Activity Feed › Discussion Forums › Strictly Surveying › Nail Driving Prism Pole
That is why I wait for some things to end up on EBay.
I can remember when it cost less for me to go to the other side of the globe and build a vacation house as it was to transfer enough money over there.
- Posted by: @john-putnam
Some time ago I remember seeing a prism pole attachment that would drive mag nails. Does anyone recall this or am I losing it? I have an upcoming layout job that needs nails set every 50 feet for 1.5 miles and figured this might work well.
I remember imagining one and talking to my assistant about how amazing it would be if that existed. I never looked into if it was a thing though.
I bet a Hilti Gun would work really well if someone had to set a lot of points in pavement. Haven’t used one since my construction days but could drive a masonry nail into solid concrete with no problem.
WillyI doubt it would be useful.
- The rod would be too heavy
- Unbalanced
- The Shockwave would throw your rod bubble out of plumb
- Shockwave may destroy your prism
- or force parts loose on those with electronics connected to the rod.
I use the center punch rod top. Then a hammer drill with magnail.
I wasn’t thinking of attaching a Hilti to a rod. The recoil would destroy it. Just for setting something quickly once a point has been established with the rod without drilling and pounding. My shoulder and elbow won’t allow me to pound points into pavement all day anymore.
WillyHere is your Tool!!!!
The steel guys use the HILTI DX-860-ENP nailer to attach the corrugated metal deck to I-beams. At minute 3:15 in the video, you can see how easy it is to use. This requires no bending over, holds 40 nails, and not very loud. Has Bluetooth APP for your smartphone. It stands about hip height, just push down on handles.
For maximum surveying production setting nails along the center of paved road, you could probably rig a level vial with Prism or GPS to it while standing on a hoverboard.
It weighs 43 lbs. It is very pricey. Over $6000 plus the hoverboard.
I have worked at Hayes Instrument Company for almost 23 years. I remember someone sending a prism pole to my then boss, Eddie Clanton, to try out that would drive nails in hard surfaces like asphalt pavement. It used a .22 caliber long-rifle “blank cartridge as the “driving force.” I do not remember selling one. but I do remember seeing that item. There are still nails in the pavement around the building that Eddie drove playing with the thing. Seems like the mechanism was triggered by pressing down on the rod when you had it on the desired point.
Off topic, but re-reading this older thread, I noticed A Harris. I see that he hasn’t posted in 9 months. I hope it’s just lack of interest
There was a impact slide hammer marketed for surveyors sometime around 2000. Had multiple inserts for driving rebar or lath or chipping out frozen earth. I don??t remember anything for magnails, but I don??t imagine it would be hard to do.
Judging by my internet search,it was short lived, but was called the thunderbolt. I believe it was made by a firm inAlberta.
Liked the shadow paint comment but I thought I invented it. ???? On asphalt, I displace the aggregates with a concrete nail before driving PK.
Concrete? Unless your cordless is a true rotary hammer drill (sds) good luck drilling through granite. I prefer a carbide tipped scribe to throw control around, but if required to set a nail, gimme a Bosch cordless Bulldog
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