Jim, I rented a rock drill after I hit bed rock at 3' while slide hammering my
rods. The drill went through the underlying sandstone like butter. The rock
drill is what miners use to make way for explosives they place in rock. It's a
heavy pneumatic powered affair with a hollow steel bit and rotates with
hammering action. The pulverized rock exits through the hollow center of the bit
back up to ground level with air pressure activated by the operator. I'm not
sure what caliche is, but if it's a type of rock, I'm sure the drill would work.
This is the "heavy artillary" approach. I received suspicious looks from some of
my neighbors while operating this gizmo garbed with ear and eye protection and
with a diesel powered air compressor roaring away. Maybe they thought I was
preparing to blast a bomb shelter or something. Anyhow, Rock drills are great in
rock, but terrible in clay. Good luck with it.
--Dave
K0QE
Jim McDonald wrote:
> I'm trying to sink 8' ground rods using a heavy, blue, post hole setter from
> Home Depot. Worked great on one, but I'm now putting them around a tower
> base and there's caliche, a very hard layer, down about 5'. Is there any
> type of power tool I could rent to do the job?
>
> Since I now have two down 5' or so, I probably could give up and cut them
> off, though I'd rather not. I know there are other type of grounds besides
> rods, but I'd like to use the rods if I can. Thanks.
>
> Jim N7US
>
> --
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
--
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
|