[TowerTalk] Driving ground rods

[Grant Saviers]

I have a Bosch demo hammer (largest hand held) for driving rods and used 
for much concrete demo/drilling.  I made a rod driver from the shank of 
a broken carbide drill by MIG welding on a sch 40 pipe sleeve.  It 
wouldn't stay together however as the weld alloy can't handle the shock 
and the tool steel doesn't take the weld.  Best to spend a few bucks for 
the Bosch or Makita tool made for driving rods, probably S7 steel.  It 
works fine for me.

Grant KZ1W


On 10/15/2013 1:29 PM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
> 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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