Rebar stake idea

Sage · Post by **Sage** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:00 pm

Hey guys I have been doing tons of research on burning man and everything to do with it for about a year now. I was unfortunate in not being able to buy a ticket last year and due to a lack of job might not be able to go this year.
Still though I have been following alot of the stuff here and since rebar seems to be really popular for use as a stake I was hit with a really simple yet useful idea... [b]Bend rebar into U stakes and then use them.[/b] It seems the main problem with rebar is people fall and impale themselves or walk by and slash themselves on it. So just set it up over two cinderblocks and pound the hell out of it until it is in a U shape or looks like a staple. It will still pound into the ground in a hole for your tent and will be easier to pull out if you take your cinderblocks a crowbar to just yank it out of the ground. Plus its easier to wrap with a towel or something so if you fall on it you don't get hurt.
So yeah thats my main idea I thought I would contribute and hope it helps someone out there. If this is already out there or whatever sorry for just thread necroing.

Peace

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:39 pm

U shapes are not too common, but "candycane" rebar is.

Badger

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:14 pm

Sage, are you familiar with the new regional that the chicago group is doing in collaboration with detroit, and others this summer in sw michigan, Lakes of Fire. That would be a good place to wet ur appetite.

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:42 pm

>So just set it up over two cinderblocks and pound the hell out
> of it until it is in a U shape or looks like a staple.

Have you done this yet? I'd be interested in knowing how well it went.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:29 pm

its easier to put the rebar insie two pipes that butt wherever you want the bend, and simply bend the rebar to whatever shape you want. dont have to do a whole lot of beating.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:48 pm

I do not use rebar anything because it ts a screaming pain in the ass to drive in once you bend it over into a candy can or u shape. It seems like half of your driving energy is absorbed by the rebar.

Surplus, 18" antenna mast stakes or the big ass plastic, 15" landscaping stakes from Home Despot are so much easier to drive in retrieve later.

EB · Post by EB » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:00 pm

Couple things to note:

-- As with all bending and pounding of rebar, be careful. Sometimes the odd rebar will snap during the candy caning process. Wear goggles and gloves.

-- Tear down. If it's a true staple -- an upside "U" -- it's going to be a challenge to extract. That is, the ol' grip-and-twist with the vice grips won't work with a perfect "U." You'll probably need to bring a 2x4 and a prybar.

A one-liter water bottle popped over the sharp end does the trick for me. As does split tennis balls.

That said, there's more than one way to skin a cat. If you do your staples, take pictures and report back to this thread to let us know how it went!

penguin · Post by **penguin** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:22 pm

Wouldn't one solution to be to attach a piece of chain to one end of the rebar (tack weld, bolt, crimp, something); then drive the rebar flush with the ground (at probably a 30ish degree angle) leaving a link or two exposed to tie off to. You could then use the chain (in line with the rebar) to pull the rebar back out.

Of course you could still trip over the piece of chain (or whatever is attached to it), but you wouldn't have to worry about getting impaled on the rebar (or sliced ankles, etc.). Without the "candy cane" you wouldn't need to worry about the disaspation of force while driving it in.

I guess the only real concern would be making sure that the connection between the chain and the rebar is a) strong enough to hold againt the wind; and b) strong enough to be used to leverage the rebar out of the ground.

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:11 pm

how do you get rebar out anyways? Its gotta be pretty well gripped at the end of the week.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:22 pm

Bring a pair of channel lock pliers--they work great. At least that's what we use.

JK

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:26 pm

...disaspation of force...

Huh?

Digital-Dragonfly · Post by **Digital-Dragonfly** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:42 pm

klondike_bar wrote:how do you get rebar out anyways? Its gotta be pretty well gripped at the end of the week.

vise grips, the larger the better - Longer = more leverage.
Lock down as tight as you can, twist back & forth until you can rotate the rebar in a full circle. Then pull up as you rotate (like un-screwing from the playa)

penguin · Post by **penguin** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:46 pm

Bob wrote:
...disaspation of force...
Huh?

Okay, so I missed an "s". You know, when you whack a straight piece of rebar all of the force goes in the direction of the hit, when you hit a candy cane (or a staple shape) the force goes around the arc and in two directions (one of which is not really useful, particularly in the candy cane shape).

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:35 pm

I recommend bending rebar into an "S" and tossing it into a dumpster.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:42 pm

I have had grand success with these, and, no pounding or pulling, just screw and unscrew........natural, really.........
a few bucks each, loop, safe ends, all you need is a little down pressure and a 2' piece of pipe to get them started, then, screw in using the pipe through the eye as a lever........

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:46 pm

Best if the eye on the screw anchors is welded.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:00 pm

probably so, but, I've not bent mine out.......and, I twist them in until the shaft wants to bend/twist.......

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:00 am

klondike_bar wrote:how do you get rebar out anyways? Its gotta be pretty well gripped at the end of the week.

In addition to bringing a pair of visegrips (always handy!), you can make pulling rebar easier by pouring a little water into the hole, wiggling, and repeating. (Then let the playa mud dry and clang the stakes together to remove...This also helps wake up the neighbors.)

I think that I prefer using straight sticks of 1/2" or 3/4" rebar with washers welded on to them to tie off to, because of that whole "energy diversion" thingy. Tennis balls over the ends, or you can buy the "magic mushroom" rebar caps by the sack at Homme DePeau or other fancy French stores.

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:41 am

so in otherwords, getting rebar out is a (somewhat irritating) feat of brute force and twisting?

fciron · Post by **fciron** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:45 am

Leverage is not brute force, it is mechanical advantage. That's smart force.

But yes, twist and pull.

I built some lantern holders last year that had a staple like base. They were a beast to get out. Lots of leverage was needed and there was no way to twist them. I think that if you try to bend your staples around a cinder block you will wind up with a slightly bent piece of rebar and two smaller blocks. If you successfully bend one of these anchors up, you will almost certainly be faced with two smaller blocks before you get out of camp at the end of the week.

Our camp had some candy cane rebar and I broke as many as I successfully drove, because less than half the force actually makes it to the point because it is not in line with the stake. The whole thing flexes rather than drives.

I made some mushroom stakes by welding washers onto some 5/8" bars and grinding points on them. They stuck in the ground fabulously and I am probably going to scale back to 1/2" for future stakes.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:51 am

It's really not hard to get the rebar out. Little twist, little water, it comes right out.

Badger

Sage · Post by **Sage** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:06 am

Ok well thanks everyone for the input I can now see how the whole staking situation really is handled. I just wanted to put in my two cents and see if it was a good idea and honestly am happy not to be shredded up with board trolls. Anyway I really like some of the ideas posted and will most likely use something along those lines. As for the Lakes of Fire I will totally love to check that out if I could be pointed in a general direction for info.
Thanks for all the input!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:08 am

All water does is make it wet, as in gunky & muddy. If your stakes are deep enough to get stuck, water isn't going to permeate through the clay to the bottom of the stake, but the mud is going to get all over your hands, feet, tools & campsite, and cause a significant amount of suction acting against your pulling force. But go ahead, it might make you feel like you're doing something constructive.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:13 am

> All water does is make it wet, as in gunky & muddy.

Adding a little water has worked for me for years. Mileages vary. Vicegrips work better than water for me.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:46 am

I weld one to each of my stakes.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:50 pm

> I weld one to each of my stakes.

Now _that's_ something to trip over. Myself, I weld a K-bar onto my rebar.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:58 pm

Sage wrote:As for the Lakes of Fire I will totally love to check that out if I could be pointed in a general direction for info.
Thanks for all the input!

There's going to be an official roll-out after the site has been formally secured, which should be early in February. Stay tuned!

klondike_bar · Post by **klondike_bar** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:50 am

phil wrote:Myself, I weld a K-bar onto my rebar.

that was my family! you monster!!!

Hoolie · Post by **Hoolie** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:28 pm

capjbadger wrote:It's really not hard to get the rebar out. Little twist, little water, it comes right out.

Yep. In my experience, water isn't even necessary. I just clamp on the vise grips, spin the rebar around a few times, then it usually lifts right out. Easy.

Mr. Polando · Post by **Mr. Polando** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:35 pm

I've used rebar staples for the last 4 years with no failures. I cut 3/8" rebar in to 2 foot lengths and use two 3 foot long sections of 3/4" steel pipe to bend them in half. I drive them into the playa at a 45 degree angle and use a crow bar to lever them out - real easy.