How should I have done this...and what should I do now? (PICS)

[D2Cat]

I would suggest a come-a-long or chain hoist to draw the rock together, not a tractor. You'd get a tighter fit.

Why not just fill the crack with sand? If it settles add more sand.

 

[tractchores]

Nice stone! I would have pulled via the draw bar, you get much more power since its putting weight on the rear. You also get a tiny bit more protection if something breaks. I personally use really heavy chain so I can't break it. My worry would have been the bar popping out. I would have moved the vehicles too, if it came undone it looks like you could have hit one.

I doubt patching the crack will do more than hide it. Looks like good work and a really nice piece of stone!

 

[timswi]

Beautiful stone work and nice slab on the top...They do break though, not much you can do about that besides putting reliefs in it.

As far as pulling it together, I probably would have went the knuckle dragger route and put an eye hook in a non obvious place to hook to and patched up the drill hole later..As others said, hook to the draw bar, not the FEL.

What about putting some of that poly-something-or-other paver sand in the joint that is somewhat close to the stone color. Supposed to hang in there pretty well and you can always add more later. A suggestion, who knows if it'll work but I hate scraping calking etc out of cracks to re-repair.

 

[Gunny]

I would make sure the crack is pretty well cleaned out, then add sand or backer rod, then top off with some Quik Crete concrete sealer, the polyurethane version. It's self leveling and it expands and contracts really good.

 

[KYKub]

Thanks for the replies, tractchores, timswi, and Gunny. I'm not so much trying to "mask" the cracks as prevent them from spreading wider. With that kind of cut stone over a dry-laid foundation (= movement with freeze and thaw, although it settles back perfectly level) it's going to happen. No new cracks appear so I guess the two are nature's relief cuts.

Something like Gunny is talking about might be a good solution. I thought about an epoxy adhesive since they make some that will bond stone together practically as strong as the stone. I was afraid, though, that a bond that strong would only invite other cracks as the stone moves. If the sealer Gunny mentions expands and contracts that might work well.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[npalen]

What is keeping the pieces from pulling back together all the way? I would take a rod or long screwdriver (and a flashlight at night) and make sure there is no gravel in between the cracks. May have to wedge the pieces back away from each other a little to get the gravel out and then pull them back together.

 

[KYKub]

Hi, npalen. The cracks are actually not as big as they appear. Probably 1/2" or so. The stone is 4+" thick and the cracks are very jagged so getting them to 1/2" is pretty good, I think. There's no particular obstruction preventing them from joining, just big, heavy, awkward, with cracks that meander.

 

[bcp]

I keep hearing on the news about "crack dealers." Maybe a local one would buy it from you.



Bruce

 

[joefromga]

The safest way would have been to use a pipe clamp.

Any length you want - you supply the pipe.

Screws it together at your leisure. Fine tune it by moving it where you want. No safety issues.

View attachment 453551

You can make one from threaded rod as well but they are cheap to buy.

If you must pull then use winch rope! Synthetic and way stronger than chain or cable. . If it pops you just have some poly rope to pick up. Won't snap your head off!

This one is 3/8" and good for 18,500 lbs. Weighs about 3 lbs.

 

[sodamo]

I think you did a terrific job and there have been excellent suggestions here.
As for the cracks, I thinks I'd just consider them part of the beauty and not try to hide them, nor would I try to bond them.p, just fill with sand. What I might look at is how do I prevent them from drifting apart after getting them back close. That might involve some sort of staking and or a concrete apron around the outside, maybe below the surface so as not to be visible, that would stabilize, hopefully minimize future shifting.

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet