounced around when it hit rock.

Nice machine if you have dirt.
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Old 04-20-2008, 01:19 PM   #17
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

Nothing in NJ yet, Nearest franchise is north of Schenectady NY. The technique is almost exactly the way utility pole guy wire anchors are installed. They are screwed into the ground by a polecat.
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Old 04-20-2008, 02:21 PM   #18
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

whats the max loading you have seen? We have loadings on some of our piers in the 8,000#+ range.
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Old 04-20-2008, 02:42 PM   #19
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

I'd like to know more about them, load ratings, etc, do they have an ICC evaluation report? Maybe a "hinge" situation depending on how far out of the ground they are and deck height. Sure would save a lot of wasted time and travel with inspections.
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Old 04-20-2008, 02:45 PM   #20
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Re: No More Digging Sono Tubes!!!!

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whats the max loading you have seen? We have loadings on some of our piers in the 8,000#+ range.
So far they can hold up a room with a roof load on top.

http://www.tmpo.ca/project/deck/deck.php?lang=en&pic=2
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