[R-390] Grounding and CAD Welding

[2002tii]

Bob wrote:

>On one particular trip, the "Engineers" deemed that solid brass rods, 12
>feet long would be used.  Oh GREAT!  Ever see a 3/4" dia. by 12 ft long
>pretzel?  We raised all sorts of heck - UNTIL they finally sent us the
>Copperweld rods.

Well, yeah, if you have dense or rocky soil and try to pound on the 
end that's 12' in the air.  But that's not how you're supposed to do 
it.  Put a hammer clamp on the rod a couple of feet from the end, 
then pound in the first two feet, then move the clamp up a couple of 
feet and keep repeating.  If the soil is really resistant, you may 
also need a concentric hammer.  This will get a copper, brass, or 
bronze rod into any soil I've seen south of Loudon, New Hampshire 
(where I couldn't get hardened steel tent pegs to go more than an 
inch into the ground).

I've got clay soil here, and getting 12 feet of 1" copper pipe driven 
in is not all that much work.

Best regards,

Don