[[Image:Icon_sludge.png|right]]
[[Image:Baptist drilling.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Baptist drilling rig in operation. Note the drilling mud gushing out of the drill pipe.]][[Image:Baptist_drilling2.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Baptist drilling rig in operation. <br> Click image to zoom in.]][[Image:Baptist_drilling_start.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Starting a Baptist drilling.<br> Click image to zoom in.]][[Image:Drill bits and valves.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Drill bits and valves]]
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The Baptist method is a manual drilling method based on the [[Sludging - Asian sludge|Asian Sludge method]]. The method was developed to be used by very poor villagers in developing countries, who quickly learn how to drill their wells themselves. The Baptist drilling rig can be built in any ordinary arc welding workshop and materials for a basic version costs about 150 US$ (2006 prices).
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! width="50%" style="background:#efefef;" | Advantages
! style="background:#ffdeadf0f8ff;" | Disadvantages
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| valign="top" | - Very simple and cheap equipment. <br>
==Construction, operations and maintenance==
[[Image:Baptist_drill_bit.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Baptist drill bit. The arrow-shaped point is mounted on a ball, which acts as a check valve. The mud, loaded with clippings, passes the check valve and is carried up during the downward motion of the drilling stem. Depending on the type of soil, different drill bit designs are used.]][[Image:mechanized.jpg|thumb|right|250px200px|Mechanized version of Baptist drilling, powered by a 3HP diesel engine.]]
The Baptist drilling process work with pure impact action, there is no rotating movement. Because there is no torque on the drilling stem, a light drilling stem can be used, such as thick-walled PVC pipe. The light drilling stem permits pulling the tool up with a simple pulley fixed to any kind of tripod or crossbeam.