Make Your Own "Disposable" Cable Stakes
Aug 19, 2007 1:12:48 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2007 1:12:48 GMT -5
What you need..
Hack saw or saws all (something to cut conduit)
Drill and drill bit (one size larger then your cable)
Cable (snare cable works fine)
Conduit (I use 1/2")
Rebar
Welder*
1/4" nuts (or furrels, one double and one single for each anchor you are making)
*if no welder is available, get 1/2 rebar, and a grinder is needed.
Take and mark out your conduit at 3" sections. Cut at about a 45 degree angle off both ends. It is easier after one pice is cut to spin the conduit over so your other end is already at a 45 degree angle.
In the center you need to drill out a hole, don't drill through both walls, just the one. I highly reccomend you use a vice to hold the conduit while drilling. I have a scar about 3" long due to a drill bit breaking off, and going into my Left hand. 3 surgeries later, I still have limited feeling and 95% use of my left hand..could have been worse! Remember SAFETY first!
Once your hole is drilled, take your cable and run it into the hole, and out the end. Either pound a nut on the end or put the single furrel on to stop the cable from going back through the hole.
Now, use the double furrel to loop the top end, or pound a nut on leaving enough room for your trap fastner to clip on.
OK, now to your rebar..
No welder..
Make sure your conduit cannot already fit on the outside of the rebar. If you can, you need a bigger section of rebar! Grind down the rebar so it will fit LOSELY in the conduit. I grind mine so where the conduit meets the rebar, it is at a close to a 45 degree angle. I do this by marking the rebar so the conduit will fit about 1" up the rebar, and the top of the grinding area is also marked to closely match the new stakes..
Welder..
Cut your first pice of conduit with only one end at a 45 degree angle, the other end flat. I generaly will use the first pice of conduit so I don't have to cut a stright edge in the conduit.
Weld the conduit onto your pice of rebar. It should fit snuggly on, you do not want the stakes you are driving to fit too losely, as dirt and rocks will clog up and make them pull out when you pull your rebar out.
I make most of my cable stakes 3" longer then what they will be when finished. Remember, when you loop the end, you are losing length, so cut the cable accordingly.
Also, I have made them with just one flat end, and the other end squeezed down. I would put my cable closer to the squeezed down, so when pulled, it would set the open end into the dirt.
When pulling my driver out, I would use alot of twisting action to ensure that the anchor does not stick to my driver.
Don't be afraid to pull hard on any cable stake. If it comes out, then remake your set. I would advise you digging out the trap bed first, driving the stake down, and giving it a test pull. Nothing like taking the time to construct a good set just to find out your anchor isn't going to hold well..
Hack saw or saws all (something to cut conduit)
Drill and drill bit (one size larger then your cable)
Cable (snare cable works fine)
Conduit (I use 1/2")
Rebar
Welder*
1/4" nuts (or furrels, one double and one single for each anchor you are making)
*if no welder is available, get 1/2 rebar, and a grinder is needed.
Take and mark out your conduit at 3" sections. Cut at about a 45 degree angle off both ends. It is easier after one pice is cut to spin the conduit over so your other end is already at a 45 degree angle.
In the center you need to drill out a hole, don't drill through both walls, just the one. I highly reccomend you use a vice to hold the conduit while drilling. I have a scar about 3" long due to a drill bit breaking off, and going into my Left hand. 3 surgeries later, I still have limited feeling and 95% use of my left hand..could have been worse! Remember SAFETY first!
Once your hole is drilled, take your cable and run it into the hole, and out the end. Either pound a nut on the end or put the single furrel on to stop the cable from going back through the hole.
Now, use the double furrel to loop the top end, or pound a nut on leaving enough room for your trap fastner to clip on.
OK, now to your rebar..
No welder..
Make sure your conduit cannot already fit on the outside of the rebar. If you can, you need a bigger section of rebar! Grind down the rebar so it will fit LOSELY in the conduit. I grind mine so where the conduit meets the rebar, it is at a close to a 45 degree angle. I do this by marking the rebar so the conduit will fit about 1" up the rebar, and the top of the grinding area is also marked to closely match the new stakes..
Welder..
Cut your first pice of conduit with only one end at a 45 degree angle, the other end flat. I generaly will use the first pice of conduit so I don't have to cut a stright edge in the conduit.
Weld the conduit onto your pice of rebar. It should fit snuggly on, you do not want the stakes you are driving to fit too losely, as dirt and rocks will clog up and make them pull out when you pull your rebar out.
I make most of my cable stakes 3" longer then what they will be when finished. Remember, when you loop the end, you are losing length, so cut the cable accordingly.
Also, I have made them with just one flat end, and the other end squeezed down. I would put my cable closer to the squeezed down, so when pulled, it would set the open end into the dirt.
When pulling my driver out, I would use alot of twisting action to ensure that the anchor does not stick to my driver.
Don't be afraid to pull hard on any cable stake. If it comes out, then remake your set. I would advise you digging out the trap bed first, driving the stake down, and giving it a test pull. Nothing like taking the time to construct a good set just to find out your anchor isn't going to hold well..