help to find reliable 3 foot drillers in Lightning Ridge

[Digging Hard]

Hi prospectors,I need some help to find reliable 3 foot drillers in Lightning Ridge!If anyone can help me with a homepage,email,ph to get in touch with them?I and a few m8's need to drill a hole or two near the Ridge!Can I still expect to pay approx 80 AU$ a foot?I have been told those with reaming is the best ones to save time to open up the hole at the bottom!Cost alot?How much to clean an old 3foot hole?Homepages,emails > contractors drilling 9inch holes would also be appreciated!How much a foot?I would also like to buy long throw hoist in good condition with 100 feet of ladders!Best shot to find one?

Thanks in advance - Digging Hard

 

[Syndyne]

G'day Digging Hard,

It's been a while since we drilled a hole, but I can tell you they average around the $20p/foot mark today -extra if blasting is required. Most drillers are listed in the Lightning Ridge local phone book, though it depends on what field you're on, when you want the holes drilled etc.

You can contact the Mines Department for general info on (02) 6829 9200 or, the Lightning Ridge Miners Association on (02) 6829 0427 they could also help get you onto a possible driller. They should be able to offer a good guide on hole prices too. Not real sure about a 9" auger price as it's been about ten years since we drilled a 9" hole on a claim.

Getting tough to find good strong hoists today as they are mostly sitting around rusting away. It's only every so often that they come up on the notice boards for sale around town. You could advertise for one in the local paper The Ridge News Ph. (02) 6829 2150. Personally I'd probably build one from scratch to make sure it was up to the task. That's not an ideal option for some however.

All the best mate.
Cheers,
Shauno.

 

[Digging Hard]

Hi and thanks for your effort Shauno!OK,great,then I have a look in the local phone book!It's kind of weird why none has a homepage if they want to do business!I tried REMA Opals but no replay from emails!He is suposed to be located up at Andromeda Rd close to the air strip!I will have a look at LRMA and the Mines Department!Thanks!

Concerning a long throw hoist!How is a newcomer suposed to be able to start mining if he can't buy one of these?In a town living on miners it should be a place where we all could rent and buy new and second hand hoists!Better if the miners sell them to a dealer instead having them rusting away on the fields!

I found a guy online by the name Knud Nexo!Is he building,selling hoists?I will only be in the Ridge for 2-4 months,so I need one pretty quick or I can't mine!Maybe I get lucky on the noticeboards or if I travel to Grawin?If you find one on the noticeboards,please let me know since I am not in the Ridge right now!

Thanks again and Good Luck - Digging Hard

 

[Syndyne]

G'day Digging Hard,

No problems at all. Yeah, drillers can be hard to get onto at times. Most of them mine or have other businesses to attend to. These days it's just a bit of cash on the side for the few drillers still about.

The reason hoists are getting hard to come by now is the trend towards the bigger (and far more expensive) gear like hydraulic diggers, blowers and super hoists etc. All the patience has gone out of opal mining these days. Most seem to want to rip a claim out in a month or two and move on, instead of doing a bit of hard work and enjoying the rewards of digging a good stone or two by hand.

There could well be the odd hoist sitting around the Grawin area as that was the last decent strike in the early 2000's. I'm sure you'll come up with something. Make sure it's not too rusty or worn out and check the bow at the top for any signs of wear from the bucket wheels/bearings. Another thing to keep an eye on is that all the ladders match up correctly and fit together well. It can become a nightmare to set up if they don't match lol.

Let common sense and safety first prevail and all will be fine. I know that some gear needs to pass a safety inspection, -though I don't know if hoists are included in these regulations. Possibly something to ask the department.

We haven't dealt with Knud in many years so I'd have no idea if he's still building hoists? Quite possible he may have one or two sitting around? It's been very quiet up here as far as mining goes so many of the other engineering places shut down or closed up a few years back.

Don't panic though, a few phone calls should set you on the right path and get you sorted

All the best,
Shauno.

 

[Digging Hard]

G'day Shauno,

I must say all the info you provided above will help me out alot,I am sure!Do you have any clue how much for a long throw?It depends on the shape it's in ofcourse but yeah,not to much rust and everything is working alright + ladders fitting all the way)!So it's not to many hard working miners nowadays,just big machinery,that's kind of sad isn't it!Anyhow,I am sure it's a few around with a jackhammer in one hand and the screwdriver in the other to pick out the gemsI am sure I get back tou you closer to Aug!I hope that is ok 4 you!

Thanks and Good Luck - Digging Hard