J Hamilton
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Illinois
This is the first time I've heard them called dowsing rods. I always heard them referred to as witching sticks
I had a friend locate a well for me. He marked it as 20 gpm, at 80 feet. At 75 feet, the well driller was skeptical in a still dry hole. 3 feet of really hard rock later he broke through into a vein of water. Would run 20 gpm easily.My neighbor drilled wells for decades. Said he never got into using them but knew another driller that would use them if landowners insisted. He asked the guy if he thought it worked. He said nah, he just walked around until he found a nice flat area to set up his rig, pointed them downward and said “right here”.
Witching for water is also what I heard it called. It’s fun to hear different people’s experience and different tools be it wire or sticks ettcThis is the first time I've heard them called dowsing rods. I always heard them referred to as witching sticks
Good for you and what worked for you.. what worked for me was different but I’ve seen and heard the types that worked for you by others. Different strokes for different folks as saidYes Mark .
The first wires I used were from plastic coated clothes hangers . No reaction whatsoever. My effective ones ; that found my sewer line , were steel wire rotating loosely in copper tube handles . I wish I had heard of Mr Randi's challenge, I just might have been successful !
My grandfather could use just a very small diameter limber sapling (grabbed by the small end). When it started bobbing that meant water below. It would bob and you counted the number of bobs and when it stopped that was how deep it was in feet. Using an auger type manual post hole digger and pipe extensions I verified his accuracy in a couple of spots. One spot didn't have much water but it was there. One was pretty good and could work a sand point at low volume. Nope, it wouldn't work for me or my mom but when he grabbed her hand holding the stick it would start bobbing. Call me crazy but I know what I saw.I used a small thin green Y shaped tree limb it worked perfect to locate all my buried water lines EXACTLY !!!!!!!!!! I was taught how by an older gentleman and of course this sort of thing, regardless of the material or items used, does NOT work for everybody, to each their own abilities of course, it did work great for me is all I can say, I'm sure others have different experiences or ability or the lack thereof........
My grandfather could use just a very small diameter limber sapling (grabbed by the small end). When it started bobbing that meant water below. It would bob and you counted the number of bobs and when it stopped that was how deep it was in feet. Using an auger type manual post hole digger and pipe extensions I verified his accuracy in a couple of spots. One spot didn't have much water but it was there. One was pretty good and could work a sand point at low volume. Nope, it wouldn't work for me or my mom but when he grabbed her hand holding the stick it would start bobbing. Call me crazy but I know what I saw.
You are the first personfeed I’ve heard mention using the rod in this manner.My grandfather could use just a very small diameter limber sapling (grabbed by the small end). When it started bobbing that meant water below. It would bob and you counted the number of bobs and when it stopped that was how deep it was in feet. Using an auger type manual post hole digger and pipe extensions I verified his accuracy in a couple of spots. One spot didn't have much water but it was there. One was pretty good and could work a sand point at low volume. Nope, it wouldn't work for me or my mom but when he grabbed her hand holding the stick it would start bobbing. Call me crazy but I know what I saw.
John, if Maxwell's equations can't explain dowsing, should we just chalk it up to witchcraft? I'm asking you as both an engineer and a theologian.I used a small thin green Y shaped tree limb it worked perfect to locate all my buried water lines EXACTLY !!!!!!!!!! I was taught how by an older gentleman and of course this sort of thing, regardless of the material or items used, does NOT work for everybody, to each their own abilities of course, it did work great for me is all I can say, I'm sure others have different experiences or ability or the lack thereof........
Of course people can google the answer how it works or how it don’t work lol one can find something on the net on BOTH sides of any issue. I’m just speaking of personal experience longggg before google or the net was ever invented by Algore lol
John T
Yes Mark .
The first wires I used were from plastic coated clothes hangers . No reaction whatsoever. My effective ones ; that found my sewer line , were steel wire rotating loosely in copper tube handles . I wish I had heard of Mr Randi's challenge, I just might have been successful !
Learn something new everyday,This is the first time I've heard them called dowsing rods. I always heard them referred to as witching sticks
Learn something new every dayThis is the first time I've heard them called dowsing rods. I always heard them referred to as witching sticks
Yes I have, Wood ones do not work for me. Maybe they wood should be made out of green wood?So.... has anyone ever made a set of DEFECTIVE dowsing rods? You know, ones that didn't work? And when you replaced them with a different set of dowsing rods all the sudden you were able to find exactly what you were looking for?
Interestingly, dowsers are never able to demonstrate their ability to find buried objects under controlled conditions. The late James Randi had for many years a standing offer of one million dollars to anyone who could do it, yet no dowser was ever able to collect it.
Hey John TWitching for water is also what I heard it called. It’s fun to hear different people’s experience and different tools be it wire or sticks ettc
It’s also funny how it works only for some but none whatsoever for others. Of course I can’t speak for others and sure not going to question their word so can only say what worked for me and that was with the green thin forked stick not rods lol
Fun thread and fun to hear different experiences from those for whom it works yayyy
Of course some gents may google it and what’s found on the internet has to be true doncha know even if two different articles claim just the opposite lol
John T
If that same stick was used in a country that uses the metric system would it still measure in feet. Could it be calibrated to measure in meters?My grandfather could use just a very small diameter limber sapling (grabbed by the small end). When it started bobbing that meant water below. It would bob and you counted the number of bobs and when it stopped that was how deep it was in feet. Using an auger type manual post hole digger and pipe extensions I verified his accuracy in a couple of spots. One spot didn't have much water but it was there. One was pretty good and could work a sand point at low volume. Nope, it wouldn't work for me or my mom but when he grabbed her hand holding the stick it would start bobbing. Call me crazy but I know what I saw.
If that same stick was used in a country that uses the metric system would it still measure in feet. Could it be calibrated to measure in meters?
It depends on the species. An American elm branch will always give the depth in feet, regardless of what country you're in. But a communist Chinese elm branch will be calibrated in meters.If that same stick was used in a country that uses the metric system would it still measure in feet. Could it be calibrated to measure in meters?
Mornin friend. Actually I never tried any old dead dried up limbs. The old gentleman who taught me insisted they be fresh green having something to do with internal moisture and being alive up until I cut them etc etc. I hold the fork loose and straight out and exactly when I crossed a buried water line or other times ??? It pointed and pulled down hard and big time.Hey John T
I have one from made from dry wood, it does not work for me. You say green wood? How do you use them then?
Guido
X2. Only fresh green just cut thin limbs worked great for me I never tried old dead dried up ones. That’s all I can say and know what worked good for me but can’t speak for others if it works or not for them I take them at their wordLearn something new every day
Guido.
Yes I have, Wood ones do not work for me. Maybe they wood should be made out of green wood?
Guido.
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