Has anybody made one that will last multiple seasons and if so how and with what materials? The standard ones are junk and the ones I have made using rebar don't last, Thanks.

I bought one from Southern Snares. It's a great heavy duty driver. I've had it 2 seasons.

I bought a 36” stainless one from Lee Steinmeyer. Ive used it 5 days a week or more since December, and I used it quite a few times before then, so yes, mine has seen lots of use. I’m not gentle with it, either. I only use a 4 lb maul to drive fangs, so I’m pounding the snot out of it. I feel that it’s worth every penny. If I lose mine I will have another one ordered within a day, I guarantee that. I like using fangs and I won’t use them without a quality driver.



For berks I just make my own by grinding a 5/8 grounding rod, but I buy my wolf fang driver

yes I lose mine before I break them I use 7/8 " tool grade round stock grind my point and weld on a t handle they are not lite but will not break or mushroom out on the stake end

What was the price? Isn't Lee on this site? I think I have seen some of his work he or someone else posted a few years ago.

The wolffang ones bend and mushroom horrible,the rebar does the same just takes longer.

I honestly don’t remember exactly, but the 36” one was about $55 or so. I know it was about $70 with shipping, and I’d have no problem buying another.

Yes, he’s on this site. His user name is Lee Steinmeyer

Thank you, I sent Lee a pm to see if he still makes them.

lees stuff is top notch! I'd never be scared to purchase anything from him

Anyone use the end u can buy and weld on your own rod?

I was always nervous that the weld joint would bend due to taking the temper out of your steel

Tony do you know what tool steel you used???
W1 or A2 maybe????

I ran three this year. John Graham makes an excellent driver, but man is that thing heavy to lug around. I couldn't break it, but I found myself reaching for Tom Stalker's when I left the house more often then not. I put both the drivers through heck in the best Nebraska has to offer. Tom's was still driving wolfangs through about 4-6 inches of frost by the end of the season, and for the price you can't go wrong. Other than the paint I chipped off Tom's looks like the day I got it in the mail. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them.

http://stalkerfabrications.webs.com/apps/webstore/

I'll second the one from Southern Snares. Nice driver that holds up to trapline use/abuse.

This driver is a beast! It could be a little longer is my only complaint..

Lee doesn't make them anymore. Has anyone tried the one from sudden valley supply?

Just curious, Has anyone tired hardening them? I had thought of doing a heat treat on mine up to the driving nut to see if that helps with the deforming that I get. I spend more time than I care too pounding into frozen ground on cold days (-20), I do use a 3/4" concrete bit to "predrill" so it makes the driving easier and that has made my driver last the past couple years. Admittedly I do take it and straighten it out as needed.

I dont believe they ever said to be honest its the same stuff they use for drive pins its actually hard to weld

late bite I called the supply house its a version of A-2 or what ever that means my guess is the hardness

Thanks~
Those were the two descriptions I was looking at for that type of application Tony, our tool room uses a lot of the A2 for stamping die components because it does not move much after it is heat treated, plus the depth of the hardness..

W-1 Tool Steel
Heat treat temperature 1450-1600 F
Quench Water or Brine
Hardness Rockwell 56c
Applications Blacksmith tools
Cold Chisels
Hand punches
Cold Forming Tools
Knives
Scissors and Shears
Razors
Woodworking Chisels
Disadvantages Water hardening tool steels tend to experience significant distortion during the quench operation. In addition, the hardening operation applies only to the outer "case" of the material, rather than being "through-hardened".




A-2 Tool Steel
Heat treat temperature 1700-1900 F
Quench Air
Hardness Rockwell 59c-62c
Applications A2 can be used in the same applications as both O1 and W1, but the heat-treated air-hardening steels have deeper hardenability and there is less movement or distortion during heat treatment.