[TowerTalk] Driving ground rods

[Alan Swinger]

Equip rental companies, at least in Virginia, rent impact hammers and the fitting for Grd Rods. I have gone this route on two occasions and drove 36 8ft rods each time. Its less expensive than buying a hammer that you probably won't use very often, but it will also accomplish the job and let you test a particular brand befor you buy.
Good luck,
Alan K9MBQ


-----Original Message-----
>From: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g at windstream.net>
>Sent: Oct 15, 2013 4:29 PM
>To: Richard Karlquist <richard at karlquist.com>, towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Driving ground rods
>
>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 at 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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