I want to start this blog/magazine off by giving you a baseline understanding of why I am launching this outlet. When you really get back to the basics, it’s because pipe bursting is cool as shit! I recently gave a presentation to a room of people at the “No Dig” show about a bursting project. In my speech, I wanted to make some comments on why I had selected a large pneumatic hammer for the bursting we were doing. It was clear that both static and pneumatic would probably have worked fine, but in the end, all I could come up with was that the pneumatic hammer made a lot of noise, and it was awesome! It got a few laughs, but the funny part is that it was true. It was loud, and it was awesome! I think we’re so busy talking about the physical and social aspect of pipe bursting that we forget about what makes it fun. As a young boy, I always loved breaking things. Swinging fluorescent light bulbs around and breaking them like a sword, popping balloons, blowing up stuff with fire crackers, smashing ants, grinding across a curb on a skateboard…. You get the picture, destruction.
So, I want to welcome you to our new concept!
The social climate these days seems to scream inclusion, inclusion, inclusion! But this magazine/blog has a different concept in mind. I love the trenchless market and the different installation techniques, problem-solving, and ingenuity that it brings to construction. But I’m a pipe bursting contractor at heart, and I don’t want to talk about drilling, I don’t want to talk about cured in place pipe, I don’t want to talk about Micro-Tunneling (well I do, but not right now), I don’t want to talk about manhole lining, I don’t want to talk about sewer cleaning…………..
I just want to talk about pipe bursting!
Just so that we can start this off on the same page, let me describe why I think pipe bursting is so freaking cool. When you pipe burst you are putting in a brand-new pipe, your probably installing HDPE, which will last for over 100 years. Nobody ever really listens to this, I said 100 years. There are so many products out there that are incredible, but they don’t last 100 years, maybe only half of 100 years (not sure, I don’t have a calculator). Not only is the lifespan impressive, but you can also install a larger pipe with more capacity. Most areas grow up and need more capacity, so having the ability to upsize the pipe makes the installation even more sustainable. And of course, this is all happening with a fraction of the excavation needed compared to open cut.
This is a really cool idea and I can’t wait to read all of the cool things Rob writes even if some of it doesn’t make sense like this: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Are you convinced yet?
Think about this, pipe bursting can be quite technical at times, but it is a process that can be used by the masses. I’ve always been infatuated by micro tunneling and the complexity that surrounds it. So much precision, so much control, accomplishing so much while running such huge risks. But this is not a process for the masses, this is a high-tech process that takes years and years of expertise and big cojones to accomplish. Pipe Bursting, on the other hand, can be done by the masses, and with a little structure, wisdom, and guidance can be employed by contractors that not only have the courage to take it on, but the knowledge and know how to do it good.
This is why bursting can be so impactful, pipe bursting can be accomplished in mass quantity around the country, replacing pipe with less disruption and lower cost. But it’s not just about saving money, more capacity, making a living, using sustainable products, less social or environmental impacts, the list goes on and on. That’s just the common sense part of it. What I love about pipe bursting is the joy of the DESTRUCTION and technical RE-CONSTRUCTION! Which brings me back to my speech when I commented on why I had selected a large pneumatic hammer for the pipe bursting instead of using a static pull method, I mentioned something to the fact that “it beat the crap out of the ground, made a lot of noise, and was awesome!” Boys will be boys.
There are so many unknowns in the pipe bursting process as everything is underground, you can’t see it. It’s very intuitive and almost barbaric how we break our way through an existing pipeline while pulling in a fresh new pipe in its place. Grrrrr….. I guess you could call this toxic masculinity, but I call it powerful and genius!
At the same time that so much destruction is going on, there’s also a very technical and calculated thought in the execution of the installation of the new pipe. There are so many things to consider, some decisions come from your gut or feel, and others can be calculated, determined, and planned for by analysis or past experience. These are decisions that will be made regardless, some by us and others by physics or mother nature and how we use our knowledge can sometimes benefit or hinder our end product. This is what The Pipe Bursters’ Journal is about, the spirit and joy of this destruction, as well as the technical and analytical aspect when installing and attempting to perfect the craft of bustin pipe.
Does this sound fun to you? If not, that’s perfectly fine, please go read something else. Because this journal is just for us. Welcome to The Pipe Bursters’ Journal!
