Not an attachment, but still useful

   / Not an attachment, but still useful #1  

KanakaRick

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2014
Messages
201
Location
Truckee, CA
Tractor
KIoti DK50S
When I am digging a trench with my Kioti DK50, I often encounter rocks in the trench. I soon grow tired of digging the side wall out to uncover the rock. There are several products out there you guys and gals should be aware of:

Dexpan- expansion agent- drill 2" hole, mix up and pour in and wait overnight for it to split the rock

ATF Approved small scale blasting systems- currently there are only 2 ATF approved blasting systems on the market which are legal in the US. One is the Microblaster (MB) and the other is the Sierra Blaster (SB). I have used both extensively and since I am too impatient to wait for the expansion agent to work, I chose to use these systems. Both work very well, but the MB is better suited for smaller rocks due to a smaller charge (5/16" Dia hole) and a limit of only 3 simultaneous blasts. The SB is a bigger charge (3/8" dia hole), is waterproof and can detonate 10 simultaneous blasts.

The word "blasts" is misleading. When they go off, it sounds like a .22 rifle shot. There is no fly rock and no big concussion. For extra safety, I cover the charges with a painter's tarp and when it goes off it sounds like "poof". Literally.

The caveat to the two blasting systems is they don't work if the rock is buried- there needs to be some place for the rock to move or it won't work. The charge isn't large enough to move dirt too.

If you encounter rocks where you are working, I'd recommend looking up some Youtube videos to see the comparisons of all three. There is one I prefer over the others, but I am not here to make a sales pitch. See for yourself which one would work for you. These devices could save a lot of wear and tear on your tractors and actually make dealing with rocks a lot of fun. I think so, and I don't have a powder license and have used my system for years of trouble free service. One of the systems
is being actively utilized by miners all around the country.
 
Last edited:
   / Not an attachment, but still useful #2  
When I am digging a trench with my Kioti DK50, I often encounter rocks in the trench. I soon grow tired of digging the side wall out to uncover the rock. There are several products out there you guys and gals should be aware of:

Dexpan- expansion agent- drill 2" hole, mix up and pour in and wait overnight for it to split the rock

ATF Approved small scale blasting systems- currently there are only 2 ATF approved blasting systems on the market which are legal in the US. One is the Microblaster (MB) and the other is the Sierra Blaster (SB). I have used both extensively and since I am too impatient to wait for the expansion agent to work, I chose to use these systems. Both work very well, but the MB is better suited for smaller rocks due to a smaller charge (5/16" Dia hole) and a limit of only 3 simultaneous blasts. The SB is a bigger charge (3/8" dia hole), is waterproof and can detonate 10 simultaneous blasts.

The word "blasts" is misleading. When they go off, it sounds like a .22 rifle shot. There is no fly rock and no big concussion. For extra safety, I cover the charges with a painter's tarp and when it goes off it sounds like "poof". Literally.

The caveat to the two blasting systems is they don't work if the rock is buried- there needs to be some place for the rock to move or it won't work. The charge isn't large enough to move dirt too.

If you encounter rocks where you are working, I'd recommend looking up some Youtube videos to see the comparisons of all three. There is one I prefer over the others, but I am not here to make a sales pitch. See for yourself which one would work for you. These devices could save a lot of wear and tear on your tractors and actually make dealing with rocks a lot of fun. I think so, and I don't have a powder license and have used my system for years of trouble free service. One of the systems
is being actively utilized by miners all around the country.

interesting products. Looking at the videos, it appears that the biggest expense would be a drill big enough to penetrate the rock.
 
   / Not an attachment, but still useful
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Jstpssng- Not for the small scale blasting systems... Have you priced a "BIG" 3/8" SDS Drill 18" long? Is $12.50 out of your price range? And in drilling granite I can usually drill a 18" deep hole in about 2 minutes or so. I usually get 3 bits of the same size- 3-8" bits, and 3- 18" bits and then drill about 4" per bit and then swap off to another bit. Drilling through rock is really hard on bits, so I am always swapping out bits very often and it makes the bits last a lot longer as they don't "burn" up as fast. And as far as Drills go, I have a $19 Harbor Freight SDS drill and it works great.

So if I am digging a ditch and I hit the head of a rock, I can have it drilled and blasted in less than 5 minutes. Sure beats beating the crap out of my backhoe or digging a much bigger hole.

Also a bunch of the local contractors have heard about me and my rock breaking system, and I am getting side jobs removing rocks under foundations, decks etc. Kinda fun and easy way to make a few extra bucks.
 
   / Not an attachment, but still useful #4  
   / Not an attachment, but still useful
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Nice systems, but expensive (+-$1000) for occasional usage. If necessary, looks like I will do it the slow way at these prices.

Bruce


========================

Definitely, if you are doing it occasionally, the feathers way is fine. I cannot do anything on my property without hitting a rock. So it pays for itself quickly (and I use the heck out of it at my mine).
 
 

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