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Tips for carrying your gear around

hlb2 hlb2
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Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by hlb2 on Oct 25, 2010 8:01 am

I have used a lathe bag for the past 5 years and I seem to go through about 2 a year, sometimes more.  I put everything in there when I leave the truck though, including the shovel and metal detector.  I was putting the machette in there without the scabbord, but found that to cut holes in the bag very very quickly, so I now have it in the scabbord.  This has helped, but the shovel and the iron rods wear out the bag pretty quick.  Plus it can get quite heavy toting it over your shoulder along with the rod and bipod etc. Any solo guys out there use something to haul everything around with while you are working?

V
Poor Little P Dop Poor Little P Do...
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Poor Little P Dop on Oct 25, 2010 8:25 am

Use your stake bag for the lath only, get a bag that is coated and it will last longer. Also, with the bag put the points up to keep from damage. The machete has a scabbard  the scabbard has a belt loop, machetes go great in scabbards on the ol belt and they look cool. If you don't like the look of the scabbard or something uncomfortable about it, take a grinding wheel and flatten the end so no point keeps from killing you bag. Also, I never carry a shovel  you will find that if you use the flat end machete (if you grind it down that is) it will double as a digging tool. This way you don't have some lady coming out her front door screaming that you are destroying her front lawn. You can dig a great plug of grass that fits right back down in the hole you dug to recover your monument.  Also, purchase a side bag (looks like a purse of some kind and no I don't wear a purse) put your iron pins in there and things like hammer, hubs, hammer drill can of goat cheese if you like, whatever).Get a nice leather belt and leather pouch from loews or somewhere and modify it. I cut out some internal pockets on mine and used liquid electric tape to cover the ends and rivots exposed and it is perfect, it beats all that are on the market. Then get a double roll flagging pouch, not the loose ones get the one with the flap on top that snaps shut with brass leaders. Strap on the old machete and this belt is the ultimate surveying battle pack. Get on the job strap on the belt put paperwork in it and you are 50% ready for hitting the ground running everytime. Nails, flagging, markers, tacks, machete, ID washers, ID caps, compact alan wrench, Keel all ready to go each time. Seems like it would weigh alot but it dosen't at all, especially if you get the wide belt and treat it with mink oil so it takes perfect form to your body.

Poor Little P Dop Poor Little P Do...
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Poor Little P Dop on Oct 25, 2010 8:38 am

Oh and about that bi-pod thing, get a steady stick. Folds on its own and very compact and not such a #it*ch to lug around. Skill level 6 out of 10 on holding a rod steady. I know someone will write back that you should only use a tribrach and a cane and a Zero OS prizm to take any sight at all times no matter what even on some old crusty post only on the line between two monuments, but they are wrong pls build skills. Check it out some time a guy pattened the thing I think in Ohio called a steady stick. Then crane took it and now is Seco since they were bought out and I don't know what they call it now. Its really is nice and works very well, I am a one man band and rely upon it everyday. I bought mine at Precision products in Lexington Kentucky they would know what I am talking about if you can't find it on the www.
Poor Little P Dop Poor Little P Do...
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Poor Little P Dop on Oct 25, 2010 9:06 am

Seco calls it a Gardner rod. I use a Trimble S6, It hold up an active prizm with the data collector very well. The only thing is if you have been bottle fed on holding steady for too long using a bi-pod you will need to get back to basics and work the bubble keeping it real to the skills of being a surveyor. One hand operation after shot and one hand operation when picked up, closing on its own to put over shoulder.

wayne griffin wayne griffin
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by wayne griffin on Oct 25, 2010 10:57 am

I've used a golf bag for 20 plus years.  They are light weight, very sturdy, lots of zipper pockets for flagging, nails, etc, and they have a hard plastic bottom that doesn't puncture very easy.  Plus they balance with lots of stuff in them using the shoulder strap, just like golf clubs, which free's up a hand.   I usually get 1-2 yrs out of one.  They are all over at garage sales, swap meets, pawn shops, etc for under $10.
Paul Montero Paul Montero
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Paul Montero on Oct 25, 2010 1:24 pm

Why would a lathe come in a bag?

Rusty Chain
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Rusty Chain on Oct 26, 2010 12:46 pm

Paul Montero:
Why would a lathe come in a bag?
 

Sawdust control?  For making round hubs in the field?  Seems like a lot of extra weight though.


On a more serious note, you drop your machete in the bag and it makes a hole only after doing so several times?  Carrying your equipment isn't your only issue, proper maintenance should also be a concern.

Carry your shovel with the head up, handle down.  Get a lath bag big enough to put a 5 gallon bucket into.  when you load it up, slide the lath around the outside of the bucket, put your hubs in the bucket.  The bucket will also proctect the bottom from the rod tips and that over-sized butter knife you've been carrying around.

Don't use your machete to dig unless you couldn't bring a shovel.  A machete is for cutting.  If you dig with it, you will then be working a whole lot harder to cut with it later.  A sharp machete is a safe machete.  If you want to save space with the shovel, get one of the compact folding types.  Digging is a little more work than with a full sized shovel, but a lot easier than with your butterknife.  One of the most important tools in my truck is the shovel.  It's what you use to find buried monuments.  Make sure you have a a digging tool that isn't going to cause you to quit in frustration after digging only 4" or so.

The golf bag idea seems like it would work well too.


Randy Gray Randy Gray
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Randy Gray on Oct 27, 2010 8:40 am

Sounds like everybody is trying to carry around everything.  I work solo 99% of the time, so I take what I need and leave the rest in the truck.  Construction staking most of the time, so a little different than boundary work.  If I'm putting in stakes, I don't normally need hubs.   If using hubs, don't usually need stakes, use flags instead.  I carry stakes (bull pin if necessary) in a stake sling from Lo-Ink, hubs in a milk carton.  Figure up how many stakes I need and flag them up on the tailgate.  Always take a few extra.  If it's more than I can carry, go far enough to use up half and use the other half on the other side coming back.  Then move the truck up.  Hammer (sized to the job) on a hammer loop, flags stuck in my belt, nails (flagged), markers, field book, etc. in a pouch.  Use a Rod Rest so it's one handed.  Can mark and drive stakes with the sling still over the shoulder if necessary.  That's how I do it.  Worked OK since 1992.  A little extra planning saves carrying around a lot of extra weight.
john halnon john halnon
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by john halnon on Oct 27, 2010 10:38 am

I saw a crew use an old golf hand cart for road staking many years ago and i have adopted the same since. I strap a hard plastic buket to the bottom which holds the typical stake bag a little better. I can stuff about a dozen grade stakes in at a time. Plus I can actually use the side pockets for extra items and they won't fall out. Easy to fold up and throw in the back of the truck later.
John

Old Shatterhand Old Shatterhand
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Old Shatterhand on Oct 28, 2010 4:00 pm



Plagiary!!!!!:)

But your bucket is more elegant like my sack.
A viewcard from Hungary.




James Whitaker
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by James Whitaker on Nov 3, 2010 11:08 pm

I use to be the mule and carry this and that.  Then I started taking only what was necessary, but always had to eturn to the truck.  Finally, I bought an ATV and now I can carry the truck if necessary.

I know    smart @@s!

Have a good day
SURV1969
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by SURV1969 on Nov 7, 2010 7:17 am

I don't have an ATV . . . don't want one.

I say that instead of figuring out how to carry all that stuff, reduce the stuff you carry.

I haven't used rods for a long time(except where access is pretty easy).  I use 3/16 metal rods with reflective tape at the top, instead of carrying a couple of actual prism poles(I set them slightly off plumb, then set nails during my setup) . . . and so what, that sometimes I have to set a traverse point more closely to a found pin or something. I can traverse rather fast and the backsites/forsites are very precise . . . and very much readily available.

This leaves my arms to carry other stuff, like a pin-finder and tripod.  I no longer use a machete and favor clippers, which fit in my pocket.

Often, if there is a precise spot to be turned to "back in the back", I'll turn to it, set up a backsite(usually on the roadway), hoof back with my stuff and shoot the distance in reverse, while saving a lot of time and again taking less equipment with me.
ward kelsey ward kelsey
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by ward kelsey on Nov 8, 2010 6:35 pm

Try a golf bag, get one of those with a circular top and remove the dividers at the top. They also have some large exrerior pockets which would be handy for a small sledge etc. Many have a place for an umbrella which could be used for your survey rod.
fence viewer
hlb2 hlb2
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by hlb2 on Apr 25, 2011 5:33 pm

Seems like a golf bag would be awkward in rough conditions?

V
William Wenzel William Wenzel
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by William Wenzel on Apr 27, 2011 11:19 pm

Lath bag dilemma: Pro: Little weight, and when it's empty it can be rolled up and even stuffed in a a pocket. Con: Fragile, gets holes.

I took my lath bag and turned it inside out, then glued some heavy leather to the bottom and a few inches up the sides, and turned it right side again. Still is without holes. Even carry rebars in it.

I do have a hand golf cart, $5 at a garage sale - hard to beat that. Pro: cheap, not as light, but way more mobile, as long as you're on an athletic field. Can lean the prism pole against it so it doesn't fall over.  Con: Won't work in the woods, a lot of construction sites, or most places for that metter. Takes up room in the truck. Won't fold up in your pocket when empty. I find don't use mine a lot.

So I use the lath bag, or a bucket when I only set hubs. When I stake roads or utilities, I use my ATV.

A word about machetes. Mine is razor (and I mean razor) sharp, like a machete should be. You stick it in the ground, you sharpen it back up - on your own time. Same if you hit a rock - they're not made to cut rocks. A sharp machete is a safe machete, and it's easy and fast to use. You use a scabbard for a razor sharp machete. LIke the old Army saying: Shovels and machetes; One is for digging, the other is for fun.

Rusty Chain: Digging is a little more work than with a full sized shovel, but a lot easier than with your butterknife. LOL! Got that right.

I use a tree spade, and sharpen that too - to double as a brush ax of sorts.


Caj
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by Caj on Apr 28, 2011 6:23 pm

Try this bag: It's a multi-purpose field bag

This land surveying bag is designed to hold many types of equipment with four exterior pockets and convenient carry-strap. Also equipped with breathe holes to help water drain out.  A must for every land surveyor on the field.




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hlb2 hlb2
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Re: Tips for carrying your gear around

Posted by hlb2 on May 4, 2011 2:20 pm

Caj:
Try this bag: It's a multi-purpose field bag

This land surveying bag is designed to hold many types of equipment with four exterior pockets and convenient carry-strap. Also equipped with breathe holes to help water drain out.  A must for every land surveyor on the field.



 Good looking bag, where do you get those?

V

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