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Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods

To: "Richard Karlquist" <richard@karlquist.com>, towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
From: "Patrick Greenlee" <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:29:24 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Rick, it seems there is no free lunch. I read the specs on all three demo hammers you gave ID numbers for and although any of the three "might" work in some situations only a trial will tell. Comparison to mine is difficult as I don???t have a ft-lb rating for mine only the blows per minute at 1100 to 2100. Mine is rated at 16 amps.

It it were me and I were starting fresh I would buy the #68150 which is on sale now for $329. I'd buy an extra chisel and convert it to a ground rod driver by cutting it off and adding a piece of tubing as previously mentioned. Then I'd try it in the toughest soil I had and see if it was acceptable. If not, take it back and get the next size up as they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

One small downside is that the two candidates I mention use different size chisels, i.e. 28mm hex and 30mm hex. I would do a trial fit of the 28mm in the tool intended to use 30mm tool as I suspect it would work and save you a little expense and hassle. Of course the HF folks may deny that but remember they aren't users, just low wage stock guys. Interestingly the larger more powerful tool lists the smaller size tool shank. My tool size is 3/4 inch hex, a bit smaller than the ones available now and it is plenty sturdy driving many rods without wear or damage.

I also use mine to take out old concrete and even tried it for driving T-posts with mixed results. I can break/shape landscaping boulders.

Good luck to you whichever way you choose to go.

73

Patrick AF5CK

-----Original Message----- From: Richard Karlquist
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013 2:25 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods

On 2013-10-14 11:49, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
If anyone is interested in buying a Harbor Freight (inexpensive) demo
hammer don't buy the smallest one.  They don't carry the one I have
anymore but they have a larger one and a smaller one.  I have seen
both.  Don't get the smaller one.  Mine works pretty good and the

The HF web site shows:

Model 68147, 15 amps "vertical", $499 list
Model 68150, 11 amps "horizontal", $399 list
Model 68148, 10 amps "horizontal", $199 list

So which is the good and the bad?  What doesn't work with the bad one?

Rick N6RK
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