Using jackhammer at 45 degree angle?

[ManCave]

Hi Guys,

I have to drive 40 ground anchors 12 feet into the ground using a 90 pound jackhammer. They have to be driven at 45 degrees. The spec says to stay within 5 degrees + or - of the 45 degree angle.

I've never done this. Anyone have experience with this and have any tips on getting that 45 degree angle?

 

[mark#3]

I'd say make some sort of a ramp table that the sledge hammer will rest on at 45 degrees that you hold it on.(piece of plywood on a frame at 45 degrees)
My description is a bit primitive

 

[ManCave]

Your description was fine. I had the same thought. I also wondered if there was some kind of slope meter I could strap to the jackhammer.

I'd say make some sort of a ramp table that the sledge hammer will rest on at 45 degrees that you hold it on.(piece of plywood on a frame at 45 degrees)
My description is a bit primitive

 

[larry_g]

You have to ask 45* from what reference plane? The fixed angle guide will work if the reference surface is flat and level ground but if the reference plane is not the surface of the ground then your going to probably have to have an adjustable guide. Is it possible to hang the 90lb hammer from an overhead point, tractor bucket or such? Look up a 'tool balancer' that will carry most of the load of the hammer. Or use a pulley suspended from a skyhook that has the hammer on one end and a 90lb counter weight on the other end.

Something like this, https://www.homedepot.com/p/Johnson...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CM38x8Ph9dwCFXUQfQodc8IAEw , would do the job if the reference plane is the earths gravitational pull.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[rlitman]

Your description was fine. I had the same thought. I also wondered if there was some kind of slope meter I could strap to the jackhammer.

Any slope meter I can think of is a fairly delicate instrument that isn’t meant to stand up to that sort of vibration.

 

[6PTsocket]

For a slope meter, mount a bubble level on a 45° bracket to the body of the hammer. It won't be worth a damn while hammering but you can stop to check your angle.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[dutchgray]

Hold a small torpedo level with a 45° bubble against the anchor and drive it in, once it is started off you wont change its path anyway.
I bet most just eyeball the 45°

 

[Cheepbeer]

Anything you strap to 90# hammer will be junk in a short time. Don't wear your wrist watch while hammering. I'd try to get by with a 45 or 60 or something like that. The only thing a 90's gonna do is make it hard to control.

 

[manwithtools]

Hi Guys,

I have to drive 40 ground anchors 12 feet into the ground using a 90 pound jackhammer.

"Holy tent stakes Batman" how in the hell do you start an anchor when the driven end of it will be 8 and a half feet in the air?

Who's holding the 90 lb hammer at that height and then chasing it down to ground level?

This sounds like a job for a machine, or at least someone who has done it many times...

 

[ManCave]

LOL Good question! Check out this video:

"Holy tent stakes Batman" how in the hell do you start an anchor when the driven end of it will be 8 and a half feet in the air?

Who's holding the 90 lb hammer at that height and then chasing it down to ground level?

This sounds like a job for a machine, or at least someone who has done it many times...

 

[LXCam]

I've spent hundreds of hours on top of 90lbs hammers. I'd suggest you rent a skid steer with a hammer attachment and have someone spot you. Controlling all that in the air including all the different elevations you'll need to be at would be not only insanely time consuming but a real ***** plus dangerous.


Vids will be required

 

[ManCave]

I have a skid and the original plan was to use a concrete breaker to drive in the anchors. There is not room to get the skid into place so I will be using a 90lb jack hammer instead.

I've spent hundreds of hours on top of 90lbs hammers. I'd suggest you rent a skid steer with a hammer attachment and have someone spot you. Controlling all that in the air including all the different elevations you'll need to be at would be not only insanely time consuming but a real ***** plus dangerous.


Vids will be required

 

[LXCam]

LOL Good question! Check out this video:

That's badass! If that's what you're doing then no issues but that certainly can't be cheap.


Still gonna need a vid though

 

[ManCave]

About $4,500.00 including materials and drive tool rentals. Concrete anchors (4 foot by 4 foot footings) would have run $8,000 and this is easier to install.

 

[manwithtools]

What are you anchoring?

 

[LXCam]

About $4,500.00 including materials and drive tool rentals. Concrete anchors (4 foot by 4 foot footings) would have run $8,000 and this is easier to install.

~$100 per set isn't bad at all. I wouldn't hesitate at that price.

 

[ManCave]

50 x 100 tent

What are you anchoring?

 

[LXCam]

50 x 100 tent

Shiiit, it's only temporary.


I'd go with these and save the grief.....

 

[ManCave]

LOL! It's rated for 70mph winds!

Shiiit, it's only temporary.


I'd go with these and save the grief.....

 

[ItsNemo]

Most big tents I've seen large concrete blocks brought in with U shaped rebar cast into them for an anchor point. I would think removing 12 foot anchors is going to be a royal pain in the ***....and I assume you've done locates prior to driving something 12 feet into the ground?

 

[ManCave]

Guys this is not temporary.

 

[Cheepbeer]

FWIW the hammer in the vid isn't a 90. It looks like it's hydraulic. Maybe you can get by with something a bit lighter.

I don't know how heavy your ground is, but a 90's overkill.

I'm like LX, many hours on one. Maybe in my younger years I might,ve given it a shot.

 

[LXCam]

Guys this is not temporary.

That's cool, you making a party venue or something along those lines? We have a couple beautiful private residences close to us that have done this and it sure seems like a viable alternative to a permanent structure not including being way cheaper.

 

[Lassen Forge]

What you need is a H.O. Ram on the end of a loader. Seriously - hoisting that 90# hammer up to 9' and keeping it at a pure 45 degrees - 40 times - is insanity.

Rent the equipment - you'd have it done in a weekend (maybe a day) and forgo the hospital bills...

 

[manwithtools]

What you need is a H.O. Ram on the end of a loader. Seriously - hoisting that 90# hammer up to 9' and keeping it at a pure 45 degrees - 40 times - is insanity.

Rent the equipment - you'd have it done in a weekend (maybe a day) and forgo the hospital bills...

Hey Lassen, take a loot at he video the OP posted. It shows how they drive a 12 foot rod from the ground. Pretty interesting .....

 

[mike93lx]

Still insantity to have a person handling a hammer that big that many times. Tons of chance for injury.

Besides, at least around here, there is no way in hell a stake is making it that far into the ground 9 times out of 10

 

[ManCave]

We are in pure sand (with a layer of clay at 20 feet) which is why the anchors are going in 12 feet. It's also why normal tent stakes won't work as they won't hold in the sand.

They are going deep because the corner anchors need to hold 10,000 pounds.

But as you pointed out, it should be easy driving in the sand. The reason I was looking at a 90 pound is because the anchor manufacturer recommends nothing lighter than a 90. But being we're in sand a lighter unit might work. I will have another 1 or 2 guys helping when I do it.

FWIW the hammer in the vid isn't a 90. It looks like it's hydraulic. Maybe you can get by with something a bit lighter.

I don't know how heavy your ground is, but a 90's overkill.

I'm like LX, many hours on one. Maybe in my younger years I might,ve given it a shot.

 

[ManCave]

Nobody is lifting it to 9 feet! The drive rods are in short sections and when you run out of length as you drive it in you add another section. The top of the jackhammer won't be any higher than my head if that. Also, I was snatching 120 pounds over my head in 6th grade and I'm a lot stronger now.

What you need is a H.O. Ram on the end of a loader. Seriously - hoisting that 90# hammer up to 9' and keeping it at a pure 45 degrees - 40 times - is insanity.

Rent the equipment - you'd have it done in a weekend (maybe a day) and forgo the hospital bills...

 

[manwithtools]

Also, I was snatching 120 pounds over my head in 6th grade and I'm a lot stronger now.

Yep plenty could say that and plenty more can now say "my back hurts" just thinking about that. The more folks the better in this case.

 

[rlitman]

For a slope meter, mount a bubble level on a 45° bracket to the body of the hammer. It won't be worth a damn while hammering but you can stop to check your angle.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

That bubble will probably turn into a milkshake.

 

[rustyjames]

I would try out a 60 lb. hammer first to see how it goes.

 

[2oolhound]

You can lash 3 poles together to make a tripod to suspend the jackhammer and allow the tilt. Larry's suggestion of a pulley or come-a-long to adjust the height would be handy if it's high up. If using 4' extensions on the jackhammer you'd need the apex of the tripod about 12' up so 15 or 16' poles would be needed. Longer ones would be needed for bigger heights.

You could also dig 5' to 6' deep holes and bury a deadman with a cable up to the surface to tie on to. Railroad ties would be good or any piece of log or timber but they will rot in a year or two and the cable could pull through.