here is a method I used at one of my former abodes.

I took a number of 10 foot long lengths of 3/4 copper pipe. I crimped one end of one pipe so that it formed a narrow nozzle. I then hooked up a water line to the other end. Placed it vertically and turned on the water. Once I got it down to about 1 foot from the ground, I disconnected the water, soldered on a sleeve and the next length of pipe. Repeated process until I was out of pipe or couldn't go any further (which was about 100 feet in that part of phoenix. I then soldered and clamped a 00 gauge braided copper strap to the pipe, painted it with a sealant and connected the other end into my shack. Never had a ground problem with that setup. Incidentally, I did this back in 1982 when copper prices were fairly low. Water under pressure makes a fantastic drill.

-eric (n7zzt)

On May 26, 2015, at 3:34 AM, Mike Duke, K5XU wrote:

> Mark, here is one way that I have seen it done.
> 
> Dig a small hole, at least a foot deep, and fill it with water.
> 
> After the ground softens, stand the rod in the hole, and push it down 
> as far as you can. Initially, that will not be very far.
> 
> Now, pull the rod out, add more water to the spot where you pushed it 
> down, and push the rod down again.
> 
> Keep doing this until you have gone as far down as you can. Then, still 
> keeping things as wet as possible, bring out the sledge hammer.
> 
> Depending on your soil conditions, I have seen people push an 8 foot 
> rod at least 5 feet into the ground that way.
> 
> -- 
> Mike Duke, K5XU