Installing a Gravel Pack in Your Well - Drill Your Own Well Series

[MountainDweller67]

FYI, for those like me that have done these in 'very remote' regions, I bought a 500-gal reserve farm tank, then used a 1-1/2" electric pump to fill it from a nearby creek for my jet-water, then used the same pump and some step-downs to power a very-similar drill. A good 5k generator, some jerry cans, and you can do this in the boonies, guaranteed. Biggest 'ouch' was buying that 500-gal tank...but it is now on a platform to give me a pressure head on a second water source for livestock.

[dawmlw]

@MountainDweller67 nice!

[TheHeartOfTheLion]

why is the gravel important? Just wondering.

[dawmlw]

@TheHeartOfTheLion In most cases, it is not. Most wells are installed with well screens and without gravel packs and they work just fine.

[juanmatus100]

@dawmlw how many feet can be drill with this method

[dawmlw]

@juanmatus100 Typically, about 25 to 30.

[vutEwa]

Thank you very much for sharing these freely with us. What a great idea to try. Too bad I have no water from which to power this but.. it's a great idea! Maybe someone could do a recirculating water thing.

[gman5670]

These are great videos! WELL DONE:)) I am going to dig mine at the end of this month using you video / procedures. Can you make one showing how to install the well pump - start from the end of the "Gravel Pack " video and go on from there to the end. Thanks

Oh yeah! I live in Jacksonville, Florida - how far do I need to go down to hit good clear (no rustic) water? Water that want leave a brownish-rusty color on everything the water was used on!

[dawmlw]

@gman5670 I don't have any immediate plans to install a pump but when I do, I'll put up a video. I have no idea how deep you have to go to avoid the rusty water. My well is 200 feet and I have it. Sorry.

[reddesertrider1]

@gman5670 about 6 feet to hit water, about 200 feet for clean water

[gman5670]

These are great videos! WELL DONE:)) I am going to dig mine at the end of this month using you video / procedures. Can you make one showing how to install the well pump - start from the end of the "Gravel Pack " video and go on from there to the end. Thanks

[dawmlw]

I put numerous pictures of the handle on the website so folks could see how the handle was made.

[jacknj777]

Dawmlw - You DIDN'T make a video on how to make and install the handle for the drill. If you could make a video on it, that would be great. Thanks for everything so far. : )

[dawmlw]

The annulus created by this type of "drilling" is much smaller than standard drilling creates. The gravel would get stuck going down if I poured it down the sides. You are right that mud would stabilize the hole but that would require a recirculating system and more expense. This is just a very, very cheap way for folks to drill a 30 or 35 foot hole and avoid having to pay a driller a few thousand dollars provided they have a high static water level. Thanks for looking at the video!

[JerryLaBouef]

@dawmlw Sr. could you show how to extract the water out of the well? what size of pump would you need? and how would you set it up for irrigation? Thanks, your videos are very helpful, keep it up.

[dawmlw]

@JerryLaBouef Sorry, I'm no pump expert. I just wanted to show folks how to make a shallow well inexpensively.

[CarbonBl4ck]

why on earth are you putting gravel pack down the casing, just pour it down the anulas.......trust me ive been drilling wells in australia for years. you wouldnt get 1 m doing it this way. good effort but you need mud to stabilze the bore hole, to lift cuttings ect. your custom drill bit is just hilarious.

good luck !!!!!

[donyunger]

@CarbonBl4ck Or course it's all relative, if you view the the first 2 parts you would have seen that his conditions where stable enough drilling mud wasn't needed.

[dawmlw]

This method will not drill that far. It is for shallow irrigation wells.

[drdave771]

The problem with this is you need proper casing and a sanitary seal (Benoite) and in most areas especially in NY, you have to have Min. 50 Ft of casing. Someone who drills a lousy well will not only poison their own water but contaminate everyones well in the area.

[dawmlw]

You can use a gravel pack in lieu of a sand point (well screen) but I'd suggest using a well screen if you are just going to use one or the other.

[sxr951]

gravel pack? is that so u dont need a sand point?

[dawmlw]

The PVC in the video was 3 inch. I'd recommend you start with two inch. The wellhead is available from Brady. It is called a T-pack. I will be posting another video soon showing how to make your own.

[painterdave843]

What size pvc did you use to drill the hole? ad ca you explain how you built the head where the water flows thru to the tube?

Thanks

[dawmlw]

attach a pump!

[WONDOCTORJ]

OK, now what?