Excavating a hole in rock

[Cord]

I have a place up north that's on shallow bedrock. I need to excavate a hole in the rock to place a holding tank. Previously I excavated a 6'x6'x6' hole using a mini excavator (Cat 303) and a breaker. That hole took me all of two days to dig. The breaker wasn't very effective because it wasn't able to penetrate the rock and displace a large piece. I could only nibble away at the edge. The largest rock that I got out of that hole was 12" across with most of the pieces fist size.

The hole for this tank will be significantly larger, roughly 6' deep, 6' wide and 10' long. The hole is right next to the house so blasting is not an option. It's also a remote site so access is very limited. I know I can't get a large frame excavator in there, but probably could get a medium size machine in. Honestly, I'd rather not rent something that expensive. I do have a skid steer available and would like to use it over renting equipment.

At this time I'm trying to plan the project and figure out the best way to make this hole. Obviously a breaker will work, but past experience has shown that I'll need a fairly large one to be productive. Between the rental of the excavator, breaker and delivery costs I'm thinking this will be cost prohibitive. I was thinking about Dexpan, but I'll need to drill a bunch of holes to pour the product into. I'm not sure how to create these holes. I know they make rock drills for skid steers, but I know of nobody in this area that rents something like that. Besides, they require a compressor to operate which means I still need to rent two pieces of equipment.

Has anybody tried something like this before? Any tips or suggestions sure would be appreciated.

 

[sweettractors]

Does the holding tank have to be buried? Any possibility of going above ground? Ken Sweet

 

[dickfoster]

Does the holding tank have to be buried? Any possibility of going above ground? Ken Sweet

Exactly I have two 2500 gal holding tanks and they're both above ground. I also have a little water pressure in the house with no electricity. Enough for a navy shower, flushing toilets, and washing dishes etc. anyway.

 

[Cord]

It's currently above ground and we're looking to get it out of sight. It's a potable water tank, so the water would be cooler under ground and then it would stay fresh longer.

 

[bcp]

You could raise the ground instead of lowering the tank.

Bring in a dump truck load of dirt, gravel, or sand.

"Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water"

Bruce

 

[dickfoster]

You could raise the ground instead of lowering the tank.

Bring in a dump truck load of dirt, gravel, or sand.

"Jack and Jill
Went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water"

Bruce

Or build something around it. Short of that, either dynamite or a small thermonuclear device should do the trick.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I had to do the same thing. Toward the end of my 3" superduct run, the bedrock was just about at the surface. I kind of enjoyed this one-time project. Plus, it gave me a chance to use my (auction Find) hydraulic hand breakers.








Just think. The money you save on a gym membership can go toward rentals.

 

[kthompson]

Rocks here are so seldom, we are buying them hauled in for shrubbery breams we are nearing finish on so no advice here but do have a couple of questions and if way off base sorry. Now we do have large deposit of seashells used for road beds and they dig that with large excavators and then crush it but nothing like solid rock.

Does bedrock vary in short distances such as you might be able to move a few feet and have better area to work with. Here they do a lot of line boring to run conduit and wiring under roads and such. No idea if that is any where near possible for your job?

 

[chim]

I did a project years ago that had a couple manholes that fell in solid rock. A blasting subcontractor solved the problem.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Sometimes, there is no easy way out.