How to Choose the Best Soil Sampling Equipment

With soil quality judged by the data derived from soil samples, it’s extremely important to practice accurate collection procedures — including using the proper equipment to collect the sample — at every opportunity. When considering all of the steps to recording soil sampling data accurately, selecting the proper equipment should not be overlooked. Implementing a few fundamental pieces of equipment can save time, reduce cost and streamline the soil sampling data collection process.

Soil Sampling Drill Options

Equipment model names and drill types are important when recording information about the soil samples you collect. This may be the same for an entire sample area or may change from site to site based on the soil conditions and sample requirements. A sandy and confined environment may call for a highly maneuverable drill, such as our Hydraulic Earth Drill. This drill can be paired with tripod kits to ensure accurate sampling down to 35 feet.

More robust earth drills, such as our Big Beaver, can sample in tough clay and still remain maneuverable and compact by utilizing stabilizing legs, tower kits, cathead kits and manual safety hammers to reach depths down to 100 feet. We also offer truck-, trailer- and track-mounted drill options that can reach similar depths with additional drilling power.

Sample Collection Accessories

In many cases, you will use a drill to reach a target depth and then use a manual or automatic safety hammer to drive in a split spoon sampler. A split spoon sampler provides core samples as long as 24 inches and is commonly used with the cathead kit and safety hammer. Our HDA drill models come with an automatic hammer to ensure accuracy and make quick work when driving the split spoon sampler into tough soils.

If the soil is determined to be sandy and loose, this may call for switching to a hollow stem auger. Hollow stem augers create a natural casing in the soil and protect the sample from possible contamination by the unstable surrounding soil. The center rod and plug of a hollow stem auger can be removed, providing a clean path to insert a soil sampler. We offer hollow stem augers that come in 6- and 8-inch diameters and feature a 2 ¾- or 3 ¾-inch internal diameter.

While the lab testing of the soil samples has an important part to play in the sampling process, the project begins with those who collect the soil samples. Lone Star Drills is here to help you choose the best drilling options for your soil sampling project. To learn more about our soil sampling drilling options, contact us today.