Leveling and Plumbing the Mold

When you check the level of the mold you also take a measure of whether or not the sides of the mold are perfectly plumb. If they are perfectly plumb the shaft will go straight down. A well does not have to have a shaft that goes straight down; it could just as easily curve or go down at an angle. Plumb is easy to measure, however, and there are many reasons why it is desirable to keep the well plumb.

1) A plumb well shaft and lining is a stronger structure than one that is not plumb.

2) Sinking the hole straight down requires less excavation work than an angled or a curved hole.

3) Fewer materials are required to construct a lining that will support the well.

4) If a pump is to be installed, the pipe that reaches to water should be perfectly plumb. If it is not plumb, there will be greater stress on the pipe and pumping components will wear out much sooner than they should.

1. Tools

Use a commercial level (see Fig. V-3 ) or a clear plastic hose with water in it. (See Fig. V-4.)

For the purpose of demonstration, level the interior lining mold in the well with a commercial level (spirit level, or water level). The normal ordinary level has a clear glass or plastic tube which is slightly curved and full of liquid with one air bubble; there will also be two marks on the tube, one on either side of the center of the tube. To read the level set it, with the tube side up, on whatever you want to check; the object will be level when the air bubble in the tube is exactly centered between the two marks on the tube. (See Fig. V-1.)

FIG. V-1. BUBBLE BETWEEM TWO MARKS INDICATING LEVEL OBJECT

If the object is not level the bubble will be off-center toward the side which is highest. (See Fig. V-2.)

FIG. V-2. BUBBLE ON HIGHER SIDE OF UN-LEVEL OBJECT

2. Care of the level

Levels are sensitive and exact instruments which arrive adjusted from the factory. Great care should be taken never to drop a level or otherwise damage its edges. Many levels also come with insets for checking verticality (plumb) and 45° angles, (See Fig. V-3.)

FIG. V-3. COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED LEVEL

If a level is not commercially available, you can easily make your own level with a clear plastic hose and water. (See Fig. V-4.)

FIG. V-4. CLEAR HOSE AND WATER USED AS LEVEL

If the surface of the water in the hose is even with the edge of the mold on one side, then when the edge of mold on the opposite side of the hole is even with the surface of the water in the other end of the hose, the mold is level in that direction.

Water in two ends of the same tube will always be at the same height no matter what the tube does between the two ends.

NOTE: If the diameter of the clear plastic hose is small, a "meniscus" (U-shaped surface due to capillary action) may form. All level readings should be made at the same point of the meniscus, preferably at the center.

3. Checking the level of a horizontal object

Always check the level in two opposite directions before declaring that an object is level.

For a flat plate, see Fig. V-5.

FIG. V-5. LEVEL CHECKED IN TWO DIRECTIONS ON FLAT SURFACE

For a lining mold, see Fig. V-6.

FIG. V-6. LEVEL CHECKED IN TWO DIRECTIONS ON LINING MOLD

To check two objects not connected with each other, find a straight object (a board, a shaft etc.) that can be laid down between the two objects to be laid two objects to be leveled. (See Fig. V-7.)

FIG. V-7. USING A STRAIGHT BOARD TO CHECK LEVEL ACROSS MOLD

Check the straightness of the board by looking along its edges from one end.