Grain dryer pit leaking water

[focussed]

Hi all

Our grain pit is below the water table. The aging metal of the pit has resulted in a hairline crack that the water leaks through at a constant trickle.

Today we attempted to weld a plate over it with no success. The heat of the welder is boiling the water behind the steel and making the problem worse.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or any experience in this kind of problem.

 

[Ukjay]

Hi all

Our grain pit is below the water table. The aging metal of the pit has resulted in a hairline crack that the water leaks through at a constant trickle.

Today we attempted to weld a plate over it with no success. The heat of the welder is boiling the water behind the steel and making the problem worse.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or any experience in this kind of problem.

How far below the water table is the crack and what thickness is the steel?

 

[chipchap]

Try welding it in late autumn when the water table is lowest?

 

[Pan mixer]

Drill a hole though to let the water out - it may take a while - submersible pump in hole temporarily perhaps, the weld it up.

I think that the professionals call it site de-watering.

 

[Will Blackburn]

Couple of things we have done. Weld a tap to it so you can relieve the pressure while you weld a patch. Latterly we have welded a tap to drain it constantly using a barrel to collect it with a submersible pump to shift the water.

 

[simon-0116]

Quick steel pushed in crack

 

[Derky]

Couple of things we have done. Weld a tap to it so you can relieve the pressure while you weld a patch. Latterly we have welded a tap to drain it constantly using a barrel to collect it with a submersible pump to shift the water.

Like this but weld a tap to a plate. Drill a hole in line with the tap. Weld plate on with tap open. It may take a few passes with the welder. Patience is the key.

 

[TripleSix]

I watched a TV programme where they welded up a bit of a ships hull that was cracked and was letting in water.

They hammered wooden wedges into the crack to stop the leak, cut the wedges off flush and then stitched over the top of them with the welder.

 

[vinnie123]

We welded a piece of angle all round bottom of pi to form a gutter, we put a slight fall on it and drained to a sump in one corner with a submersible pump, piped that to outside the shed and never been a prob since

 

[Lapwing]

We've managed to do a few leaky corners by making up a patch the right shape, cleaning & drying It with a hot air gun, then sticking it on with " plastic padding "(or do they call it chemical metal nowadays). You need to have a hole tapped in your patch before you start; leave it open while it all sets, then screw in the bung (roofing Tec screws work with their gaskets). As has been said, welding a tap on to let the water out helps a lot (we welded a pipe collar onto a plate over a hole in It, then welded the plate to the wall, & drilled through the wall via the coupling & added a tap. It seemed easier than welding with water seeping in.)