top of page

Basic Shaw Drilling Procedures

bit dressing

Sintered diamond core bits can only cut rock when diamond crystals protrude above the bit segment metal matrix surface. In abrasive materials such as sandy soil, erosion of the matrix around the diamond crystals is rapid: the bit can cut at its maximum rate. In non-abrasive rock drilling, however, in hard, uniform materials such as granite or jadeite, the working diamonds of the bit segments tend to be planed down to the level of the segment matrix and thereby lose their cutting power. In this hard rock drilling case, the segment matrix must be artificially worn away to expose the diamonds and thereby restore the bit’s abrasiveness. This process is called “bit dressing”.

The best way to dress a Shaw diamond core bit is by running it fast and hard in a bucket of industrial sand blast grit. The grit can be screened slag, or silicon carbide or other hard, broken, thereby sharp-edged material. As the bit matrix is quickly eroded in this process, the bit diamonds become prominent and are cleaned such that they sparkle in sunlight. The exposed diamonds can be further improved as cutting elements by striking the bit surface with the edge of a hard flat file which shatters some crystals, leaving sharp cutting edges and points.

 

replacing worn bits

When a Shaw saber (rock) bit or soil bit has lost nearly all of its clearance or segment length, then it must be removed from its’ core barrel and replaced. The bits are threaded to the core barrels and may have been used for several hundred feet of boring; therefore, although the threads have been doped with copper based anti-seize, they may be hard to get off. In the case of bayonet coupled core barrels, the best approach to the job is to leave the engine drill attached to the core barrel, apply one pipe wrench (clockwise) to the water swivel (hardened steel) and the other (counterclockwise) to the bit segments. With opposing strain on the wrenches, the bit thread will loosen. The new bit thread should receive some clean, copper based anti-seize lubricant.

​

opening Shaw bayonet couplings

Shaw clockwise turned bayonet couplings, if they are kept clean and spayed frequently with dry, grit repelling Teflon lubricant, can normally be opened by hand. Rarely, two open-end wrenches (supplied) must be applied to flats on the couplings to cause the male and female parts to separate.  

​

opening Shaw threaded couplings

The Shaw hollow stem system for deeper borings requires threaded couplings which typically more force to open than the Shaw bayonet type. Two pipe wrenches (supplied) are required for the job, one applied to the male coupling and one to the female coupling. The wrench jaws should be positioned over the coupling knurled surfaces for good grip. The 3 mm wall spring steel couplings are relatively strong and resilient, but it should be remembered that these are, after all, thin-walled tubes; care must be exercised in applying to them pipe wrenches, which are very crude and potentially destructive tools. 

​

replacing bayonet coupling o-rings

The three rubber (Buna N Nitrile) o ring seals mounted on the ends of Shaw male bayonet couplings can last a long time even with substantial use if kept clean and religiously coated with spray Teflon (PTFE) after decoupling. However, the repeated passage of the rings through hard edges of the female couplings during coupling and decoupling causes the rubber to become worn.

To replace the Shaw o rings, dig out the worn rings with a thin, pointed tool such as the tip of a knife blade or a tiny screw driver to lift them out of their grooves in the male coupling. Stretch new o rings over the male coupling nose and push them backward into the grooves where they will contract and fit their grooves firmly.

 

selecting bits

Shaw offers several kinds of bits to be used for penetrating and sampling a variety of earth materials. There is only one kind of Shaw soil bit, the 7 mm width diamond impregnated segments of which are made with a hard matrix and high diamond concentration to resist the often very high abrasiveness of sandy soil or sandy stream (placer) deposits. Shaw rock bits, on the other hand, are of two segment widths and two matrix hardnesses, hard or soft, for use in a a variety of rock types.

Appropriate selection of Shaw rock bits is somewhat counterintuitive. Soft materials like soil or asphaltic concrete are best cut with the use of a hard matrix diamond bit. Hard, non-abrasive materials like quartz, or garnet are best cut with the use of a soft matrix diamond bit. In the first case, abrasive sand quickly erodes the segment matrix, causing the diamond crystals to be undercut and removed prematurely, therefore a hard matrix is called for. In the second, hard rock case, there is not enough abrasiveness to keep the diamonds well exposed and effective as cutting elements; therefore, a soft, easily eroded matrix is needed.

 

bit filing

The Shaw “saber” pedestal embedded segment diamond core bit cuts at least twice as fast as core bits of the same kerf width and outer diameter and, because the saber diamond segments are longer, has a bit life several times that of conventional diamond bits. But with these substantial advantages comes the cost of greater maintenance. Drilling fluid half circle waterways in the Shaw bit pedestal steel between the segments must be kept open. This waterway maintenance can be done with small rotary grinding tools (Dremel or other) in the shop or by hand filing with a 4 mm diameter rat tail file in the field.

Hand filing produces nicely circular waterways of the right diameter and can be done almost anywhere but it does require care and acquired skill. It is best to do it with a bit mounted on its core barrel so that the bit is stable while the file is stroked against it. Once learned, hand filing becomes instinctual and easy to do. The process is best shown by the video below.

​​

mixing drilling fluid

Mixing polymer products with clean water, especially under uncontrolled field conditions is an art, as the products vary in their viscosity producing power and exact volumes of water and volumes of polymer product, likely to be used in tiny amounts, usually cannot be measured with certainty.  Generally, polymer product, especially dry powder, is a powerful gelling agent which must be added to water slowly and carefully to prevent formation of big, stubborn lumps. In the field, a wire whip is useful for vigorous mixing of polymer product into water as it is being mixed. The video below will illustrate field preparation of polymer amended water drilling fluid.

​

ordering expendables and parts

We provide all related parts and consumables related to the equipment. You can contact our sales-representitive by clicking the "contact us" button on top and bottom of our website. Or you can send an email directy to info@backpackdrill.com.

​

capture and transport of soil samples

Once captured in the sampler tube and then extruded from it, two-inch (51 mm) diameter soil samples, typically 13 inches (35 cm) to 15 inches (40 cm) long, can be described and then discarded in the field. If it is desired to bring some or all soil samples back to the geotechnical laboratory, then it is suggested that the samples be wrapped in PVC stretch wrap product (Saran wrap and other brands) (PVC) to holdprotect them together forin transport and to preserve their moisture content. The wrapped cores should be carefully labelled with a permanent marking pen. Core boxes are useful if available.

​

STEPS FOR SETTING UP THE MAST-HELD SHAW DRILLING SYSTEM

 

  1. Lay out all mast parts on a tarp beside the boring location.
     

  2. Select a specific boring location and lay the triangular mast head over it with the head’s three corners aimed at where the mast outlier stakes and straps might reasonably be located. Sometimes trees or above ground roots can substitute for mast stakes as anchor points.
     

  3. Start the engine drill, attach the drilling fluid hose to the valve at the handle assembly, and attach a rock core barrel and bit assembly over the water swivel nose.
     

  4. Take three paces (8 feet or 2.4 meters) outward from the forward point of the mast head, then; just in front of you, advance a short (6 inches or 15 cm) boring at a 45-degree angle inward, toward the mast boring location. Press an outlier mast stake into the boring. There is no need to remove the rock core. Repeat these actions at the other two outlier stake positions.
     

  5. Take away the mast head from the boring location and drill a short (6 inches or 15 cm) vertical boring at the mast stake boring point.
     

  6. Thread the mast stake into the heel of the mast foot.
     

  7. Assemble the mast beam by bolting the engine drill track to the two, 1 m. long extruded aluminum beam sections such that the track spans the break between them. Slide the three extruded beam section splicers in their channels till they also span the break and tighten their set screws.
     

  8. Attach the mast head to the beam by tightening nuts over the three bolts of brackets mounted on the upper aluminum beam.
     

  9. Insert the mast stake into its boring which leaves the assembled mast in an approximately vertical position.
     

  10. Deploy a ratchet strap and tightener assembly by attaching one of its’ end hooks to its tip of the mast head and its’ other end to its’ respective ground stake. Do this for the other two ratchet straps.
     

  11. Mount the engine drill lower carriage the track near in the track gap at the top of the mast. Use the track pin to hold the engine drill at waist level.
     

  12. Place a bullseye level over the flat back of the engine to establish vertically.
     

  13. Tighten the ratchet straps one at a time until the mast is perfectly vertical and the straps are adequately tensioned to achieve mast stability.
     

  14. Attach drilling fluid line to water swivel, start engine, attach core barrel to water swivel, lower the bit through the mast foot, open fluid valve and begin boring
     

  15. If the first few centimeters of core are actually soft soil, regolith and/or vegetation rather than rock, stop the boring at intervals, lift the drill and drill string several times, clear the bit of this overburden until the bit finally enters competent rock

NON-VERTICAL ANGLE BORING WITH THE USE OF THE SHAW DRILL AND MAST

 

  1. Most of the Shaw drill and mast setup steps are the same as those for vertical boring except that in the non-vertical configuration only two outlier ground stakes are employed rather than three and a rigid strut, attached to the head and pinned to the ground, is used to restore the masts’ stable tripod configuration.
     

  2. Following installation of outlier ground and mast stakes, a set of short strut sections and a shaped ground tip must be threaded together and then slipped through the pivoting strut holder attached to the backside top of the mast head.
     

  3. Once the strut is in its pivoting holder, the mast can be leaned back on its pivot heel to its’ approximate angle for the angled boring and then secured with set screws located on each side of the strut holder.
     

  4. Using an inclinometer placed on the upper surface of the mast beam, the desired angle of boring relative to the horizontal can be found and the mast held to it by moving the strut relative to its holder and then tightening the holder set screws.
     

  5. Two ratchet straps can now be tightened equally to hold the mast head securely to its’ ground stakes.
     

  6. Drilling can now proceed normally, although “bit weight” is less than normal in angled positions.

ROCK CORE SAMPLING WITH THE USE OF THE SHAW GEN3 “DEEP” DRILL

 

  1. Stop the engine drill, disconnect the drill string from the water swivel with two pipe wrenches, and raise the engine to a chest high position, hold it in place by clipping its’ left handles assembly bar lanyard to an eyebolt of the mast head.
     

  2. Raise the drill string one section up and secure it to the mast foot with the use of its’ slide forks.
     

  3. Remove the long carriage pin on the right side (as you face the drill) of the drill carriage and allow the drill to pivot to left and out of the way. The lanyard, positioned behind and across the mast beam, will hold the engine drill securely during sampling.
     

  4. Attach a core breaker to a threaded rod and then assemble a rod string and inserted it into the hollow stem of the drill string.
     

  5. Remove the core breaker and rods assembly by pulling them up by hand through the forward opening in the mast head. Three-meter (10 feet) sections of the rod assembly can be disconnected and left in the mast for convenient use later in the sampling exercise. The lower, threaded male ends of these rod sections should be placed in the mast foot to keep them clean.
     

  6. Use this breaker and rod string, with a “T” handle to strike the top of the core forcefully. rock assembly will break, at or near its base in the boring, especially if it is a long core or if the rock is naturally jointed.
     

  7. Retract the rod string and core breaker assembly from the drill string, possibly in 10 ft (3 m) pieces.
     

  8. Detach the core breaker from the rod string, attach the inside taper core catcher, rebuild the rod string until the core is contacted again. Press the core catcher over the core and then lift up. If the core has been caught, the rod string will feel heavy.
     

  9. Retract the rod string, core catcher and rock core from the boring.
     

  10. Push the slide forks sideways to allow lowering of the drill string.
     

  11. Add one extension of drill string, swing the engine drill back into position on the track, re-insert the carriage pin, lower the engine drill over the drill string and re-connect the water swivel.
     

  12. Resume drilling normally.

Geotechnical Applications

portability

 

A typical Shaw geotechnical kit, packed neatly in its backpack and including one compression bottle filled with water-based drilling fluid, weighs less than 55 lbs. (25 kg.). Therefore, a Shaw kit can be carried to virtually any drill site where a man can walk or climb, or, of course, on an ATV, in a pickup, small boat, helicopter, or on a mule’s back.

​

sampling mixed soil and rock

 

Shaw geotechnical diamond core bit allows for non-disturbed core sampling of natural and artificial fill mixtures of rock and soil by gentle rotary abrasion supported by polymer amended water drilling fluid. All elements in the path of the Shaw drill bit including parts of cobbles, pebbles, clay seams and parts of tree roots are included in cleanly recovered geotechnical sample cores.  

​

efficiency

 

Because near-surface Shaw Gen3 handheld drilling in soft soil or even rocky soil is fast in itself, and because there is virtually no setup or demobilization time between borings, field productivity is high. A second team member to help out with carrying water, preparing polymer amended drilling fluid, pressurizing the compression bottle and preparation and labeling of samples for delivery to the office or laboratory can further improve output.

​

low cost

 

The small Shaw drill is an order of magnitude, or even two magnitudes, less costly than standard geotechnical drilling and sampling rigs. It is also true that because the Shaw drill is relatively uncomplicated, maintenance and repair costs are minimal. Breakdowns of the Shaw drill Kawasaki engine are rare (if it is given properly mixed, clean fuel) and Shaw saber type (pedestal mounted segments) diamond core bits with long segments, if conscientiously filed, are considerably longer lived than conventional bits.

​

rugged

 

Shaw drill string extensions, core barrels, and water swivels are all made of 304 or 420 (hardened) stainless steels which strongly resist corrosion, while conventional drill string elements rust in outdoor environments. As importantly, both 304 and 420 steels stand up exceptionally well to silicate mineral abrasion. Because 304 stainless steel is “gummy” or stubbornly resistant to clean “chip” cutting (machinists hate it), and heat treated 420 (Rockwell C 58) stainless steel is simply harder than most silicate minerals, wear on Shaw drill strings is far less than might be expected. Also, the heat-treated couplings of the Shaw drill string are effectively spring steel, therefore largely immune to (even pipe wrenches) deformation. Finally, the 304 stainless steel extension bodies are turned down to 1 mm thickness such that their outer surfaces do not actually touch boring walls where abrasion might otherwise occur.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q. Can I comfortably carry my entire Shaw geotechnical soil sampling kit, including drilling water supply, extra extensions and bits in my backpack for geotechnical work in rough country or in otherwise inaccessible locations?

A.  Yes; The entire kit of Shaw soil sampling equipment, which varies somewhat in weight depending on the number of extensions used, typically weighs less than 55 lbs. (25kg.) including two gallons of drilling fluid. This load is not nothing, but tolerable for most individuals who are in good physical condition.

 

Q. For successful use of Shaw soil sampling equipment, how important is it to add polymer (e.g. EZ Mud) to drilling water?

A.  Polymer amendment of drilling water for Shaw drill geotechnical sampling is very important: it (1) greatly reduces water usage, (2) allows drilling and sampling of clay due to its’ clay particle encapsulation behavior, (3) lubricates the rotating drill string, the non-rotated sampler capsule and the soil sampler core bit, thereby improving the cutting rate, and (4) prevents clay adhesion to metal surfaces of the drill bit, drill string, and drilling fluid injectors in the soil drill bit.

 

Q. How much polymer should I add to my drilling water?

A. It is best to carefully add as much polymer as needed to achieve a product which has the viscosity of a smooth, no lumps, gelatinous (ropy), medium to heavy syrup (see video below). Polymer product, either in liquid or dry form, should be introduced very slowly and carefully to water as it is a powerful, rapid action water gelling agent. Wear gloves to prevent terrific glue-like adhesion to the skin of your hands. While being added to water, a wire whip (kitchen tool) or electric mixer should be used vigorously to break up lumps. The completed mixture will naturally stratify; therefore, it must be re-mixed every thirty minutes or so in its container. The amended water solution drilling fluid tends to gain some viscosity after mixing as partially mixed polymer grains or liquid continue to gel the water.

 

Q. How important is it to precisely measure gasoline and two-stroke engine oil volumes for the 50:1 optimal ratio fuel mixture of the Shaw drill Kawasaki TJ 53 engine?

A. The need for really accurate measurement of oil and gasoline for the Shaw TJ Kawasaki two-stroke engine fuel can hardly be over emphasized. A lean gasoline to two-stroke engine oil ratio fuel mixture can, and unfortunately for Kawasaki 53 owners, sometimes does burn engine piston heads and cylinder walls. A too high oil to gasoline ratio mixture causes oil fouling of the spark plug, carburetor and muffler which, in turn, impedes engine starting.

 

Q. What drill penetration rate is best for Shaw soil sampling?

A. This must be determined by the drill operator, depending mostly on the earth material being penetrated. For example, a soft, moist, uniform silt soil can reasonably be penetrated fairly quickly, as long as drilling fluid emerges steadily onto the ground surface, indicating good circulation. A rocky soil, on the other hand, would necessarily take longer to penetrate even if the rocks were soft, comprised of, for example, limestone (Mohs scale 3). An even slower rate of penetration would be required if the included rocks were hard, such as those comprised of granite (Mohs scale 6.5 - 8.0). A slow rate of penetration would also be called for when drilling in swelling clay, which is probably a core driller’s worst enemy due to its’ diamond bit “slicking” behavior and its great adhesiveness to drill string metal parts, especially the drilling fluid injectors of the soil drill bit.  

 

Q. Diamond bits can be quickly worn in abrasive soils. How can excessive bit wear be avoided?

A. Shaw soil sampling bits are made with wide, sintered diamond segments with generous clearance on both internal and external surfaces for extended bit life. These segments are also made with a hard (high cobalt concentration) matrix and high diamond concentration to resist abrasion. There is nothing that the drill operator need do to achieve good Shaw soil bit life, except maintain good drilling fluid delivery to the bit at all times when drilling is proceeding.

 

Q. If the Shaw soil sampler is quite different in its action than other types, how does it work?

A. There are actually several novel parts of the Shaw soil sampling system which allow it to sample a wide variety of earth materials without torque, compression or percussion damage: (1) wide kerf, hard matrix, sintered diamond segments of its’ bit are capable of cutting almost any earth material, accompanied by a good flow of drilling fluid around bit face working diamond crystals, by simple abrasion, (2) recessed drilling fluid injectors, nearly immune to clogging by soil or clay, fill empty spaces with fluid between the segments where it is mixed with drill cuttings, (3) skirts on the inside edge of the bit face prevent drilling fluid from eroding soil cores, (4) a sampler tube (brass) protects soil cores from drilling fluid contact and erosion, (5) a sampler cap which has only a loose slip fit with the sampler tube and a minimal contact with the rotating male bayonet coupling nose above it, nearly eliminates torque transfer from the bayonet to the largely stationary sampler tube during sampling events, and (6) a valved air vent mounted in the cap prevents air compression and resistance to sampler filling, and, after capture, holds sample cores inside the sampler by vacuum (clam gun effect).

Mineral Exploration

portability

 

The 60 mm OD drill and its mast are man portable in a backpack. Of course, several loads of drill string components, water tank and battery are required for deeper borings, but no road or drill pad are required. 

​

fast

​

Two experienced operators can typically set up or break down a Shaw drill mast and drilling system in fifteen minutes. 

​

infrequent tripping

​

Because the Shaw 60 mm OD “deep” drill is a threaded coupling, therefore a hollow stem drilling system, if used in competent, unfractured rock, core samples can be conveniently captured at depth and then conveniently retrieved through the open center of the drill string on a series of threaded steel rods. In this happy case, drill string need not be removed from the boring. If, however, the rock being drilled is broken or otherwise weakened due to weathering, the core bit can become jammed by rock fragments wedged in its mouth or on its drill string. In these unfortunate drilling circumstances, the entire drill string must, of course, be retracted, extension-by-extension from the boring, the bit cleared, and then re-installed into the boring. “Tripping” is a time-consuming process, but sometimes cannot be avoided.  

​

large cores

​

The rock core diameter of the Shaw 62 mm OD Gen3 drill is 54 mm (2 inches), somewhat larger than the conventional NQ core diameter of 47 mm, and considerably bigger than the also frequently produced BQ core of 36 mm.

​

no permits required

​

Generally speaking, drilling on public lands in the United States with the use of a normally handheld Shaw backpack portable drill does not require agency permitting because doing so “leaves no mark on the surface of the land”. There can be exceptions to this general rule, however; it always pays to check with governing authorities before initiating deeper Shaw borings. Very complete site cleanup after drilling, a very easy thing to do, will help to maintain good relations with public lands agencies.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q. Is drilling with the use of the Shaw Gen3 mast a simple thing?

A.  In its’ hand-held configuration, for normal geotechnical, prospecting and environmental uses, the Shaw drill is a simple, nearly self-explanatory tool. In its’ mast-held configuration, however, often necessary for advancing deeper borings for domestic water well installations or for some mineral investigations, its’ operation is more complicated. Videos (linked here) of field procedures will be helpful in educating the new user. Fortunately, once these basic Shaw drill procedures are well learned, they become instinctual and can be repeated hundreds of times without very much conscious thought.

 

Q.  Why does the Shaw rock drill penetrate faster than conventional core drills?

A.  There are two reasons for the Shaw drills’ exceptional rock cutting speed: (1) the Shaw rock bit kerf is relatively thin at 3.5 mm vs 7.0 mm -11.0 mm for conventional diamond core bits, and (2) the Shaw pedestal embedded segment (“saber”) bit allows for exceptionally efficient drilling fluid circulation around working diamonds in contact with the rock surface. Better drilling fluid circulation allows cuttings and heat to be flushed away easily. The Shaw core drill rock penetration ratesrate of 20 in. (55 cm.) per minute in medium hardness basalt is due, about equally, to these two factors.

 

Q. How important is it to precisely measure the gasoline and two-stroke engine oil components for the Shaw drill Kawasaki TJ 53 engine to achieve a 50:1 ratio?

A. The need to perform this job precisely can hardly be over-emphasized. A slightly reduced gasoline to two-stroke engine oil ratio fuel mixture can, and unfortunately for sad Kawasaki 53 owners, does, result in a burned piston head. A too high oil to gasoline ratio mixture causes oil fouling of spark plug, carburetor and muffler which, in turn, prevents engine starting. Most containers of two stroke engine oil have marks on the side for measurement in ounces or milliliters. Sometimes helpful printed schedules of ounces or milliliters needed per gasoline volume for various fuel ratios are presented on the oil product labels.

 

Q. Is it really necessary to file Shaw saber bits?

A. Yes, the Shaw drill operator must file his “saber” steel pedestal embedded bits whenever the half diameter water slots in the steel between diamond segments become noticeably shallow. One of the reasons that Shaw saber bits are very fast cutting is that there is exceptional drilling fluid circulation, from the water slots, over and between the diamond segments and their working diamonds. Diligent filing also allows for long bit life because the entire length (usually 18 mm) of the diamond impregnated segment can be used up before bit retirement.

 

Q. How fast should hard rock drilling proceed with the Shaw drill?

A. A nearly foolproof way to determine the appropriate drilling rate for the Shaw drill is to listen attentively to the pitch of the running engine. If the pitch is too high, it means that the diamond bit is not digging into a probably very hard rock and is therefore failing to cut it. If the pitch is too low, it means that the engine is being overburdened or “lugged”. If overburdened, the engine’s centrifugal clutch may slip and be in danger of burning. The Shaw drill feed rate is extremely easy to control in hand held, or mast held configurations. The rigging package makes it even easier to control with finger-light control of rigging line tension. Learning the correct pitch of the comfortably but productively working Kawasaki 53 engine must be done in the field, and, once learned, will remain permanently in the operator’s “bones”. The Shaw engine should be run at full throttle at all times when working.

 

Q. Can the Shaw drill be used effectively in broken rock such as fault gouge or highly jointed, rock?

A. Yes it can; however, slippage and consequent double wedging of rock fragments against the outside of the drill string after they have been cut by the core bit can cause a drill string “lockup”.  Rock fragment jamming inside the bit mouth can cause failure of the core to pass smoothly into the core barrel. This would be true, of course, for any core drilling system. Moving to a different boring location or routine “tripping out” or removal of the entire drill string and subsequent bit clearing are useful procedures in these suboptimal conditions.

 

Q. How deep can mast assisted Shaw drill rock borings be advanced?

A.  Although the increasing mass of the drill string with depth and the horsepower (2.7 HP at sea level) of the Shaw drill are constants, potential boring depth depends somewhat on drilling conditions such as rock hardness and abrasiveness of the rock being drilled and on the skill of the operator. Less abrasive rock such as granite offers less sidewall friction and therefore the potential for somewhat deeper borings, while soft, lithic sandstones, for example, being more abrasive, might offer more sidewall friction which would limit boring depth. An experienced operator might be able to reduce downward force on a drill string to avoid burning his centrifugal clutch and continue to drill while someone less experienced would have to stop advancing a deep boring.  A good rule of thumb depth limit of 20 meters can be used.

 

Q. How long does it take to set up the Shaw mast system in the field?

A.  Shaw mast setup can take one man about twenty minutes. If, however, the mast is pre-assembled and rigged and is carried to the site and two men work on it, then setup time can be just ten minutes.

 

Q. Is there any limitation on the drilling angle to the vertical that is possible with the Shaw mast?

A.  No, the mast beam angle to the vertical can be zero to ninety degrees, as long as the bit enters the soil or rock at a reasonably short distance from the bottom of the mast foot. A fully horizonal boring theoretically might have no contact with the ground. The mast, if properly anchored to the ground at the stakes, both at two equidistant points three meters from the mast and one under the mast itself and also pinned in place by the mast strut, is stable.

 

Q. Is rigging the Shaw mast difficult?

A. Yes, it is difficult. With the use of the rigging diagram supplied with the mast, however, a new user can do it. If the rigging is required for deep drilling (heavy drill string lifting) or drilling in very hard rock (for applying extra downward force) then it is best to use it. It is good practice to keep the rigging harness organized as a unit and leave it attached to the mast, if possible, or if that can’t be done, detached but in ordered bundles of line held together by Velcro strips and ready for easy carabiner re-attachment to mast system eyebolts. Leaving the mast and rigging together in an ATV trailer would be ideal. For short borings in normal rock use of the Shaw rigging harness is not recommended.

Prospecting

portability

 

A complete kit of Shaw placer sampling and hard rock coring equipment in its backpack, including two gallons (8 l.) of drilling fluid, weighs about 55 lbs. (25 kg). An average man can carry this load through shallow streams, on sometimes steep trails through rough country or forested areas and up or down steep slopes. Such backpack kits can be carried in the boot of a car, in a pickup bed, on the rack of an ATV, in a small boat or raft, or on a horses’ back.

 

dual-purpose

​

By carrying both a placer wide kerf sampling bit mounted on its own core barrel and a narrow kerf, fast cutting rock cutting bit mounted on its’ core barrel, a prospector can quickly switch between collecting rock cores or placer deposit cores in his wilderness investigations. Both of these tools use the same compression bottle water supply, engine, water swivel, and reliable bayonet couplings which can be opened (usually) by hand. 

​

low fuel usage

The relatively tiny Shaw Gen3 Kawasaki J53 two stroke engine consumes about one quart (1 liter) of mixed petroleum fuel per running hour. But drilling and sampling is an intermittent activity; actual engine run time is less than half that. Therefore, it is reasonable to top off the engine fuel tank and then carry a one-gallon (4 L.) container of mixed fuel into the field for a full day of prospecting work.

​

low water usage

 

Polymer gelled water, being substantially more viscous than un-amended water and therefore capable of carrying much greater drill cuttings loads, is far more efficient than pure water as drilling fluid. Much less of it is needed

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

Q. For successful use of Shaw soil sampling equipment, how important is it to add polymer (e.g. EZ Mud) to drilling water?

A. Hugely. Polymer amendment (1) greatly reduces water usage, (2) allows drilling and sampling of clay by its’ clay encapsulating behavior, (3) lubricates the rotating drill string, the non-rotating sampler capsule and the soil sampler core bit, and (4) prevents clay sticking to metal surfaces of the drill string, drilling fluid injectors of the bit, and the bit segment cutting surfaces.

 

Q. How much polymer should I add to my drilling water?

A. To prepare drilling fluid, tiny amounts of polymer, either in liquid or dry form, should be sprinkled in slowly and carefully into water while mi as it is a very powerful gelling agent with vigorous wire whip or electric tool mixing, into clean water until the resulting mixture reaches the viscosity of a smooth, no lumps, gelatinous (ropy) medium syrup. The resulting fluid will naturally stratify into high viscosity and a low viscosity layers in short time; therefore, it must be re-mixed with the whip or stirring rod every thirty minutes or so.

 

Q. How important is it to precisely measure the gasoline and two-stroke engine oil components for the Shaw drill Kawasaki TJ 53 engine to achieve a 50:1 ratio fuel mixture?

A. Exact measurement of two stroke engine oil and regular gasoline for use in the Kawasaki TJ 53 engine can hardly be over-emphasized. A slightly reduced gasoline to two-stroke engine oil ratio fuel mixture can, and unfortunately for Kawasaki 53 owners, does, sometimes result in an irreparably burned piston head and cylinder walls. A too high oil to gasoline ratio mixture causes oil fouling of spark plug, carburetor and muffler which, in turn, which can make engine starting impossible.

 

Q. If the Shaw soil/placer sampler is substantially different than other types, how does it work?

A. There are several mechanical features of the Shaw sampler which allow it to sample loose gravel deposits, even underwater: (1) a skirted, water injected diamond core bit which cuts pebbles and fine gravel but directs drilling fluid around and then through bit injector holes outside of a sampler tube and sampler, (2) a closed capsule sampler which protects captured  sample material from drilling fluid erosion, (3) limited bearing surface sampler cap which prevents torque transmission from the bayonet coupling , and (4) a valved air vent mounted in the cap which prevents air compression inside the sampler capsule, and, after sample capture, holds it inside by vacuum (clam gun effect).

 

Q. What drill penetration rate is best for placer/soil sampling?

A. This must be determined by the Shaw drill operator, depending mostly on the earth material being penetrated. For example, a soft, sandy silt placer can reasonably be penetrated fairly quickly, as long as drilling fluid moves to the surface easily, indicating good drilling fluid circulation. A rocky placer lens, on the other hand, would necessarily take longer to penetrate even if the rocks were soft, comprised of, for example, limestone (Mohs scale 3). An even slower rate of penetration would be required if the rocks were very hard, such as those comprised of granite (Mohs scale 6.5 - 8.0 or jadeite (Mohs scale 7.0 – 8.0). A slow rate of penetration would certainly be called for when drilling in clay, which is probably a core driller’s worst enemy due to its diamond bit “slicking” behavior and its great adhesiveness to drill string metal parts. 

A general rule of thumb to follow in maintaining a sustainable and efficient drilling rate is to act according to working engine sound. If the engine sound (pitch) is low, the engine is being overworked and the transmission centrifugal clutch shoes might be slipping inside the clutch drum, leading to likely failure. If a working engine has a high pitch, this indicates that the diamond bit has somehow worn smooth and it is not cutting: bit dressing or filing or both, or application of more bit weight are indicated.

 

Q. Diamond bits can be quickly worn in abrasive soils or placer sand. How can excessive bit wear be avoided?

A. Shaw soil sampling bits are made with wide sintered diamond segments with generous clearance on both internal and external surfaces for extended bit life. These segments are made with a hard (high cobalt concentration) matrix and high diamond concentration to resist abrasion. 

 

Q.  If drilling in placer gravel and sand in river bedload deposits, can the driller expect his boring to stay open after retraction of the core barrel and lengths of drill string?

A.  Usually, yes. Generally speaking, drilling water, well mixed with polymer additive and used sparingly will form an adequately strong “wall cake” which will prevent boring wall collapse during or after drill string and core barrel removal. If the borings do collapse, then more polymer should be added to the drilling fluid to increase the strength of the wall cake.

 

Q.  Are two-inch diameter placer gravel cores affected by polymer amended water drilling fluid?

A.  Not much. Shaw drill placer cores are coated with a mixture of viscous drilling fluid and rock cuttings, but this minimal coating can be instantly rinsed away by gold panning or sluicing.

Environmental Applications

portability

The man-portable Shaw drill can be used almost anywhere in otherwise difficult of access places in tight urban or industrial locations including inside buildings, under trees, behind walls and fences, in roadless and steep places.

 

versatility

The same Shaw drill can be used for site contaminant release mapping, monitoring well installation, and remediation injection or aeration points, sometimes without the need of using the Shaw mast or even of changing bits and core barrels. Some of the many borings needed for adequate site mapping can be used as monitoring wells and others can be used as remediation system injection points.

 

high work output

A two-man crew, using bayonet coupled drill string, compression bottles and a 25 gal. (100 L) tank as a drilling fluid backup supply, can drill many dozens of short borings in a work day. Deployment and cleanup times are negligible.

 

low water use

Drilling water use is minimized with the use of polymer because viscous drilling fluid can carry so greater cuttings load.

 

low fuel use

A day of drilling will only require about one gal. (4 L.) of mixed 50:1 gasoline to engine oil fuel.

 

safety

Although thousands of Shaw drills have been purchased and used worldwide, there have never been reported any injuries resulting from their use.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

 

Q. Can I use some of my mapping borings later in the project for monitoring well building?

A. Yes. The 62 mm OD borings which the Shaw Gen3 drill produces in pavement, soil or rockmakes a perfectly fine monitoring well of 50 mm (2 in.) ID. If there were dozens or more Shawmapping borings made, then the monitoring wells can be nicely arrayed ahead of, within on theplume axis, to the sides of and beyond the tail of the plume.

 

Q. Can I use some or all of my mapping borings for in-situ gasoline release remediation systemair injection?

A. Yes. The 62 mm OD borings produced by the Shaw Gen3 drill can be used for fine, largediameter, therefore highly effective aeration column installations.

 

Q. Can the polymer modified water drilling fluid prevent boring collapse in crushed rock appliedbeneath pavement?

A. Yes. Polymer modified drilling water can, particularly when thickly mixed with cuttings ofsoil or rock, stabilize commonly used ¾ inch minus crushed rock such that a Shaw drill 60 mmboring will not likely collapse. This is an important advantage in Shaw bayonet style drill string(fast) investigations.

 

Q. Can a Shaw drill user better able to avoid damaging buried utility lines than with the use ofbigger, more powerful drills?

A. Yes. Of course, the operator of a Shaw hand held drill has a far better chance of detecting byfeel and sometimes sound, underground utility lines when his gently turning diamond drill bitfirst touches them than would be the case for the operator of much larger, (louder) and morepowerful drill rigs which depend on massive torque applied to aggressive bits for drilladvancement.

 

Q. Can the Shaw drill be used safely beneath overhead power lines?

A. Yes. If the drill string never extends beyond its short, 6 ft. (2 m) length mast, then the risk ofelectrical arcing between the Shaw mast and overhead power lines is very small.

 

Q. Can the Shaw drill be used beneath tree canopies?

A. Yes. It frequently is used in forests. Nearby tree trunks and exposed roots can be great ratchetstrap anchor points and the Shaw short mast typically does not reach anywhere near the base ofthe tree’s first limbs.

The Shaw hand pump described here has only been designed in detail but has not yet been produced. It is presented here as informational only, on which orders could be made. Still, the Shaw 60mm hollow stem drilling system is capable of continuous drilling and allows installing of wells on its own.​

Domestic Water Supply Wells

awkward location installation

Because Shaw domestic water supply or monitoring wells are installed with man-portable Shaw diamond core drills, these can be installed in roadless, otherwise difficult of access locations.

​

low cost

The cost of advancing Shaw diamond core drill borings is minimal as are the pump components, both above-ground and at depth.

 

highest quality materials

Shaw pump parts, including above-ground pump body and handle, sucker rods, and downhole piston pump body, are made of 304 food grade stainless steel which is a strong steel and very resistant to corrosion. The internal parts of the downhole pump are made of 304 and Teflon for valves and balls which is an elastic material resistant to abrasion and impact.

​

reliable well seals

Sanitary seals for domestic water supply wells, although typically required by law to prevent contamination of groundwater by surface runoff, inevitably fail due to erosion of the seal’s exposed bentonite mass by ground or surface water. The plugged bentonite cartridge well seal newly invented by Shaw as part of the Gen3 suite of innovations, does not expose its bentonite sealant mass to erosion by ground or surface water.

​

high efficiency hand pumps

Because the Shaw two-handed pump was intended to be a sole water source tool for the supply of households where electricity for driving submersible pumps was unavailable, its above-ground pump was designed to ergonomically harness the strength of the large muscle groups of the human body, its source of power. The Shaw downhole pump parts were designed to facilitate easy passage of water around the shaped hydrodynamically shaped piston balls and through its relatively large openings valves.

bottom of page