Help with digging

[Anonymous]

This weekend I was putting a Direct TV dish in my backyard and it says to dig a hole 2 feet deep. So I was digging down and about a foot down I hit plywood. If I drive some big nails into it and leave them sticking up do you think that will be good enough. Or do I need to rent a chain saw and cut a hole in the plywood? I am kind of scared of cutting a hole as I don't know how thick a piece was used under my house and am afraid I'll fall through if I cut too deep. FRED

[vsmith]

I'd be more concerned as to WHY there is a piece of plywood buried in your back yard?

Actually I'd be more concerned as to what might be UNDER the plywood.

They never did find Jimmy Hoffa?

Seriously though, It could be covering an old well or something similar and could pose a fall through danger if when it rots thru. We dont want to see any more kid-down-a-well rescues on TV anymore.

Dont screw anything into it, as its only a matter of when it dry -rots, not if it dry-rots. And your dish will be sagging southward when it finally goes.

I'd dig around it, find the edges, uncover it and see what its hiding. I know that could be a bit of work, but hey, better safe than sorry, right?

[ndbprr]

How far from your house and how old is your house? Did it ever have a well? Within say 8-10' it is probably just a piece of scrap they buried when they graded. I would be extremely surprised if it was covering anything or very big. If t was big they would have saved it to reuse. You could always move the hole over a couple of feet and probably clear it.

[IRONROOSTER]

If you are lucky it is just a scrap piece, some house builders have been known to save money by dumping all the construction trash in a hole on the lot rather than pay disposal fees.
Good luck
Paul

[krump]

lets hope it's not septic...

[Anonymous]

I'd agree with one of the earlier posts - do a bit of exploratory digging to find the edges of the plywood and then lift it if possible - in many ways, you're lucky you found this before it rotted - if there's a well under there part of your garden could have departed downwards with some speed!

[Anonymous]

I cut through it and there's a big open area with what looks like a linoleum floor several hundred feet down. There are also lots of cables under there going to all the buildings and railroad tracks. Me and Jim are getting a rope and going down to see whats there. I'll post when I get back...FRED

[AltonFan]

Why do I get the feeling Fred is having a laugh at everyone's expense?

[Anonymous]

Ya never know it might be a room that has a mistory rail set up for the rats lol

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AltonFan

Why do I get the feeling Fred is having a laugh at everyone's expense?

I think you're right AltonFan - I thought this was a serious post (though the idea that he might be having a laugh did cross my mind, anyone else remember the bit in the film "Beetlejuice" where they get shrunk to HO scale and start digging in the model town?)

Anyway, brought a smile to my face on a rough day!

[dharmon]

That was good........[:D][:D][:D] hook, line and sinker

[vsmith]

I still think he's found Jimmy Hoffa.......

[Anonymous]

I found a whole new world inhabited by giants. One grabbed me and said "How'd this get on the floor" and then put me back home. I was so scared I was froze stiff and fell over. The giant then picked me up and stuck a big rod up my bum and staked me to the ground. It then seen the hole I dug and yelled " d#@n kids" and put some white goop in it and covered it with grass. I thought I was a goner until my wife came out later and took me off the rod. I still got a hole in my bum and have to type standing. I'm never going back there! I'm gonna go drink some beer so I can forget. Happy Birthday to Curly Howard who would of been 100 today 10.22.2003. He brung us many laughs and will live forever in his works. And to Mr. Smith, everyone knows Jimmy Hoffa is in witness protection and lives at Area 51 next to Elvis and the 2 surviors from Roswell. They have some good parties tell you what. FRED

[Anonymous]

Interesting - I've never had to resort to rods to keep my HO figures standing upright - PVA wood glue seems to do this pretty well!

[vsmith]

Fred, when you were putting up that dish, was there any kind of industrial solvents or strong glues included that said something like "use only in well ventilated spaces"?

Theres a independant movie thats just come out here thats just your kind of flick, I think.

Its called "Bubba Ho-Tep" and the heros are Elvis Presley played by Bruce "Army of Darkness" Cambell who turns out is alive and well living in a Texas retirement home and Ozzie Davis as JFK (dont ask, it spoils the movie),as his room-mate, doing battle against an evil egyptian pharoh cowboy mummy out to conquer the world, and its up the the King and JFK to stop him. If you ever saw "Army of Darkness" you'll know what a twisted screwy completely enjoyably funny movie this will be.

Howlingly good fun just in time for Halloween.

Happy Birthday Curly, knuck,knuck,knuck, oh a wize guy, naaaagh! woob,woob,woob....

[Anonymous]

I've been waiting for that movie. Bruce Campbell was best (by me) as Brisco County Jr. I was sad they cancelled it. FRED