Shelby Tube Extruder
A shelby tube is a thin walled steel tube, typically 24 to 30 inches long, that is put down into a drill hole in the ground and then forced into the soil to obtain what is called an 'undisturbed' soil sample. They are typically used in soft clay soils.

Once the sample has been obtained it is taken back to the lab and the soil has to be forced back out of the steel tube (extruded) so lab tests, typically oedometer tests, can be run on the soil sample. This can take some force, and extruders usually use hydraulics to accomplish this.

Below are pictures of a shelby tube extruder I built for the company I work for. It was an enjoyable project.

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