[Calidecks]

What tool is used to hammer a grounding rod in the ground. Or is there a bit for a roto-hammer that works. I have 140 1/2" rebar dowels I have to put in the ground and I don't want to work that damn hard doing it with a sledge hammer. Anybody?

 

[Moze]

Home Depot has ground rod drivers.

www.homedepot.com/p/t/100212532?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&N=5yc1v&R=100212532

Or amazon....
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_box_?k=Ground+rod+driver+

 

[Calidecks]

Now I need to find out who would stock such an animal, I need it for Monday

 

[jhark123]

If you have a hilti store close by, I'd bet they stock one. Or you could use a breaker hammer (doesn't need a bit).

 

[jlsconstruction]

We do it with the skid steer bucket, or what ever piece of equipment is handy

 

[tjbnwi]

Check with a rental yard to see if they have the driver for your roto hammer.

If the rebar fits in your roto hammer it will drive the rebar. It is not recommended to drive the bar directly because of the steel composition. It can mushroom and hang in the machine.

Tom

 

[svronthmve]

Although that ground rod driver looks nice, I just have a metal post driver that I use. Depending on the lay of the land, I often have them sunk in 4-5 hits.

But I have to admit, that driver's got me thinking! TBA, here I come...

 

[mudpad]

Driving Ground Rod with a Bottle of Water

Here is one that most people don't know about. It works as long as you don't hit any rock.

Get a bottle of water. Take your ground rod and jab it into the ground a few inches. Pour a little water in the hole. Insert rod and start working it up and down. The water will lube it up and it will start going down. You can do it with one hand. When it starts getting tight, pull out and add water, go again. Repeat and driven.

You can do it with less than 16 oz of water in the right clay type soil. I've done it a bunch of times with smooth ground rounds, never tried rebar, the ribs might make it a little tougher, but I bet it still works.

I've won bets on this one several times. :thumbup:

 

[Calidecks]

I was think I could just drill the ground first with my roto hammer and then just stab them in. There's 140 at 18". They're for pier jack pads. Each pad gets four bars. I Don't know how sanitary that would be if the inspector yanked on one and it came up too easy. :laughing:

 

[mudpad]

I've gone 8 foot using this method. Once the ground around the rod dries out again, you can't pull em out. Try it.

 

[Calidecks]

I've gone 8 foot using this method. Once the ground around the rod dries out again, you can't pull em out. Try it.

I will give that a shot. Ill be doing this first thing Monday.

 

[Inner10]

What size is the rebar because it may not fit in a ground rod driver...unless you use a cup driver and a step ladder...which sucks.

 

[Inner10]

I piked the image from 480, I don't actually own one of those little beauty's.:whistling

 

[ewils91]

My Home Depot rents both kinds. Do you have a tool rental in your area?

 

[Calidecks]

What size is the rebar because it may not fit in a ground rod driver...unless you use a cup driver and a step ladder...which sucks.

There only #4 bar there's 140 and there 18" long

 

[Calidecks]

My Home Depot rents both kinds. Do you have a tool rental in your area?

Yes, I will check, thanks, but will also buy one for future jobs

 

[griz]

How far in to the ground?

Soil type?

 

[lambcraft]

I welded on an 3/4" impact socket to a broken SDS tip and use my Bosch SDS rotor hammer on hammer mode. Works great even in our hard granite soil conditions.

 

[Calidecks]

How far in to the ground? Soil type?

It's compacted DG mixed with 3/4 aggregate

 

[Calidecks]

I welded on an 3/4" impact socket to a broken SDS tip and use my Bosch SDS rotor hammer on hammer mode. Works great even in our hard granite soil conditions.

I was thinking about that