Are You Going Underground the Smart Way?
If you are looking for a pneumatic mole, you either want to lay pipe underground without the fuss or bother. You want speed. You want less digging. You also want clean results free of damage on the surface. It meets those requirements in a lot of small drilling jobs.
A pneumatic mole is powered by compressed air. It advances by bursts of pressure. Instead of removing earth, the tool pushes it aside. This makes it useful for very short straight runs underground.
What is a Pneumatic Mole Used for?
It’s the type of machine that is commonly used for small pipe and cable work. Water lines, gas pipes and fiber ducts are typical cases. It does well in city environments where open trenching produces headaches.
Straight hole is made that does not have big pits by the mole. Entrance and exit holes remain small. This reduces the need for onerous surface repair, which is a time and money saver.
Put Simply, How Does It Work?
The tool is hooked up to an air compressor. - It’s the moving piston that strikes the body. With every hit, the mole is driven deeper into the ground. Soil is pushed aside to make a neat path.
There are no rotating parts. There are no cutting blades. This is the key to a simple, strong design. Less is also less in failure count at work.
Pneumatic Mole: Best Uses
This machine works best on soft to medium stuff. And clay, or sand mixed ground answers fine. Shorter ranges are better, typically less than 15 meters.
Rocky soil is not ideal. Dense rocks can force the mole off track. In these situations, guided boring techniques may be preferred.
Benefits That Make It Popular
One clear benefit is speed. Setup takes little time. Operation is straightforward even for green crews. Once set, the tool handles the rest.
Another advantage is low surface damage. Roads, sidewalks, gardens remain undisturbed. It’s important in city work and residential zones, as well.
Maintenance is also easy. The tool just needs occasional oiling and clean air to continue running. The same unit is often used by people for years.
Limits You Should Know
The biggest limit is control. The implement runs straight but cannot steer. Correct setup is critical. A slight error in angle may be magnified over distance.
Depth control is also limited. The mole then follows the line established at launch. The entry pit you’re planning matters more than many people realize.
Pneumatic Mole & Other Boring Tools
It requires less labor than manual digging. It’s cheaper and moves more readily than bigger boring rigs. It provides a good middle-ground between trivial and heavy solutions.
For short pipe runs, it generally offers the best mix of cost and speed.
Is It Worth Using?
If your work is composed of short, straight underground runs, the answer is yes. It also just makes work easy and clean. It cuts down on complaints and repairs.
Other methods may work better for long or complicated routes. It all depends on the task at hand of course.
The pneumatic mole is not for every job. But when it’s in the right soil, boy, does it pump. It is fast, easy, and it works. It’s still a tried-and-true underground option for contractors across the country.
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