Rockpegs - which hammer?
Morning all
Apologies if this has been covered before but I'm looking for recommendations on mallets please :-) . Our rubber mallet has seen better days and I am debating what to replace it with. In the motorhome we only used a storage tent for the bikes and sometimes used our wind-out awning, so it wasn't the end of the world if we had trouble getting pegs in. But we've just ordered an air porch awning for our caravan, and as we generally stay on hardstanding I want to be sure we've got the right thing for the job. I was reading about dead blow hammers and wondered if they might be a good choice, as the guidelines for the awning suggest pegging the rear corner pegs just under the caravan but I don't want to damage the van with rebound on hard ground. Any suggestion's gratefully received.
Daisy
Comments
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I use a Footprint 4 lb Lump hammer to drive them in, using its flanks with low amplitude "taps" if the under van space is too restricted to use as intended.
To extract them I knowingly abuse an old heavy pair of cable stripper pliers. A now long defunct manufactures pair somewhat like these but of a lot more rugged design. Their jaws grip well to apply a releasing twisting torque then you can straight pull them.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Draper-79BSUN/1512928862?iid=361097005383
In both cases not the best practice use of these tools, but effective enough and the best solution I know.
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Claw hammer for me but if I was using a lump hammer it would have to be a 21/2 lb one not a wrist damaging 4lb!
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I use a plastic shafted lump hammer (probably a 2.5 pound one) I picked up very cheaply in a 'pound shop'. As said before, the weight is handy for the awkward pegs that end up under the van - the large head means it's hard to miss the peg too. I'd have to had swung really hard with a claw hammer to drive pegs in on some stony hardstandings over the years. I always use a 'tap and strike' technique when driving pegs into hard ground - first stroke just tap the peg then hit it hard with the second and repeat - try it and you'll very rarely have a mis-hit.
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Having tried both a lump hammer and a claw hammer I much preferred a claw hammer. I found the lump hammers far harder on the wrists. Using the length of the handle on a claw hammer although the weight of the head was lighter the impact speed was far greater.
To extract a peg put claw under peg head and tread on the impact side of the hammer head and voila peg comes loose with little effort.
I could never understand some using a rubber headed mallet to drive a steel peg though?
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Thor soft faced hammer heavy enough for driving rock pegs into the hardest of hard stands and also "quiet" in use and takes shock through "nylon?"handle have had it for about 40yrs still on original replaceable heads,they are still available (screw fix)
and to get rock pegs out always twist first with pliers which normally breaks grip of the ground and then they can be withdrawn with comparative ease
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Tsk. Obviously being doing things incorrectly last 30 odd years......
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House brick, rubber walking boot, stone from dry stone wall, dog bowl, etc...... anything to hand when you occasionally forget that specially purchased tool!
PS, we still hand wind our corner steadies as well. Saves all the stress when we forget the drill!
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Cordless drill and and screw in pegs, so much easier
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Yep, I have pitched on a few like that.
I bought these last year "Pegs" So much easier getting them in, and out. Haven't broken any but on the type of hard standing you mention I have bent a couple drilling them in. They are also brilliant on grass.
Would recommend these ones but you obviously need to have cordless drill with you as well.
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Maybe I should make a "How to" video then
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I defy you to do so at Grange over Sands. 4lb lump hammer failed, even when used correctly (its not just a chippy that can use a hammer 😉) and the warden tried & failed. The other end of the specrum is the new part at Southport where the peg will go in, but either the gravel is too big or not compacted enough, and the peg won't stay in.
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"the first thing I learnt"
Usually it's making the tea
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Or being sent somewhere for a "long weight"
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lump hammer in, claw hammer out. Easy
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Did they teach joiners how to drive rock pegs through some of the very large stones found underground, away from the safety of CAMC sites? I assumed that that was the domain of quarry workers with pneumatic pics. When we got fed up with straightening bent rock pegs we switched to screw in pegs, sometimes placed obliquely to avoid stones - and they are very easy to unscrew when it’s time to pack up.
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