I’ve been looking for a solution to easily install helical piles, this is exactly the tool I’ve been looking for! When I saw the 905 I was even more surprised! I’m going to call Larry’s today to check out your drill!
Very helpfu video. Instead of using the rod to mark the ground screw location pre-drilling the hole is a good idea and one used by many others. Also pre-drilling the hole to put the rod in that's used as the stop for the long torque arm works well. As far as leveling whatever your inserting into the ground screw, some ground screws provide three nuts welded to the outside top of the ground screw which can be used as set screws to hold whatever you're inserting into the ground screw at whatever height you want.
I'm investigating ground screws for a DIY solar install. I wasn't sure I could use them unless I could find some kind of handheld device rather than the large wheeled or tracked drivers I have seen. They would be very difficult to get into my preferred solar array location. Your video provided the solution I was hoping for. The driver you demonstrated was the perfect solution. Your clear and complete descriptions of how to use the tool provided very high production value. Great video. Thanks for making my day!
@@unionse7en Cant yet, im feeling out the market. But the plan is to have them in all the rental stores. They are available for buying, and I cant send a drill with a bunch of screws. If you know of a local rental shop from you, talk to them and see if they would be interested. We could send them a drill for you to use. :D
@@easyscrewfoundations632 you will have to bribe and pay off the corrupt building permit/code communists before getting this approved for use in the states. It's a damn shame the technology is there but entirely too much bureaucracy to make advancements. Technology would advance so much faster without government dictating to people what they "feel" is good for markets and safe. These systems have been in use in Europe for YEARS but not available here in the states because the government is too high for itself. I too want to install for solar....thank God I don't live in or even near the communist state of California. The prohibit anyone doing anything on their own without government inspections and approval. It takes years to get anything approved for energy independence. Ask Bill Maher.
@@wadebrewer7212 Well. If you buy the panels and install them yourself. It will still generate electricity. 90% of people who build decks, don't take out permits. same with sheds, and small structures. Same as all the people who rent one or two-person augers. The government is not inspecting every hole they dig. It is no different. If you rent it yourself. you are free to use it :) If you have a bad neighbour and he has lots of free time and tells on you. You can still get an engineer to stamp it. They have more power over the city imspectors. :)
5’? In Oregon I build fencing at 24”deep. Maybe 36” Figure something like this could work in place of a post with concrete. At least the posts wouldn’t rot anymore
It would help. :) There are also smaller ones. They range in all lengths. But yes in Florida, most go down only 2ft. I like to go 3. the deeper you go, the stronger it is. Especially if you're installing 16ft 6 by 6 for a pergola.@@woodman1701
The screws need a specific bit to drive the screws in, along with the specific gearbox to handle the torque, you can get a bigger attachment that will attach to any tractor or bobcat.
Just what I'm trying to do in London Clay lol. I can not touch to excavate small overhanging pathway to build proper footing for traditional retaining wall so screws or cabled anchors I was thinking!
I must be missing something, wouldn't the offset lever be on the opposite side of the bar driven in the ground. It seems to me if the screws are turning clockwise the extension arm would want to turn clockwise also?
The screw is turning clockwise, so the drill wants to turn anti-clockwise. The long lever is connected to the drill so turns anti-clockwise too, and the ground bar stops it.
Are these approved for deck foundations in Ontario? I intend to rent the system and do it myself, but not sure how it works with the building inspector.
You need to send the drawings to an engineer. Where he will convert the regular footing for ground screws. Chandana Peiris PhD, MEng, BSc, PEng Principal Avant-Struct Ltd. 6395 Ranchview Dr NW Calgary, AB T3G 1B5 403 606 4276 www.avantstruct.com e mail it to this guy. he will give you what you need. :)
@@easyscrewfoundations632 thanks for the info. My health has taken a dive so im just now checking my messages. Its feb in texas and its about to be in the 20s for a week or two. Yesterday i was wearing beach wear. I will get with you soon. I think this will be a good solution for a serious issue i have to deal with very soon.
@@davidreynolds4684 No problem. Hope you feel better. Here in Florida, the weather has finally taken a turn for the warmer. We just finished 2 or more weeks of cold.
@@easyscrewfoundations632 i lived in boca for a while in my early 20s. Rained every damn day for 2 mins. Then built hotels around hot springs and brendan. About 120 days at a time. It was miserably hot and sticky Like satans jock strap. Ill take the atalantic side but yall can have all the inner leg area.
Can this be used for house foundations in a similar way to helical piers? Is there a place to find more information on how many would be needed for a foundation or deck etc? I’d like to send more information to my contractor
Been researching screw piles for a couple years for a large deck. Goliath and Technometal Post are the big Canadian names in the industry. My concern with your system is that for real bearing capacity, the big names have very large helicals at the bottom of their screws. Yours looks to be simple an ~1" 'thread" down the pipe like a screw. No one likes getting permits, however in the end they are there for our protection, and the next buyers. Do you, or have you gotten any sort of Certified Specs on your screws as to bearing strength? Every State has Residential Codes, which is where I think your big hurdle is going to be.
Thank you for your good question sir. Our screws are totally different from helical pylons as they use the fin at the bottom to gain their lateral load barring capacities. Our ground screws use compression of the substrate to obtain about 2500 pounds of lateral load. (which you can get engineer to stamp). Also much less chance of hitting a root or rock, along with the flexibility to get into tight spots, and steep inclines. Not to mention how you will do no damage to the surrounding landscape. :) If you have any other questions, I would be happy to answer them, and help you.
@@easyscrewfoundations632 Appreciate the answer and quick too. Not a structural/mechanical engineer, however I can follow how a helical is 'screwed' into the ground to a point where the pressure required to push it further down reaches a certain resistance measured on the top end at x PSI. At that PSI, it is known that it will bear x #'s. For your screw end, I envision it like an eye-bolt being screwed into a piece of wood. I see the 'threads' on the pile exerting some compression, however unlike wood, the surrounding ground seems likely to just move horizontally. The screw point seems like it is going to simple continue to drive into the dirt, and has a very small cross-section from which downward compression could build. Unless at 6-7' depth you are reaching extremely dense earth where the threads begin bearing. If you have any spec's, I'd love to run them past my permitting dept. Thanks!
@@boots7859 Yes, the screws we use are 7 ft long. It not only gets us below the frost lvl but also reaches deep into the virgin ground. As well the ground is hard as a rock down there, imagine also compressing it turning the soil into concrete if you will.
I have not tried it. I do not see why not. The screws self-feed themselves in with the threads, you may need to just apply some downward pressure, but I don't see why it would not work. @@ВинтовыесваивКрыму
Yes for sure! They are different in a lot of ways, for the better. Would love to chat with you about it, feel free to give me a call or an email. (905)-980-4515 stevendroppert@gmail.com
WOW, this seems like an excellent investment for any small carpentry business. Anyone know what a ball park price is for the driver and each screw? Currently paying about $350 per screw installed from my local guy.
@@easyscrewfoundations632 it costs at most $250 to get someone else to do the helical pile here in southern ontario canada. At first i was intrigued but it really doesnt make sense to spend all that money on equipment and material and also do the work yourself
@@amilli092 I'm glad you can find them that cheap. :) A lot of other people are paying 500. Also, there are scenarios where you can't get the Helical piles in the location you need them. Be it a tight space, steep incline, island, rough terrain or simply new sod was just laid, or other reasons.
The torque wrench on their website is rated to 4750 n/m. I would expect you could rent one from a local hire place. The telescopic brace is unique but not next level technology either. The torque gun I used for my home project was one I borrowed from my rigging mate who uses it to tension structural steel bolts. In my area (australia) the market is in its early stages and the screw suppliers would only put you in contact with an installer locally even though they advertised installation. The local installers all used excavators instead of the install rig as they could not justify the return on investment especially when they had a mini escavator sitting in their yard. Those torque guns in australia are 5K plus for the high torque models or about $500/day hire. A local contractor with the screw adaptor charges about $1200 including $400 travel time to install.
@@joseespinoza5794 Hi Jose, can you share more information in Australia regarding how to build these foundation like this? Are they really cheaper than Slabs on a sloppy land?
I am in the USA trying to get this started. I am in Florida. Feel free to give me a call at (905)-980-4515 also you can get the drill. Just have to make an order and ill send it to you with the screws. Then you can go rent it out or install them yourself. There is a less than one year return on investment and an easy probability to make over 80k a year.
@@rollandelliott That's actually exactly what we pay for it. Without the shipping in truth. we are losing money selling the drill. The money is only in the selling of the screws.
Why don't you put a piece of scrap wood underneath the end of the torque bar to keep it from digging into the soil as you go down. That would allow the bar to slide across the surface.
Not there yet. sorry. But if you have a local rental company, get me their number or talk with them, and I can send one to them if they are interested. My plan is to get into every rental company.
@@fudogwhisperer3590 Iv already tried. They don't want to because no one walk in and asks for it... Really disappointing. So I'm aiming for the local markets from the local rental companies. Any help in this and there would be a part for you. :)
That is a nice,high tech tool,and all the safety you mentioned,you left one thing out,buried plumbing,power conduit ,gas lines or irrigation lines.Otherwise great video.