Gate Valve Compaction Tool

dayexco

my son came up with a great idea here several years ago. compacting around gate valve boxes was very time consuming, and keeping them straight up and down, and the operating nut in the center of the box was a real headache. used to tamp around them with jumping jacks...he took a piece of 5" diameter steel pipe 10' long, and in one end welded a piece of 1/4" plate with a 2-1/2 square hole in the center of it. now, we put the box on the valve, slide this pipe down into the box, put the square hole over the operating nut. stays straight, stays centered, pack around them now with either excavator mounted sheepsfoot or vibratory plate, REALLY speeds things up, when we're done, just hook a sling or chain onto the steel pipe, lift it out, put on the lid. perfect alignment everytime

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someday, i'll be as patient as Nick.

PipeGuy

that's VERY slick I'll have to whip one of them babies up (the inspectors'll eat that sh*t up don't you know). Thanks for the idea.

denick

This forum makes me miss street work. Most everything here is septic and well work. It would be nice to go through another period like the early to mid 70's with all the sewer and water work. Maybe I'm getting bored with the residential work we do.

Nick

jojo

Send some of that work my way Nick,,,I need some work..

rino1494

That is a good idea. Most guys around here just run the trench roller up to the valves and that is it. Don't really compact around it too much. I know what it is like to tamp around things, it is very time consuming around manholes.

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