Operating Instructions

6 Easy Steps to underground pipe installation with Borit

((Always make sure the End Cap screws are hand tight and the shaft can still be turned by hand. Failure to maintain the end cap screws will cause the tool to come apart.))

• Attach galvanized coupling to one end of threaded drill pipe (schedule 40, 3/4″ galvanized water pipe is recommended for most drilling situations). Screw the Borit bit into coupling on target end and connect the other end of drill pipe to the reducing coupling on the Borit Tool. Any length of drill pipe from 3 to 20 feet can be used depending on drilling conditions.

• Connect Garden Hose to ball valve, place drive hex in drill check and tighten firmly. Use a TRIANGULAR CHUCK - INDUSTRIAL DRILL ((We Recommend a Milwaukee 0234-6 Industrial Drill)) (Most Home Depot / Lowes type supply stores DO NOT STOCK this type of drill) (electric, gasoline, or pneumatic) Industrial Drill with 1/2″, 5/8″, or 3/4″ chuck. With electric drills use GFCI receptacle for safety. Bore at speeds of 350 to 450 RPM. Keep ball valve turned off until you are ready to start the bore, then open valve slightly and start to bore so water hole in bit is not plugged.

• To prep for a bore, dig a ditch slightly deeper than the starting point of the bore hole, and long enough to hold the drill pipe, drill, and Borit tool. For shallow bores, the ditch should be slightly wider than the drill. Deeper bores require enough room in the ditch for the operator to handle the drill, Borit Tool, and drill pipe. If working in the drill trench, dig a sump hole below the face of the bore hole to collect the flush water.

• Slowly turn on water valve until drill pipe is fill. Turn on drill and start your bore. Push the drill forward to maintain the forward momentum of the bore at about one foot per minute. In hard soils, a pry bar will make the boring much easier.

• When the first length of pipe is almost entirely in the bore hole, turn off the and power. Uncouple the drill pipe from the Borit Tool, add another length of drill pipe and continue your bore as before.

• When you’ve tunneled through, turn off the water and power and remove the Borit bit. Attach whatever you are installing —– PVC, poly, copper, or galvanized pipe, conduit or cable to the end of the drill pipe. As you withdraw the pipe you will be pulling the material back through the hole toward you.

Congratulations! You just saved yourself a lot of labor, time, and money!

Additional operational notes

In most soils, Borit requires a little effort to push the bit through. However, gravel does not compress and takes more ‘push’ as does clay and compacted fill. Difficult boring may require more water and the use of a pry bar. Even under such difficult conditions, you should be able to bore about a foot a minute.

Don’t bore too fast or use too much water in extremely SANDY SOIL. Boring in sand is similar to building a ‘sand castle’; if the sand is too dry it crumbles, and if it’s too wet, it collapses. The rotation of the bit combined with the water from the hose will cause the sand to ‘bridge up’ and form the perfect hole. Experiment with how much water to use and how fast to push the Borit Tool. Start by just barely turning the water on with the ball valve and only boring 12 to 18 inches per minute. Too much water or pushing too fast can cause the sand to collapse on the drill pipe rather than forming a hole.

If an obstacle is hit that is smaller than a football, the water will soften the soil and the rotation of the bit will usually “jiggle” the rock until it’s forced aside. If your bit stops, keep the pressure on the bit as it sometimes takes 30 to 60 seconds for the water and the bit to do their work. If the bit becomes stuck in the debris, the sloped wings on the bit will help you pull the bit and drill pipe out of the hole. If the bit is severely stuck, you can sometimes pull it out with a “come along,” or a truck or tractor.

Experiment with the amount of water needed for your boring conditions. Start with a small amount of water and gradually increase or decrease the flow until you find the amount that works best for the soil you are boring. You do not want a flood of water coming back out of the hole. Dig a sump under the hole to catch any water that does flow out. On long bores it can be helpful to use a small sump pump to keep the water out the hole. Do not exceed 90 pounds of water pressure under any condition. Water pressure is not what makes BORIT work. Water is to lubricate the bit and soften the soil.

Do NOT reverse the drill, or the bit or drill pipe could uncouple. A piece of electrical tape over the reverse switch will remind the operator not to reverse the drill.