Drain tracer

[Mogman]

A pal of mine wants a cheap way of tracing drains
So is there anything out there that you can screw to some drain rods or cobra then trace it above the ground (he hasn’t a cat scanner) so needs everything

 

[V8Druid]

A pal of mine wants a cheap way of tracing drains
So is there anything out there that you can screw to some drain rods or cobra then trace it above the ground (he hasn’t a cat scanner) so needs everything

how about a ferret with a very loud siren strapped to its back

 

[Gecko]

A pal of mine wants a cheap way of tracing drains

If you can get a wire into the pipe, you could use a cheap cable tracer. How effective it is will depend on depth rather than length.

 

[Mogman]

If you can get a wire into the pipe, you could use a cheap cable tracer. How effective it is will depend on depth rather than length.


View attachment 80584

Would be better wireless I

 

[Gecko]

Would be better wireless I

Yes, that would be nice, but a very different budget.

 

[Smiffy]

The item you are talking about is called a sonde. Will need a c.a.t to locate it. Quite expensive for what they are but can be hired relatively cheaply. Even some Travis Perkins keep some for hire

 

[Canal Navvy]

I bought an ex gas genny and cat off ebay. Perfect working condition but not now approved as it doesn't have GPS and logging. Feed a length of galvanised fence wire in, couple up the genny and trace away ..... and at a fraction of the price of a "professional" set up

 

[Stroppymonkey]

I bought a recon CAT and Genny, and a cable tracing reel (like a cobra with a wire up the middle)

 

[Canal Navvy]

I bought a recon CAT and Genny, and a cable tracing reel (like a cobra with a wire up the middle)

Those cobra reals with the sonde built in are lovely ......
.... but at a considerable cost

 

[Stroppymonkey]

Those cobra reals with the sonde built in are lovely ......
.... but at a considerable cost

Mine is either 4 or 6mm. Will shoot up a 3/8” alkathene or a 10mm plastic oil line , which is what we bought it for

 

[Canal Navvy]

Mine is either 4 or 6mm. Will shoot up a 3/8” alkathene or a 10mm plastic oil line , which is what we bought it for

At that diameter I'd guess it doesn't have the sonde built on the end ?
I got really exited about the idea of being able to couple both terminals of the genny and have a spot point or go one terminal and earth to show the line. One day I'll have a job coming up where I can't go digging random holes but have enough time to get one made

 

[Stroppymonkey]

At that diameter I'd guess it doesn't have the sonde built on the end ?
I got really exited about the idea of being able to couple both terminals of the genny and have a spot point or go one terminal and earth to show the line. One day I'll have a job coming up where I can't go digging random holes but have enough time to get one made

It shows the line and you can get a reasonably close idea of where the end is, sometimes we roll it back out on the surface along the line to make it more accurate

 

[Monkeybusiness]

If you want to borrow a cat and genny anytime I have one here that we hardly use @Mogman. Don’t have the sonde though.

 

[Lancs Lad]

A pal of mine wants a cheap way of tracing drains
So is there anything out there that you can screw to some drain rods or cobra then trace it above the ground (he hasn’t a cat scanner) so needs everything

Depends what you call cheap.

We got this few years old now.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32645319...nkxA3ARvGazeCBEjzA8G3mcFucTFZdk8aArAgEALw_wcB Sure it was about 500 new! and I turned an adaptor out of brass so the sonde screws onto my 6mm cobra.

MIDI Sonde 8/33 - Trade Survey

Screw on to the drain rod and push into waste water or sewage pipes. 38mm diameter Depth range 5m 8 or 33kHz 1 x AA Alkaline Battery required

www.tradesurvey.co.uk

But...used to be loads of cat and gennys at the Burnley auctions . Not been For a bit tho.

 

[Lancs Lad]

Mine is either 4 or 6mm. Will shoot up a 3/8” alkathene or a 10mm plastic oil line , which is what we bought it for

Prob 6mm yellow? I made an adaptor so the sonde screws on.
They seem to have shot up in price lately

 

[DaveDCB]

If you want to borrow a cat and genny anytime I have one here that we hardly use @Mogman. Don’t have the sonde though.

I’ve got one as well @Mogman , a sonde and cobra is on my shopping list!

 

[sjs5060]

we use ferret finders, current bellman & flint one is a blinder. we make a hollow 'bullet' out of nylon to house the transmitter that screws on the rods/cobra.

 

[6feetdown]

Jeez they've shot up in price!

 

[Brendan]

At that diameter I'd guess it doesn't have the sonde built on the end ?
I got really exited about the idea of being able to couple both terminals of the genny and have a spot point or go one terminal and earth to show the line. One day I'll have a job coming up where I can't go digging random holes but have enough time to get one made

The reel is the sonde, I have hired one a couple of times not many places stock them but can push up a water pipe and I am sure the ones I had the whole reel is live so you can chase the line, rather than having to either mark the spot then push the reel 1m or so then re scan or having to try and scan as someone slowly pushes it

 

[Lancs Lad]

The reel is the sonde, I have hired one a couple of times not many places stock them but can push up a water pipe and I am sure the ones I had the whole reel is live so you can chase the line, rather than having to either mark the spot then push the reel 1m or so then re scan or having to try and scan as someone slowly pushes it

That's so much better than a single sonde. Royal pita arse on a wet field trying to track it down in a blocked tile