My shoulder's all bunged up and pulverizing frozen compacted gravel with a spud bar to recover corners has not helped things one bit. I've been borrowing an electric jack hammer but that requires dragging around a Honda genset for power. Anybody have any experience and a recommendation for a cordless battery operated jackhammer? I've used 2 stroke Punjars and Cobras in the past, but they're heavy and a pain. Surely there is something better out there.
Thanks. Williwaw
Williwaw,
Based on all my study, research, and all I can get me hands on, this is the best one, so far:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BOSCH-BULLDOG-ROTARY-HAMMER-CORDLESS-36V-1-1-8-SDS-PLUS-RH328VC-36K-/112206497871?hash=item1a2007484f:g:ZAcAAOSwB09YLJm~
There are several from Bosch. I am pretty sure that this is the one.
In my thinking, having 2 or 4 batteries, could save alot of work.
And, no generator.
I have not bought one yet. So, this is based on reading. NOT experience.
N
How deep are you going down
Milwaukee?
I will second the Bosch rotary hammer. We carry a few batteries and we have an inverter if ever needed. It makes short work of asphalt and is easy on the body.
mvanhank222, post: 413495, member: 8673 wrote: How deep are you going down
I've had to go down a couple feet in the past, but even an inch through frozen compacted gravel or clay is a real biatch. I must be getting old or something because my shoulder just can't handle the pounding with a spud bar like it use to.
thebionicman, post: 413498, member: 8136 wrote: I will second the Bosch rotary hammer. We carry a few batteries and we have an inverter if ever needed. It makes short work of asphalt and is easy on the body.
36V?
Williwaw, post: 413500, member: 7066 wrote: 36V?
Yes it is.
Fyi I have rebuilt elbows, one new shoulder, a titanium neck and numerous repairs on my hands. The Bosch does the work without beating you up...
thebionicman, post: 413504, member: 8136 wrote: Yes it is.
Fyi I have rebuilt elbows, one new shoulder, a titanium neck and numerous repairs on my hands. The Bosch does the work without beating you up...
Oh! So that's how you got your name!
Our crews use Bosch rotary hammers. They work well.
For my home use cordless tools, I have all Milwaukee Fuel (all 12V or 18V). As pleased as I am with those, I would certainly look into Milwaukee's 18V (or greater, if still available) rotary hammers.
thebionicman, post: 413504, member: 8136 wrote: Yes it is.
Fyi I have rebuilt elbows, one new shoulder, a titanium neck and numerous repairs on my hands. The Bosch does the work without beating you up...
Warranty is up on my body parts and I need to get another 30+ years of mileage out of them so I'm all over what your laying down there TBM. Bet TSA just loves you.
ppm, post: 413507, member: 6808 wrote: Our crews use Bosch rotary hammers. They work well.
For my home use cordless tools, I have all Milwaukee Fuel (all 12V or 18V). As pleased as I am with those, I would certainly look into Milwaukee's 18V (or greater, if still available) rotary hammers.
OK, why would you do this?
I am NOT presently an owner of either of them.
So, it SEEMS you like the Milwaukee better. Why? (I plan to buy one of these, so I ask)
N
thebionicman, post: 413504, member: 8136 wrote: ... the Bosch does the work without beating you up...
How much run-time do you get out of your Bosch prior to changing batteries?
Steve
I have burned through both batteries once. We spent a dull day drilling into volcanic rock and concrete to set column control. If you do that day in and day out invest in an inverter and or extra batteries..
Personally, making dozens of 5/8in or 7/8in holes is easier on me than making several large holes.
Then I can smash or pry apart the asphalt and gravel from whatever else with a crowbar and shovel out the debris.
Been using 18v-20v DeWalt SDS rotary drill and a rock bit.
I recommend the 5ah batteries.
When time is not a problem and it is not considered a public hazard, on asphalt you can build a fire inside a fire ring standing on 3 or 4 bricks over the spot you want to dig and then scoop it out with a shovel.
When working in your area for the BLM, we used the Pionjar and Cobra gas powered jackhammers. Heavy beasts, but worked great for busting up hard ground or for driving the sectional rod monuments you may have seen around the ARR RW.
Cobras look darn spendy, but a quick search found some good prices on Poinjars...
Nate The Surveyor, post: 413509, member: 291 wrote: OK, why would you do this?
I am NOT presently an owner of either of them.
So, it SEEMS you like the Milwaukee better. Why? (I plan to buy one of these, so I ask)
N
From what I have seen the Bosch seems to be used by surveyor crews the most. As I said, that is what our crews use. (I am an office guy, that occasionally floats to the field crew, and have used the Bosch).
However, from what I have seen on construction sites a LOT of contractors use the Milwaukee tools. That and it was mentioned in post #4 above. That is why I bring it up.
Just for me, if I were making the purchase, I would consider the Milwaukee. I do not know if I would like it better. And if I liked them equally, I would go with the Milwaukee. For one reason... I have the batteries already. (Only exception to that would be if I found out the life of the Bosch (battery or tool) was better.) Others mileage will vary.
eapls2708, post: 413523, member: 589 wrote: When working in your area for the BLM, we used the Pionjar and Cobra gas powered jackhammers. Heavy beasts, but worked great for busting up hard ground or for driving the sectional rod monuments you may have seen around the ARR RW.
Cobras look darn spendy, but a quick search found some good prices on Poinjars...
I believe the Poinjars were originally made in Sweden but not sure about that any more given the prices. I am leaning towards a gas powered jack hammer, just don't think the electric are going to cut it going through asphalt and a couple feet of frozen compacted gravel. Guess you get what you pay for. Those USS 9000 series surveys are real blessing to me at times.
This from Berntsen's site.
http://www.berntsen.com/Surveying/Hammers-Drills-Driving-Tools/Atlas-Copco-MK1-Gas-Powered-Breaker
Now I just have to sell the Big Dog on letting us splurge a little.
The concern I would have with the battery powered units is the cold sucking the life out of them too quickly. But in warmer climates, they would have the edge in that they are much easier to lug around.
My first year on the ARR survey, we started the summer in Talkeetna but went back to look at some of the monumentation set the previous year in the Wasilla area. Some of the rod monuments had been pushed out of the ground by frost heave so that the cap was 6 or 8 feet in the air. As I recall, a crew was sent back to reset them. One of the lessons learned was that, at a minimum, the bottom rod needed to be one with fins that could be bent to act sort of like a barb on a fish hook and resist frost heave. Have you noticed any of those 9000s on Berntsen rods up in the air like that or does it appear that the fins have worked as advertised?
eapls2708, post: 413532, member: 589 wrote: The concern I would have with the battery powered units is the cold sucking the life out of them too quickly. But in warmer climates, they would have the edge in that they are much easier to lug around.
My first year on the ARR survey, we started the summer in Talkeetna but went back to look at some of the monumentation set the previous year in the Wasilla area. Some of the rod monuments had been pushed out of the ground by frost heave so that the cap was 6 or 8 feet in the air. As I recall, a crew was sent back to reset them. One of the lessons learned was that, at a minimum, the bottom rod needed to be one with fins that could be bent to act sort of like a barb on a fish hook and resist frost heave. Have you noticed any of those 9000s on Berntsen rods up in the air like that or does it appear that the fins have worked as advertised?
I haven't come across any jacked ARR drive monuments as you describe but in the Point Mackenzie area there were quite a few set that must not have had the fins because a good many I've found just laying on the ground completely jacked out. Pretty wet country. I've probably recovered a hundred plus ARR monuments over the years and never found one jacked out. Bulldozed, yes, but jacked out, no. I recovered one in the Cantwell area last summer, or I should say there wasn't a trace of the monument but the magnet in it's orange plastic case was still there and the thankfully I didn't need a jackhammer to dig it up.
I've got my eye on a Cobra, one of older one's made in Sweden I found on Craigslist today. Was originally owned by another surveyor. I think your take on the batteries in the cold is a very valid point. Thanks.
