Infiltration

mountainman location: Helena, Montana Gender: Male \| \|	entry to drains < on 1/11/2004 12:42 PM >

	anybody have any ideas on how to gain entry into drains that have grates over them? there's a big entrance I found (maybe 5 foot diameter) but there's a grate made out of a number of metal pipes maybe an inch thick welded together with no sign of any way to open them.

MacGyver location: St Paul, Minnesota Gender: Male "Someone go find me a paperclip, a D-cell battery, and a cheese grater" \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 1 on 1/11/2004 4:22 PM >

	look for a manhole cover a short ways upstream, or try to figure out how the grate can be moved non-destructively. Often times they can be unbolted and lifted up or there might be a trap door in it. Like a fiend with his dope / a drunkard his wine / a man will have lust for the lure of the mine "If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent."

n-rock

location:
Oakland, CA, USA

Re: entry to drains
<Reply # 2 on 1/12/2004 1:27 AM >

Drains around here have occasional aboveground stream sections in backyards and parks. I use these points for access.

A good portable manhole-pulling tool can be made by attaching wire to the center portion of two dowels. slip one dowel in the hole, let it catch, and pull. the tool can then easily be put back in your pocket.

Posted by mountainman
anybody have any ideas on how to gain entry into drains that have grates over them? there's a big entrance I found (maybe 5 foot diameter) but there's a grate made out of a number of metal pipes maybe an inch thick welded together with no sign of any way to open them.

==================================
Warning: Prosecutors will be Violated

Tom Mosher Noble Donor location: toronto Gender: Male \| \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 3 on 1/12/2004 11:13 PM >

	as for manholes i just always keep a pair of sturdy pliers in my backpack with me. put one handle in the hole and pull up on the other. POP! hate is a waste of passion!

Just Oni location: Brampton Ontario, Canada Gender: Male \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 4 on 1/14/2004 4:10 PM >

	QUICK, just a question...How do you use plyers to open a manhole cover? This question is directed to everyone reading this. How can I remove the manhole cover without the use of tools? If this is not possable, what is the most inexpensive way to do this? Visit my NON-UE Website! http://spaces.msn....embers/goodyboy26/ MSN Messenger: goodyboy26@hotmail.com"> [00:17:29] <Just_Oni> heh I figured out my place here...I don't provide anything inciteful or important to the conversations...I'm just the lettuce to the sandwich that is AvChat

DarkTreader Gender: Male \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 5 on 1/14/2004 5:57 PM >

	I've never done it, but I think I understand the principle. If you slide the end of a handle (the narrow part that you usually grab onto) into the manhole slot, and grab onto the other one, it should make a rather decent handle that you can grab onto and yank the lid right off. If I'm imagining this wrong, tell me. But it seems like it would make sense. Losers go home... winners go home and fuck the prom queen

Krenta location: Saint Paul, MN Nope, wasn't me. \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 6 on 1/15/2004 7:52 AM >

	It probably varies regionally, but a lot of the lids around here don't have a hole in them, but a channel with a bar across it, that you can hook onto. When I don't want to use a crowbar, I use a 3' length of rope (actually, 6mm climbing utility cord) threaded through the channel in the 'lid and tied into a loop, then I just drag the lid off. But, really, it's always nicest when you don't have to pop a lid. Have Speed Graphic, Will Travel.

MacGyver location: St Paul, Minnesota Gender: Male "Someone go find me a paperclip, a D-cell battery, and a cheese grater" \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 7 on 1/15/2004 3:36 PM >

	I think this is how the pliers trick is supposed to work: I can open a lot of covers without tools from topside. some have many holes in a grid, and can be picked up like a bowling ball using both hands. If it just has two holes opposite eachother, I can sometimes lift half of it up and then shove a toe under the crack to regrip. Closing the lid over your head (if needed) is tricky. Leave the lid right sude up and overlapping the hole by an inch or two before you climb in. You need to wedge yourself securely in the shaft by leaning your back on the far wall and utilizing the stepirons as much as possible. Either carefully lift/roll the lid into place, or quickly slide the cover over your head and let it drop into place. Whichever method you use, look down while you do it! rust and grit in your eyes accompanied by sudden darkness and a loud bang isn't fun to sort out. Opening the lid from below requires quite a bit of strength. your legs need to be strong to hold you and the lid with bent knees in the shaft, and your arms, shoulders, and back (maybe neck too, depending how nuts you are) need to be strong to shoulder the lid up out of the collar and then be able to slide or roll it to the side on rough pavement. As always, IF YOU DON'T KNOW 100% FOR SURE WHERE A MANHOLE IS FROM TOPSIDE AND YOU ARE WILLING TO POP IT FROM BELOW, YOU DESERVE THE TRUCK TIRE TO THE FACE YOU MAY VERY WELL RECEIVE! Closing the lid again from topside is a simple procedure. roll or slide the lid so it sort of falls and pivots into the collar partway, and then give it a solid kick and it will slide the rest of the way in and seat properly. Like a fiend with his dope / a drunkard his wine / a man will have lust for the lure of the mine "If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent."

Just Oni location: Brampton Ontario, Canada Gender: Male \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 8 on 1/17/2004 3:59 PM >

	Hmm...Makes sence...thanks for the insight. Any idea how to remove those pesky grates covering sewar run off tunnels? I tried one last night with two pairs of plyers and three people...no luck [last edit 1/21/2004 5:37 PM by Just Oni - edited 1 times] Visit my NON-UE Website! http://spaces.msn....embers/goodyboy26/ MSN Messenger: goodyboy26@hotmail.com"> [00:17:29] <Just_Oni> heh I figured out my place here...I don't provide anything inciteful or important to the conversations...I'm just the lettuce to the sandwich that is AvChat

mountainman location: Helena, Montana Gender: Male \| \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 9 on 1/23/2004 4:12 AM >

	um... go back to the beginning of this thread. That was my exact question that started this whole thing.

kowalski \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 10 on 1/24/2004 2:43 AM >

	You might want to post a picture. Grates and grilles and guards used for inlet/outfall protection tend to be pretty diverse in presentation and attachment.

Tom Mosher Noble Donor location: toronto Gender: Male \| \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 11 on 1/25/2004 11:52 PM >

	hey, I'm going out RIGHT NOW to take pictures. It's wicked easy and Krazy showed it pretty clearly. The main thing you require in your pliers is that they only open to about a 60 degree angle or so. and they need to be sturdy, Ive broken several trying to open rusted lids. I'll be back in a sec with pictures. oh and Krazy, that was a great tutorial on closing lids. it's really important to get good at that! hate is a waste of passion!

MacGyver location: St Paul, Minnesota Gender: Male "Someone go find me a paperclip, a D-cell battery, and a cheese grater" \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 12 on 1/26/2004 3:12 AM >

	thanks alvays glad to be helpful. Like a fiend with his dope / a drunkard his wine / a man will have lust for the lure of the mine "If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent."

Tom Mosher Noble Donor location: toronto Gender: Male \| \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 13 on 1/26/2004 8:20 PM >

	ok, i went out to take pictures yesterday and it was waaay too cold to dig around in the snow for a manhole, then get out my crap, then snap a photo. i doubt anyone is in dire straits waiting for this 'essential' information, heck, i'm not sure anyone cares. perhaps i'll get to it tonight. hate is a waste of passion!

Macsbug

Noble Donor
location:
St. Paul, MN
Gender: Male

Safety First!

Re: entry to drains
<Reply # 14 on 1/26/2004 10:47 PM >

Posted by QUICK
ok, i went out to take pictures yesterday and it was waaay too cold to dig around in the snow for a manhole, then get out my crap, then snap a photo.

Look for a big drain - in theory the bigger a drain, it should have more warmth to melt the snow away.

Question: Does anyone know what could affect snow melting above a manhole/grate, other then the size and depth of a drain? - I have seen some grates that are very clear of snow (from melting), but are just connected to a small box room that is just below the surface.
Any Ideas?

"Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it."

DarkTreader Gender: Male \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 15 on 1/27/2004 12:10 AM >

	Thermodynamics =P A small box room that holds one thing generating a small amount of heat, with no clear exit, and is surrounded on all sides, is going heat that room up quite a bit until the heat begins to leak out. Even something like an electrical room is going to have a lot of heat in it, because of the minute amounts of heat that are coming from the masses of bundled cables. Losers go home... winners go home and fuck the prom queen

Macsbug

Noble Donor
location:
St. Paul, MN
Gender: Male

Safety First!

Re: entry to drains
<Reply # 16 on 1/27/2004 12:33 AM >

Posted by DarkTreader
A small box room that holds one thing generating a small amount of heat, with no clear exit, and is surrounded on all sides, is going heat that room up quite a bit until the heat begins to leak out.

Oh, thanks, so becouse there is not any other big exit (big drainpipe, tunnel, etc.) all the heat will go out of the grate/manhole.

I need to go try that pliers trick, I never thought of that before I read this thread.

"Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it."

DarkTreader Gender: Male \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 17 on 1/27/2004 12:52 AM >

	Basically, yeah. Heated air is naturally lighter than colder air, hence why heat rises. Most of those rooms are designed like a box with a pipe on top. Inside this little pipe area, a lot of heat packs in, hence why the lids melt. And even if there was by chance another entrance/exit to the room, if it wasn't high enough to be able to pull some of that heat away... then you wouldn't be able to tell. Something like, say, a ladder down into a deeper set of tunnels... ^_^ Losers go home... winners go home and fuck the prom queen

Willow location: Chilliwack B.C. Gender: Male A light in the darkness?!?... Damnit MaxQ turn that off \|	Re: entry to drains <Reply # 18 on 2/16/2004 4:17 AM >

	I found about 20 drain access points in my town as well and i am not sure about how to go about getting access to the drains.... running down the side of a small creak river thing there are a series of things that look like a cement block with a square steel hatch on the top, about ever 30-40 ft for over 1 km which lead down to a very very small drain, its about 3 ft wide (and half full of water the last time I looked) and the outfall is only about 1 ft wide but there is an outfall by each block. but when looking through one of the outfalls with a AA light I could see drains running under the area towards the rather large residential areas. I am wondering if anyone has seen tunnels similar to what I am describing, sorry no photos for atleast another 2 weeks, (payday = cheap digicam) as I was thinking about if they lead to a larger drain system under the residential area or not...

F A S T

location:
Oakland, CA
Gender: Male

Coastal Wind

Re: entry to drains
<Reply # 19 on 2/16/2004 6:25 AM >

Posted by Willow
I found about 20 drain access points in my town as well and i am not sure about how to go about getting access to the drains.... running down the side of a small creak river thing there are a series of things that look like a cement block with a square steel hatch on the top, about ever 30-40 ft for over 1 km which lead down to a very very small drain, its about 3 ft wide (and half full of water the last time I looked) and the outfall is only about 1 ft wide but there is an outfall by each block. but when looking through one of the outfalls with a AA light I could see drains running under the area towards the rather large residential areas. I am wondering if anyone has seen tunnels similar to what I am describing, sorry no photos for atleast another 2 weeks, (payday = cheap digicam) as I was thinking about if they lead to a larger drain system under the residential area or not...

The answer: Probably. As drains are expected to carry more water during wet weather (run-off from residential area) the size of the drain increases. As long as your following it DOWNSTREAM it should get bigger, upstream it should get smaller unless flows were diverted.

F A S T

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