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ofberenonehand
   
location:
Minn-e-snow-ta
"Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve."
 |  | A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
< on 5/27/2005 3:18 AM >
|  | | | In some thread or another I promised I would upload a photo of my manhole popper. (I guess I had been talking it up or something) It's actually very simple, but there was some interest so, because I'm trying to avoid packing during my last night in this apartment, I decided to finally take a photo.
This popper obviously only works for manholes with a hole in the lid and not the side notch style. You'll still need a crowbar type tool to open those. ;)
It should be pretty self explanatory, but here's the basic breakdown. Get a larger piece of pipe (one that's comfortable in your hand) and a smaller one (fits through manhole holes with a little room to spare).
Drill a hole in the middle of each one. It only needs to go through one side.
Feed both cables through some sort of 2 channel runner to they don't get intertwined while using the popper.
Feed the larger cable through the holes and out the ends of the pipes. Crimp an aluminum end piece onto the ends of the cables very tightly. (make sure they are small enough to fit back into the pipes.
Feed the small cable through the end of the smaller pipe and crimp it's end similarly. It works best to crimp it into the same piece if this is possible.
Attach some sort of handle to the smaller cable to make pulling it easier. (and to keep it from going back through the runner)
Cap the ends as you see fit. I just used tape. I also found that using proper piping caps on the smaller pipe will interfere with inserting it into smaller holed manholes. A smaller pipe wouldn't allow for the cable to be crimped properly.
The operation is simple. Insert the smaller pipe into the manhole hole vertically. Once inside it will fall to a horizontal position allowing you to lift the cover up with the handle. If for some reason the manhole will not lift simply loosen your pull on the main handle and tug the little cable (finger sized handle). Since the cable comes out the end of the pipe instead of the middle it will become vertical and come straight out of the hole.
I have used this to lift many large manholes. Some I would imagine were 100-150lbs with no problems so far. It also helps put manholes back on smoothly and quietly when you are done.
Both the popper and this write up could probably be much improved upon, but as usual, I've done the bare minimum. Enjoy. 
Also, if there is a lot of interest I may make more of these and sell them, but they're not too hard to do yourself and pretty cheap to make.
"That's What Government Is For; To Get In A Man's Way" -Mal |
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Billmac
location:
Scarborough
Gender: Male
well this ought to be different
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 1 on 5/27/2005 3:34 AM >
| | | | Thanks for the info. I've been planning on making one of these since my trusty crowbar went missing.
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Barry Kooda
 
location:
The Cliff
Gender: Male
Trees
| |  | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 2 on 5/27/2005 4:50 AM >
| | | | That's pretty cool!
I've been using a couple of 1 inch and 3/4 inch cams made for rock climbing I got from ebay that works on the same principle.
[last edit 5/27/2005 4:52 AM by Barry Kooda - edited 1 times]
I'm a blatant waste of time and resources. |
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unicycler
location:
Arlington, Tx
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 3 on 5/27/2005 6:53 AM >
| | | | The simple little things that do so much...
I will make one of these, it should become very handy.
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drainpunk
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 4 on 5/27/2005 10:46 AM >
| | | | That seems like a nice tool! Cheers for info.
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Mixwell
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 5 on 5/27/2005 11:07 PM >
| | | | Thats really cool man, Ill make one when I have the time.
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PyroMaster
location:
wny hamburg area
Gender: Male
best band ever
| |  |  | | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 6 on 5/28/2005 1:32 AM >
| | | | also, if there is a lot of interest I may make more of these and sell them, but they're not too hard to do yourself and pretty cheap to make.
i would buy one...whats the going rate?
wait i'm not supposed to be here?
-no
o ok fuck you then |
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ofberenonehand
location:
Minn-e-snow-ta
"Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve."
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 7 on 5/28/2005 1:56 AM >
| | | | Posted by PyroMaster
i would buy one...whats the going rate?
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No clue. I stole the parts froma friends hardware store. I wouldn't expect parts to be more than $10 and probably less than $5. I'd do it if I had enough people to cover the cost of a vice and good drill (needed for proper aluminum smashing and hole cutting). Other than paying for that, parts and shipping I wouldn't really expect any profit from them.
"That's What Government Is For; To Get In A Man's Way" -Mal |
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Random
location:
Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 8 on 5/28/2005 2:41 AM >
| | | | I finally took the time to photograph my custom drain poppers. I made them from quarter inch steel roundbar. I do own a welder and metal working tools, so not everyone could make these. They're small, I usually stick the smaller one in the back of my left glove, for quick access.
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ofberenonehand
location:
Minn-e-snow-ta
"Where now is Boromir the Fair? He tarries and I grieve."
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 9 on 5/28/2005 4:04 AM >
| | | | Ahhhhhhhh, I'd love a nice welder too. Oh the things I could make!
"That's What Government Is For; To Get In A Man's Way" -Mal |
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Random
location:
Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 10 on 5/28/2005 4:44 AM >
| | | | Posted by ofberenonehand
Ahhhhhhhh, I'd love a nice welder too. Oh the things I could make!
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Yeah, they're incredibly useful. You can pick a hobby welder that runs off of 110 voltage for around a hundred bucks.
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Freak
location:
Usually Alaska, now MSP.
Gender: Male
Hypocrite
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 11 on 5/28/2005 7:03 AM >
| | | | Heh, that's way more custom than mine, I made one like that back in high school with parachute cord and big bolts. I think this bad ms-paint diagram is left over from high school too 
I've only popped a few manholes, there never seems to be much under them around here. The other tool I made was just a hooked piece on the end of a metal bar (used a printer guide rod) with a handle on the other end. That allowed more prying force while being less suspicious than a crowbar.
[last edit 5/28/2005 7:04 AM by Freak - edited 1 times]
Turn off the internet and go play outside.
http://spamusement...hp/comics/view/137 |
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drainpunk
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 12 on 5/28/2005 8:40 AM >
| | | | I should really get one of those. They way those tools work is genius!
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unicycler
location:
Arlington, Tx
Gender: Male
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 13 on 5/28/2005 7:10 PM >
| | | | I would have been one of the idiots that messed up first and didn't have anyway to get it out unless I got the manhole cover off and then it would have been really loud putting it back on.
After a few tries I will have a decent makeshift one made, nothing special just trial and error with what I have in my garage.
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NOCTVRNVS
Gender: Male
You will remember the day you crossed my path...
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 14 on 8/5/2005 4:26 AM >
| | | | 
There's mine. Very cheap to make, which is good because you'll be making one for every time you need to open the cover from above. Where I live, the only kind of covers I see have 2 square holes in the lid. The way this works is, you put the metal bar through the hole, and when it falls through, it will be parallel to the cover. You do this with the other bar. You then pull the rope as hard as you can until it flips up and slides. Usually you need to cut the rope after this as it is hard to get back out again.
IN NOMINE PATRIS ET FILII ET SPIRITVS SANCTI |
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Shard
location:
WA
Gender: Male
Baron Deathchemical
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 15 on 8/5/2005 7:41 AM >
| | | | Posted by Random
I finally took the time to photograph my custom drain poppers. I made them from quarter inch steel roundbar. I do own a welder and metal working tools, so not everyone could make these. They're small, I usually stick the smaller one in the back of my left glove, for quick access.
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About how large are these tools?
textfiles.com |
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Random
location:
Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 16 on 8/5/2005 7:48 PM >
| | | | Posted by Shard
About how large are these tools?
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The small one is about three and a half inches long. The handle is also about three inches and a half long. The short piece is one and three-eighths long. It fits in the palm of my hand.
I don't remember the dimensions on the bigger one, it is currently under new ownership.
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duck219
| | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 17 on 8/8/2005 6:45 PM >
| | | | You can also check with your local survey supply store... I know there were a couple of tools I used surveying specifically for pulling manholes...
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Inphenity
Gender: Male
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 18 on 8/8/2005 11:59 PM >
| | | | heres a pic of my popper .. its made from some round steel bar that i picked up from lowes.. please pardon my horrid welds .. i didnt have any clamps so i had to hold it together to get it tacked and then i also didnt have a welding helmet so i did it blind .. the welds (as sad as they look) are strong enough to lift those huge telco covers
... well yea actually this is a flashlight in my pocket .. but im still happy to see you |
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Random
location:
Richmond, Virginia
Gender: Male
Partially Retired
| | | Re: A proper personhole popper - A Half Assed How To
<Reply # 19 on 8/9/2005 1:15 AM >
| | | | I'm interested in hearing the pros and cons of each design, as told by their designers, or anyone that has used them.
I'll go ahead with mine.
Pro-
Small
Works very well
Reuseable
Very unlikely to be misconstrued as a weapon
Flat, easily concealed
Con-
It does make a really bad weapon
Not very versatile, it has no other uses
Doesn't look all that appealing
Noisy if dropped
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