Grounding rod with no tools

[Tripp2012]

Anyone ever tried this to drive a grounding rod?

 

[Kevin54]

Nice. I'm filing that into my book of ideas. The last time that I had to have one put in a friend used what looked to be a hammer drill with a special socket on the end. The way you are showing, I would have never thought of and out ground is clay that is just like concrete.

Thanks for posting that up.

 

[383 240z]

Is slipping a t post driver over the rod and hammering it in really that hard? I've done TONS of them that way building hot wire fences. Only take about 2-3 mins to drive one to depth. Keith

 

[arrowhead]

Isn't the point of a ground rod is to have contact with the "ground" I think that method might not really have good contact all the way down. I don't think it would work very good in rocky clay either.

 

[Tripp2012]

Not saying it's right or wrong, just wondering had anyone seen it done this way. My guess is after the rod sets for a day you will not pull it back out and ground contact will be the same as driven rod.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Nice. I'm filing that into my book of ideas. The last time that I had to have one put in a friend used what looked to be a hammer drill with a special socket on the end. The way you are showing, I would have never thought of and out ground is clay that is just like concrete.

Thanks for posting that up.

This is DA WAY!...I made my own adaptor for my SDS..slapped it on hammer only and drove both rods all the way down in 5 minutes tops with zero sweat...and not even a mushroom on top of it.
My FIL was watching me grab the SDS and chuck up my adaptor...saw the "WTF is he thinkin" look in his face, but started smiling when he saw how it worked.

 

[AgFrost]

This is the only way I've done it. It's a workout for sure, especially when it gets further into the ground and you're stooping over. We usually switched off fairly often. It works pretty well, but you still have to dig a bit to get the Cadweld gear in there and make connections.

 

[ddawg16]

I feel asleep watching.....

That is why they make BFH's.....

Or do like what I saw one guy do.....took an 8' rod....cut it in half....drove each in 4'....he calls it his '2 fer ground'

 

[Speedy Petey]

I had to turn the sound off!! Between the wind noise, and that ANNOYING guy I couldn't bear it.

 

[rdsk8ter]

with a post hole driver and a 5lb sludge my 52yr old father can drive one in like 2 minutes I guess I don't see using this as a time saver.

 

[raddksn]

I feel asleep watching.....

That is why they make BFH's.....

Or do like what I saw one guy do.....took an 8' rod....cut it in half....drove each in 4'....he calls it his '2 fer ground'

When I nod my head you hit it. (Nyuk nyuk nyuk)

 

[madosta]

OMG that dude is such a douche on the video.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Good idea, but I put mine in last fall with a simple claw hammer in about 2 minutes tops.

 

[mds5951]

....pretty sure the audio is from a gay *****.

"Up and down boys let the rod do the work."

 

[matt151617]

I did mine with literally no tools. Soaked the ground with a hose the night before, then drove the rod in by hand as far as it would go (about 2 feet). Pulled the rod out, filled the hole with water, then slammed it up and down till it wouldn't go further. Added more water and repeated. I got about 6 of 10 feet in this way. Grabbed a good sized rock and started hitting it until it was in fully. One hell of a workout.

 

[hh76]

While watching, the only thing going through my head was "just go grab a f-ing hammer".

 

[gatchel]

This is DA WAY!...I made my own adaptor for my SDS..slapped it on hammer only and drove both rods all the way down in 5 minutes tops with zero sweat...and not even a mushroom on top of it.
My FIL was watching me grab the SDS and chuck up my adaptor...saw the "WTF is he thinkin" look in his face, but started smiling when he saw how it worked.

I have a modified version of this which have used.

Use an old 1/2 inch drill bit and grind the tip flat. Take a small piece of rubber hose and clamp it around the top of the rod. (Put the acorn nut on first.)This will keep the flattened bit end aligned with the rod. Put the SDS to hammer only. Hammer away.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Our ground is so soft here in Houston, the last couple times I had to you could just push it 3-4 feet into the ground by hand, the just use a sledge to pound it the rest of the way with little effort... meh... I would had to try and do it where there is hard soil though.

 

[Rodhotz]

I drove in both of mine in 15 seconds...... gave the kid the sledge hammer and rods!!!!

 

[wrench409]

Good idea, but I put mine in last fall with a simple claw hammer in about 2 minutes tops.

I bought two and leaned them in place by the slab. Went inside for the tools and when I came back out to do the work, they were both already sunk in place.

 

[Alchymist]

Bought two 8 footers at the local supply, picked up some other stuff, and forgot to load the ground rods. When I got home, walked around to the back of the garage, and they were already installed. How they beat me home I'll never know.