A few years back I was doing some remodeling and barrowed a buddies Makita
hammer drill to knock a hole in some brick and a couple in our club was
installing phased Hy Towers and they had 17 ground rods to install but after
the 1st one wore them out trying to use a sledge hammer on a ladder they
asked if anyone could help. Since I had the hammer drill with the attachment
we drove out there and in less than 45 minutes we had all 17 installed..
I've been wondering about the Harbor Freight versions. I have some clay mix
but no rocks here in W Ky.
73
John
KO4XJ
-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K0DAN
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2013 10:10 PM
To: Patrick Greenlee; garyk9gs@wi.rr.com; Towertalk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
Wow, good info thanks!
I'm real close to renting a demo hammer. Needed to this for years, add a
dozen new rods into an established established ground.
But now I am too old & lazy to use a fence post pounder to beat on ground
rods but have heard of the virtues of a demolition hammer. Never got around
to it but your & Gary's experiences will save me some mistakes, much
appreciated!
73
de dan k0dan
-----Original Message-----
From: Patrick Greenlee
Sent: October 13, 2013 21:20
To: garyk9gs@wi.rr.com ; Towertalk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
Ditto, I use a Harbor Freight demo hammer and a home brew insert (to avoid
$80 + shipping for store bought AKA COTS.) Works good but in really hard
ground takes a while and don't forget the hearing protection. When driving
rods with a sledge in hard ground the rod tends to bend. Before driving in
these conditions slip a piece of pipe over the rod to keep it from bending.
You may need 2-3 different lengths of pipe to accommodate the shortening
ground rod as it is driven.
Warning: do not try to drive the rod with a demo hammer by inserting the end
of the rod into the hammer. The rod may mushroom and then be locked inside
the hammer, PERMANENTLY. I came close, hence the home brew attachment for
rod driving.
Patrick AF5CK
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary K9GS
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2013 8:13 PM
To: Towertalk Mailing List
Subject: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
While on the topic of ground rods.
Today I had to drive some 5/8 X 8 foot ground rods. I live on top of a
ridge that was part of the glacial push South into Southern Wisconsin.
Think sandy rocky soil with many rocks about fist sized plus hard clay.
25 years ago I had to dig a hole for a mailbox post and it took me all
day with a post hole digger.
Anyway, to drive these ground rods I rented a demolition hammer from
Home Depot. Think small electric jack hammer that looks like a big
drill. Made by Makita. In place of the chisel that is usually used,
they had a bit made for driving ground rods. Basically a hollow sleeve
that fits over the end of the ground rod.
Used an 8 ft stepladder and a friend to help. The ground rods went in
like a hot knife through butter. Each one took less than 5 minutes and
no pounding with a sledge hammer, water pipes, post driver, etc. Truly
amazingly fast. The best money I've ever spent.
--
73,
Gary K9GS
Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org
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