The Art of
Tooling and
Wear Part
Selection and
Maintenance
Unexpected conditions and
countless variables prove
that the choice of tooling and
parts is not an exact science
By Colleen Birchwood
When it comes to drilling a deep foundation into
rock or silty soils, selecting the best tooling and
wear parts for the job will help to keep a project
on track and on budget.
The tools of the trade include the Kelly box, the Kelly bar,
rock or soil augers, rock or soil buckets, and the wear parts,
including teeth. The selection of tools depends on the application.
There are tools for everything from soft, silty soil to
gravel and sand to the ancient rock in the Canadian Shield.
Knowing the application is essential before any work
takes place. Usually around six core samples are drilled to
determine the conditions, but Mother Earth can be full of
surprises. That’s why it’s important to purchase tooling and
wear parts from experienced professionals who have seen
it all. Matt Krueger, a sales associate with Jeffrey Machine, has
been helping customers select the best tools for deep foundations
for 21 years. Jeffrey Machine, a U.S.-based manufacturer
of auger tooling, along with a wide range of other drilling
tools, has made rock tools that have been popular with some
Canadian construction companies.
“You can drill soil with a rock tool, but you can’t drill rock
with a dirt tool,” Krueger said. “Selecting the right tools for
the job is critical. Just about every order has some customization
specific to the soil and job.”
Jeffrey Machine’s Dragon tooth rock-cutting system needs
no introduction to the deep foundation industry in Canada.
A 1,000 millimetre diameter, two-meter-long casing shoe,
with 40 mm solid wall and WS39 type teeth and hard
faced strips
PHOTO: CAISSON CONSULTANT INC.
28 Q3 2020 www.pilingcanada.ca
/www.pilingcanada.ca
