determining slope

[MahoskyBrosMapleFarm]

how do you determine the slope of your mainline?

[PerryW]

Hold a 4 foot level on the mainline.

Measure how many inches from the downhill end of the pipe up to the level.

Divide the number of inches by 48" (for a 4 foot level) and you have your slope.

Multiply by 100 if you want your slope in percent.

[maple sapper]

some levels will have multiple lines on the sides of the bubble. Figure out the slope of each one of them and use the same line consistantly. Some of the lines are good for use in domestic sewer pipe. 1/8" and 1/4 per foot. That could help too.

[maple flats]

I use a hand held pocket sight level, made by CST/Berger, manufacturers Cat# 17-620A. The maple catalogs sell them for about $32-35. I bought mine online for under $19.00 thru one of the hardware chains. I think it was True Value or Ace but not sure. With one of these you just sight thru it and the bubble can be seen in the scope, just center the bubble on the first line above or below the center line and you have a 2% rise or drop (2' per 100'). You do not need to know distance and it only requires 1 person. I start at the bottom of my slope and tie a colored ribbon around a tree or post at the height i want my line support wire to end. I stand next to it and measure ho far above or below the ribbon my eye is and tie another ribbon at eye level. I walk to my next reference tree or post and site to the tree with the ribbon, looking at the eye level ribbon, when i have 2 or more % rise I mark tree #2, eye and support wire height. I continue this to the top of the hill. I do not mark every tree but mark enough to keep proper grade. Except for the walking it took longer to explain than it does to do it. I may have some sections of any line angled steeper than 2% but I try to not have any flatter if at all possible.

[Acer]

Dave you still have your berger manual? mine hung around for about 5 minutes, but I thought you always sighted on the big line to make it level, and tagged the target at the stadia line above or below for 2% slope.

I found that putting the bubble on the stadia line gave a lot more than 2% slope, more like 4%, still a good slope, but not as helpful when squeaking across a flat spot.

Dean

[maple sapper]

if the stadia line is 4% then split the lines with the edge of the bubble. If your area is that flat you could consider using a laser with a tripod. make markings what ever amout of footage you want for % of slope every 100' +/- and that will give you nice even slope. Of course this task is much easier with a self leveling unit vs. the old style that you have to manually level. This is also not a good option for steep slopes. small site level is what I use and is nice cause it fits in you pocket.

[maple flats]

I still have a new extra one complete with packaging. Under the directions for grading a driveway it gives the way i use mine. Using the first stadia line above or below for 1/4" per foot (25" per 100 or 2.5%) I call it 2%. For 1/2" per foot or 50"/100' or 5% use the second stadia line. The directions use poles but I use trees and flagging ribbon.