Male/female club rods — also called drifter rods — are stepped-thread drill rods with a smaller male thread at the bit end and a forged female thread at the drill end, so the rod couples straight onto the shank adapter with no coupling sleeve. They are built for tunneling, drifting and benching, where a single long rod has to carry high-impact loads from the drill to the bit without a joint in the string.

Crowder Supply stocks R32 and R35 bit-end threads on 1-3/8 in. hex bar with R38 or T38 rod-end threads, in lengths from 120 in. to 240 in., from Rockmore, Mitsubishi, Sandvik and Epiroc. If your drill uses a coupling and a male/male rod, see our male/male drifter/club rods; the guide to choosing drill steel and rock drill bits covers matching thread, bar section and length to your drifter.

• End configuration: male bit-end thread, female rod-end thread — couples direct to the shank adapter
• Bit-end threads: R32 and R35; rod-end threads: R38 and T38
• Bar stock: 1-3/8 in. hex
• Lengths: 120, 144, 168, 192, 216 and 240 in.
• Brands stocked: Rockmore, Mitsubishi, Sandvik and Epiroc
• Applications: tunneling, drifting, benching and long-hole production drilling
• Stocked by Crowder Supply in Denver in the popular sizes