Going to try another well drill very soon. I dont know why this is still discussed. The welding rods locate water but dont tell you how much. Two attempts to drill, both dry holes. I found it in the exact spot he did. And the hole was dry at 520 feet. I use the same approach to find wells, water lines, and power lines. How 1) get rod I used coat hanger cut and bent into l shape. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. Alternately, glue several cotton reels together into a cylinder. I can do it but only with bare brazing rods for whatever reason. If I were going to pay for a wellwhich today in our area costs about $90 per foot to drillId want someone to locate the water., It was the same driller who saw my success locating water just a few feet from a dry hole. I havent tried finding pipes and cables but think it would be fun to try. Silvery green male and female catkins appear on separate trees in April to May, but are not showy. Some dowsers prefer branches from particular trees, and some prefer the branches to be freshly cut. It may sound like some rather hokey hocus-pocus, or something from, say, 500 years ago. Went up hill aways on someone elses land and they found good water. Read more: You can also collect rainwater and store it in IBC containers for farm use. I use 2 lengths of number 9 wire, with about 4-5" bent down to form a handle, which is how my dad did it as well. I can't tell the depth though. The pull is very obvious. At the big end. Most expertsother than dowsing experts, that isclassify this art to the realm of pseudoscience. Some more anecdotal evidence for those who hang their hats on such:One of my old friends who lived on a farm in Montana had a very nice farmstead but had the misfortune to live atop a very deep formation of Bear Paw Shale. The studys findings showed that the dowsers predictions concerning depth and volume were accurate to within 10% to 20%. Whats happening. Aerial photos often reveal linear features that might indicate the presence of fracture zones in the bedrock. Water Witches book. This gives a solid base of support to hold the willow securely and firmly as you walk slowly over the area to be checked. Could tell how deep to dig and how many gallons youd get a minute. Am David Mundia from Kenya I have been dowsing for water from 1999.I have done it for local farmers numerous times and never missed to locate water . They want to be sure that the well is drilled in a location where it will produce water of adequate quantity and quality. On some properties, there are very few options. . Theres just not that much luck to be found. Driller came within 2 in of my spot he dowsed also. They believe that locations where this water is present are surrounded by forces that will produce a response in their tools. 4) turn water or electricity on and repeat. My boss blindfolded a witcher, put him in a pickup and drove him around the city he correctly predicted every water pipe under the streets as they drove over them. I drove up later and they told me what had happened, and made me try it. When you cross the underground stream the rods will swing in toward you. Trees grow 3 to 4 feet per year to 50 or 60 feet, and have a spread as wide. Scary. As a matter of fact I have met a witcher who proclaimed there was no water available. Our back yard was our an acre and our front was probably around a quarter. Later, my husband, Lynn, became really good at this He first witnessed water witching, commonly called water dowsing, in 1955 on the ranch where he grew up. At a friends request, we doubled up to find a lost babys grave ( quicker) and what we found was a surprise to us. I believe those were well drillers,not well diggers. Hi Richard, thanks for sharing your story! 90+ yr old well driller , drilled hundreds of wells, told me buttons , pliers , zippers , seams on clothing affect the results. It doesnt seem to correlate with soil type or rock formations on the surface. As the point went downward I tried to pull it up and the bark scratched the palms of my hands. You can also use apple or peach branches for water dowsing. Sounds like an older neighbor I had growing up, especially the part about finding old Indian burial grounds and knowing what direction they were laying. When I was a kid, my grandfather taught me how to water witch, more commonly called dowsing. True Story. Although most would say that dowsing is nothing more than a myth, there are quite a few people today whobelieve in this practice. The guy's name was Lee Modrow, I think he was around 90 when he passed away a few years ago. Subsequently Ive located running water multiple times. When the willow twists, the part pointed forward and upward suddenly pulls down toward the ground. She has said if there is flow. One works fine. At first when I started I would just walk around in an area and if my stick went down Id say try here. Thats important if you wish to irrigate or if you want it for drinking water. Some people use hazel wood, but it doesnt grow where we live. The hydrogeologist will also seek information about previous wells drilled in the local area. They drilled 100 feet and got 3 gallons per minute and went down another 100 feet and got 9 more gallons per minute. He said keep walking at a different. People laugh at me but if the pipe has water in it ill find it. They want to drill a successful well, close to their house, where the cost of installing water lines and an electrical conduit will be minimal and where a drilling rig can be easily driven. I find underground water veins. "The small end, where you are holding it, is less than 1/4 inch in diameter," he says. Remove the innards and caps of two cheap plastic pens, then thread the wire through the pen body. You hold welding rods loosely, so they can swing freely and not drag on your index finger when they move (the rod free-floats). I know Jesus Christ as my lord and Savior. Water witching, do you believe it? They believe that this type of information is more useful for siting a well than how a stick, a wire, or a pendulum responds to an unknown force [3] [4]. If I were going to pay for a wellwhich today in our area costs about $90 per foot to drillId want someone to locate the water.. I use two L-shaped wires bent out of coat hangers. One example: I located a well for one person on top of a hill, Lynn says. I sit in a chair to steady myself while holding the large end about 6 inches from the ground. The small end, where you are holding it, is less than 1/4 inch in diameter, he says. Local drilling companies often have the experience of drilling hundreds or thousands of wells in the areas where they operate. It worked every time. One of the most comical things Ive ever witnessed, him shuffling around my yard and whenever his wires got crossed, stomping one foot on the ground and with absolute confidence Dig HERE!10 minutes later with a probeno luck. Get Instant Access! I located an underground river and I walked the direction it flowed. Son scoffs, he can't do it but I tell him it's because he doesn't believe it works. Standing. I think I can do this. When dowsing for water, Lynn uses two steel welding rods, bent in L shape. I've read through this whole thread. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. I was sitting here thinking about this. I believe it has something to do with the body also. When my friend double checked her cousins info, it was a TWINS grave we found ! The real test would be to determine how deep and at what flow rate. Allow to steep overnight, strain the next day. Wasted $14,000 on these dry holes. An expert told us not to stop at the first stream but put a pump on the well snd suck it out while it was dug down further. Finding Bodies of Water. It could be a tiny seep or huge underground stream. Make a bend about 24.5 inches in, at about 90 degrees. I forgot to mention if a person is mentally distraught then not to bother trying to find water. I use a wire bent at a 90 degree angle. Hope that helps you David. I go out with my #9 piece of wire and hop in their pickup. They are simply uneducated on the matter. The most popular dowsing tool, however, is the dowsing rod. He says the cemetery located is located on private land near Seminary, Ms. at a place calledPeps Point that dates to the 1800s. He made a career with his magic tricks but also devoted many of his later years to debunking spiritualists, magic phenomena, and water witching. my wife and i had a water witch find water for us to put a well in at our northern pa cabin,he was spot on and the depth also spot on. According to the American Society of Dowsers, divining the location of water dates back many millennia. My dad wit hed for water for over 50 years. Although Agricola used this illustration in his book and reported that the dowsing rod was being used to locate minerals, he rejected the practice and instead recommended trenching [5]. He was a professional magician who billed himself as, "The Amazing Randy". I know a guy that has this one and has yet to try it out. My Grandfarther was a well digger and I saw him use a forked stick from willow trees to find the best place to dig a well. A case in point was when a person tried to drill a well within 30 feet of the river that ran past their property. This tree, and its root system, seeks water. He hung a small weight on a string from the middle of the lid. Spreading sticks can be a no answer, sometimes point the direction of a stream of water thats not moving. This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine. He smokes a lot of dope, that maybe helps. Some buy me one some dont. The wire always goes across my body when it turns to the side. Plant your weeping willow at least 50 feet away from main structures, pathways, or driveways. Mrs. J. P. Pendergrass, of Raleigh, N.C., does her witching in suburban Laurel Hills. Traditionally, the most common dowsing rod is a forked (Y-shaped) branch from a tree or bush. I don't like the way it feels when you find one, but I no longer doubt it. Told them no 100% guarantees. 23 years ago I had a bunch of tiling done. He witched and said there was an underground river but extremely deep. These rocks do not contain pore spaces through which water can flow. The one guy just carries a crow bar or other iron bar at his side as he walks and when it starts to move that indicates water. He seemed to think it worked because the live limb needed the water source. This way you can hold tightly and feel the willow pull on your hands and wrists. When trying to find one of the house skeptics. Each bob is supposed to indicate the depth to the water. AFC 1999/008: CRF-MH-A071. Im not near as good as she was. Found many underground veins with it. It was dead on and worked backwards and forwards. Wells drilled throughout the area will penetrate the same materials and have a high probability of yielding water. Forked stick in front, wandering arid land until, somewhat magically and often with the hint of help from some otherworldly power, the witch and the wand divine a spot in the dirt where life-giving water, at some depth underground, waits to be liberated.. Does it work to find overhead power lines? I know the overhead power line was said in jest However it does explain witching. He called me a one-armed water Witcher. Perfect for watering our gardens. He said he wished he would have quizzed this guy more to learn as this witcher has been gone for some time already. It can and does work. In fact, historical images that appear to represent dowsing appear all over the worldin the temples of Egyptian pharaohs, in ancient Chinese etchings and more. Although some dowsers have a record of regularly producing good results, the United States Geological Survey reports that most geologists and hydrogeologists do not endorse the practice of dowsing [1]. Also taught somebbiy scouts how to do it. The wires did move/ cross. Then it just stopped and floated nicely in the water. Facebook; Sometimes I get the depth of water lines, I did it as a science experiment in junior high in th3. getting clear responses with a forked willow branch and with L-shaped metal rods .more. and water witching. A friend used it to find a mortar damaged buried cable under a runway in Vietnam. I believe it works, but I cannot do it. . General logic is that youd find water more often in the valley floor than on a high mountain. Dowsing is a type of divination specifically for the location of objects, most notably water or treasure of some sort, but any item can be the subject of dowsing. I already knew exactly where it was,but I still watched to see if he would locate it. Willow or apple was used to create the strongest 'pull' to the water. If it pulls hard, you know theres a lot of water. I'm not sure how to take your opinion on these abilities described above. Should have been James Randi. I just tried it over a running faucet of water, pinpoint straight with perfect 90 degree bends just like every video show online. I use welding rods first, to see if theres water, and where, or several possible locations on the property, he says. You can really see it if the pointer part is about a foot long. It is a major investment that many landowners are hesitant to make without professional consultation. They found an old hand dug tile. Closer to center as possible. It has to be underground. I also can use a pendulum to find water on a map. I cant pull a rabbit out of a hat. Hydrogeologists often examine aerial photos when siting a well in a challenging area. He would then hang the pliers from his finger and they would spin around and tell him the depth of the water. If it stops going side-to-side and starts bobbing again, you can count the bobs to see how deep it is (when it stops, There are usually only two levels, because Ive located, where they cross. To tie into a tile line we had put in 1970 I remembered close to where it was so I witched it and pointed out where it should be. Geologists may have an idea, but this still doesnt tell you where the seams of water might be, he says. That's the way he found an underground well passing through our background. My dad could find an underground stream with a willow switch, same with my uncle. So, the claim here is all the studies that show dowsing DOESNT work are somehow disproved by one study that implied it may (an implication that has other explanations, such as the ability to interpret the terrain). Second well a mille away on a different piece of strata was less stron and pulled 30 gpm at 150 foot depth. And, despite the skepticism, there are even a few scientists who think theres more here than meets the eye. It will go left and right when I get over a line. If theyd stopped at the first level, it would not be a viable well. They showed me how to do it with a willow branch when they were getting ready to drill a well. Not a single budge in indicating water. I asked if I should go grab someone to witch for water and he laughed and said, I'm heading over there to dig next and pointed towards the road about 200 yds away. He used his wires and said probe here. Water dowsing involves the claim that a person can locate underground sources of water without using any scientific instruments. He was correct. He just counts until it stops bobbing up and down and starts moving side to sidewhich indicates where the water is. I have located a few places to drill a well. The wires cross, or separate, when I walk over underground water pipes or electric pipes. Some people use two metal rods called divining rods or even wire. I had coffee from the well my 100% Cherokee grandmother found in 1962. Thats where Im going to drill Others believe that the talent is all in the dowsing rod. I honestly didnt believe until that rod practically jumped out of my hand to point downward. Had one fellow come to me in desperation because his wife wanted new house and needed swimming pool. Decades ago some of my Dad's friends called BS on his abilities to witch. Yes, I can find underground wire, pipes by using a wire in each hand sticking out in front of me. I am going to talk to a doctor and see if there is some way to monitor my blood pressure and pulse rate when I do this the next time. After about the the 5th or 6th dry test hole they come to me. One rancher was so grateful he paid Lynn $100. All I know is my experience with water witching. Define water witching. When one has witnessed someone with a proven track record do it right in front of you with spectacular results then one tends to lean toward KNOWING it works, at least for certain gifted individuals. If its a small willow and you are holding it really tight, it can actually take the bark off the willow where you are gripping it, he says. He also told me how to measure depth & gal per min. Downeast Maine. The fence guy got out a pair of marker flags and walked around and found it and built the fence. Used a green willow branch in the shape of a Y. Combining the two levels made a good well.. I read about a technique using what was referred to as a bobbing stick to help determine the depth of to the water and then the depth of the vein of water. Your dowsing rod should also be relatively flatno branches sticking out in odd directions. Water-Witching From Space. Then Lynn began locating wells for family members, neighbors and friends. Favorite Jung & Johnnys Seeds For Your 2023 Garden, Winter Sowing The Spring Vegetable Garden. Reminds me of someone bending their finger. Yes, it does. The dowsing that most people are familiar with is water dowsing, or water witching or rhabdomancy, in which a person holds a Y-shaped branch (or two L-shaped wire rods) and walks around until they . They came in knowing the situation but all were unsuccessful. If its just a small pull, there probably isnt much. Never works for me but it did for him. If its a thick vein of water, the stick will swing side-to-side many times. Has anybody heard of the Mansfield automatic water finder? Not a drop. 3) have kids walk with rod in each hand over hose/cord starting about 6 feet back from it. Many took him up on his . I have used bent coat hangers to locate water and pipes underground. Then took a corn cob with the corn on it and told him to count how many times it bobs up and down. Water Witching by Barbara Rudolph. Know any in PA? You dont always know whats under the ground. The people buried there are relatives of his. I witched my well on my 40 place in the mountains. senior writer. He carried a 1" pipe about 4-5' long. I can find buried waterline & tile using 2 welding rods, -the flush, bent @ a 90 angle. Place flags apart from each other to see how wide the vain is. . Thank you. 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