A sacrificial or protective extension block fitted over the head of a pile during driving operations. It absorbs the direct impact of the pile hammer, preventing the main structural pile from splintering, mushrooming, or shattering under the extreme force. It also allows the hammer to drive a pile down below the level of the driving rig's leads.
Heard on the job
The concrete heads are starting to spall, so swap out the punch before we drive the next row.
Also heard as
- dolly
- pile follower