“A mud pump is a crucial piece of equipment for ensuring mud rotary drilling efficiency. The feedback we’ve received from trials with this new setup has been outstanding. Crews were drilling noticeably faster than before because the system is providing a better flow of mud into the borehole, so we’ve made the new pump and engine a permanent fixture in our drill lineup,”

said Joe Haynes, president of Little Beaver.

The new pump and engine come standard on the LS200H and LS200H+ hydraulic water well drills and are an optional upgrade for the LS100 and LS200 mechanical water well drills. A 10-horsepower Yanmar L100N diesel option is also available to power the Flomax on the LS200H and LS200H+.

The new Flomax 10 pump paired with the 8-horsepower engine provides 61 psi and 200 gallons of mud flow per minute, an upgrade of nearly 20 psi, and an additional 50 gallons of flow per minute. The Flomax features a 2-by-2-inch inlet and outlet and incorporates tighter tolerances to handle the increased pressure from the larger engine. 

Haynes said the increased pressure allows the new pump setup to not only quickly fill the borehole with a column of mud to remove cuttings more efficiently during drilling but also handles thicker mud than the previous pump system. This provides crews with increased borehole stability as it replaces the dirt removed during drilling.

Lone Star Drills’ LS200H and LS200H+ water well drills are capable of drilling depths of 200 feet, borehole diameters of six inches and pull/push-back forces up to 5,000 pounds. The first drills in the Lone Star hydraulic lineup, the LS200H and LS200H+ feature 2,500- and 3,000-psi hydraulic systems respectively. Both drills can be upgraded with a down-the-hole hammer kit, anchor kit, wheel kit and more. 

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“The new engine allows users to get peak performance from their drill by setting exact performance parameters with the electronic governor. You set the engine speed and the electronic system ensures that speed is maintained even when the drill encounters varying soil types. This gives customers consistent efficiency on those tough job sites with inconsistent soil,”

said Joe Haynes, president of Little Beaver.

The iGX800’s electric, self-tuning regulator (STR) governor maximizes performance during varying loads when encountering different soil densities and obstructions. This provides reliability that is critical to achieving peak drilling efficiency. Other governor systems can be less responsive than electric ones, causing some engines to lag and constantly “hunt” for optimal performance as the engine’s load changes. The new engine’s governor allows for better performance than the previously used engine, despite having similar horsepower.

Lone Star Drills’ line of geotechnical drill rigs comes in various models to address any soil sampling situation a contractor might encounter. The HDA model designates heavy-duty, high-performance hydraulic drills with an automatic hammer, and the HD model designation is for those high-performance hydraulic drills without an automatic hammer.

The LST1G+HDA comes standard with a 140-pound automatic safety hammer. The heavy-duty rig is mounted on an easily maneuverable, single-axle trailer that can be towed behind a small or standard-sized truck. The LST1G+HDA is capable of drilling 6-inch boreholes down to 100 feet.

Likewise, the LSGT+HDA features an automatic hammer and a 100-foot drilling depth but comes mounted on tracks to spread the drill’s weight and lower its ground pressure to 3.8 psi. Additionally, a remote-controlled feature allows operators to position the drill in hard-to-reach areas and locations with delicate topsoil while also adjusting leveling control with hydraulics.

“The biggest performance impact we’ve seen from the new engine has been on our track-mounted unit. The drilling power is consistent even when making minor positioning adjustments while drilling,”

said Haynes.

The HD models are both trailers mounted. The LST1A+HD reaches a drilling depth of 100 feet, has 1,100 foot-pounds of torque, and can be easily towed by an ATV. The LST1G+HD achieves similar depth and torque but has a cathead and tower for operating a 140-pound safety hammer during standard penetration testing and sampling.

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Owning your own soil sampling equipment has never been easier or more affordable. And as cities and municipalities impose stricter requirements for SPT and other geotechnical tests, the ability to do your own sampling can greatly improve your productivity and efficiency. Currently, there are several models on the market that provide the power, portability and precision at the right price point for general contractors looking to expand their services. But what if you don’t need all the bells and whistles? No one wants to spend money on things they don’t really need, especially contractors keeping a close eye on their bottom line. So before investing in a drilling rig, be sure to look for one that meets your needs — and your budget— without a lot of costly extras you won’t use.

Power, Portability and Precision

Start by looking at the soil sampling you already do or want to do. What types of soils do you typically encounter and how deep do you usually need to test? What kind of maneuverability do you need? Are you working in backyards or remote locations? What are the equipment requirements in the municipalities you operate in?  Do they require automatic hammers for all SPT, or can you still use other methods?

Small, trailer-mounted hydraulic drills like those in Lone Star Drills’ LST1G+ series are powerful enough to cut though sand, clay, and soft rock formations up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) yet portable enough for limited-access areas and remote locations. The geotechnical rig includes a cathead pulley for SPT with a 140-pound manual safety hammer. The LST1G+HD offers up to 1,100 foot-pounds of torque for faster drilling when the clock is ticking. If governing bodies in your area of operation require automatic hammers for soil sampling applications, the LST1G+HDA’s automatic hammer feature ensures easy operation and precise sampling.

In hard-to-reach areas or those with delicate ground, consider a tracked, remote-control-driven drill like the LSGT+HDA. The tracked drill provides an ideal solution for accomplishing soil sampling or geotechnical testing in those sensitive areas.

Simple Soil Sampling

There are plenty of options on the market that provide the power and portability you need for basic soil sampling applications without investing in specialized equipment. These machines offer contractors and homeowners quick, dependable samples with minimum contamination. They aren’t as capable in all situations as the larger, specialized equipment but are highly versatile and work for applications where soil density isn’t required.

For sand, clay and soft rock formations, the LST1A+ is as powerful and portable as the LST1G+ series. It drills up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) with a normal auger and up to 50 feet (15.25 meters) with a hollow stem auger. For general soil sampling applications, the LST1A+ offers contractors the ability to examine cuttings, take precise depth measurements, and extract uncontaminated samples. However, it does not have a hammer for SPT.

When portability is key, nothing goes more places than Little Beaver’s Hydraulic Earth Drill. This compact machine allows you to power through rocky or heavy clay soils but is light enough for use in delicate environments like established turf and environmentally sensitive areas. When combined with the tripod kit, the Hydraulic Earth Drill allows controlled drilling up to 35 feet (10.5 meters). The Hydraulic Earth Drill and tripod kit is the quickest, easiest and most portable solution for simple soil sampling. It is easy to set up and can go anywhere you can.

The Best of Both Worlds

And what if you want it all? Power to chew through tough soil, clay and rock formations up to 100 feet (30.5 meters). The Big Beaver with optional SSK-1 Cathead Kit might be the right fit for your operation. It offers power, portability and precision. The Big Beaver is one of the most powerful earth drills we make. It offers one-man operation and maximum portability. Operators can use the hollow stem auger for easy, uncontaminated soil sampling.

With the SSK-1 Cathead Kit, which includes a third hydraulic valve, tower kit and spool, the Big Beaver is capable of SPT, core sampling for environmental tests, and other geotechnical engineering projects.

So, just how much drill do you need for your soil sampling needs? Work with a reputable manufacturer to help you decide.

Source: Lone Star Drills

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Lone Star designed the drill to address the growing demand from customers wanting to access remote or environmentally sensitive areas. National parks, delicate turf, wet or soft soil, and other restricted sites often present problems, as the ground can’t be disturbed by a large truck and trailer.  The tracked drill provides an ideal solution for accomplishing soil sampling or geotechnical testing in those sensitive areas.

The tracks spread the drill’s weight and lower its ground pressure to 3.8 psi, minimizing the risk of damage to the underfoot while completing soil sampling or geotechnical testing in sensitive areas. The tracks also minimize the risk of the drill getting stuck in soft ground conditions.

Joe Haynes, Little Beaver president said:

“We wanted to provide a solution to customers who were limited by a truck-mounted geotechnical drill. The LST1G+HDA drill itself is a durable machine, but we wanted to make a more versatile version for all customers.”

Hydraulic leveling is another feature new to the LSGT+HDA. Operators can raise the machine until it’s level thanks to a cylinder on each corner and a telescoping jack. The ability to individually adjust the corners allows for operation on uneven ground. Maintaining true vertical hole alignment is critical for accurate SPT results.

Travel is remotely controlled, allowing users to operate the drill from a safe distance or location within the line of sight of the rig. The remote is battery powered and includes a 50-foot tether cord in case of battery power loss.

The LSGT+HDA allows for precise and easy-to-operate drilling for standard penetration tests and soil sampling.  The drill comes standard with a 140-pound automatic hammer and is capable of sampling down to 100 feet. The versatile machine can also be used with Little Beaver’s split spoon samplers and AWJ drilling rod for obtaining core samples or conducting geotechnical testing and environmental soil sampling.

Little Beaver offers a wealth of auger options to adapt to varying applications. Solid stem augers are available in 3- to 8-inch diameters and hollow stem augers are available in 6- and 8-inch diameters. The hollow stem augers, which can drill to 60 feet, feature a 2.75- or 3.75-inch internal diameter for collecting samples without the risk of contamination from surrounding soil. The LSGT+ HDA’s standard configuration allows for dry auger boring with the use of a solid or hollow stem auger. The drill is also capable of mud rotary boring using an optional mud pump, swivel and bit.

The operator can make simple adjustments to achieve and maintain an ideal push-down force when drilling in challenging conditions as a result of the drill’s bypass flow control system. Additionally, an optional anchor kit enables the LSGT+HDA to deliver push-down force up to 8,500 pounds, exceeding the weight of the drill rig. The drill also features an 8,500-pound lifting capacity for the hassle-free removal of augers and extensions. The hinged shuttle plate allows the operator to swing the rotary out of the way, providing easy access to the borehole.

A 27-horsepower Kohler EFI gas engine powers the drill, which includes a powerful 3,000-psi hydraulic system. The drill’s 12.5-gpm hydraulic power pack achieves a rotary speed of 100 rpm. The system provides the drill’s hydraulic winch with 1,500 pounds of pull for raising the automatic hammer and sampling string. A diesel option will also be available.

Little Beaver designed the LSGT+HDA for longevity and ease of use. The frame, rotary and swivel are constructed of high-strength welded steel for enhanced durability, and all crucial maintenance and greasing points are easily accessible.

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