Removing rocks with a jackhammer

KubotaSteve · Mar 29, 2006

Well, I finally decided it was time to remove the rocks in my front yard to make it easier to mow. I've spent the past month digging around them and and taking out the ones I could (using those for fill when doing my garage later this year). I'm getting the air compressor and two jack hammers this weekend. Most of the rocks appear to be limestone (that is what we specialize in growing in WV /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif).
I've used an electric jack hammer before at my brothers house and thought I would check in to see if there are any tips on using the jack hammer to remove the rocks. I've got the safety glasses and gloves ready to go as well as a team to help and plenty of beverages on hand all non-alcoholic of course. I know the basic stuff as far as trying to hit the seams and what not. My wife's doctor told me to use my hip as a brace not my stomach as it could rupture my spleen. I'll try to get some pictures. Once I get them removed and backfilled with dirt, it should cut down on my mowing time by an hour or so as well as save me money and time on spraying the rocks with poison.

tlbuser · Mar 29, 2006

( save me money and time on spraying the rocks with poison. )

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I live in a rock deprived neighborhood. What are you spraying them for?

HeyNow · Mar 29, 2006

I'm in Martinsburg and can verify that we simply live on one big rock. Good luck! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

HomeBrew2 · Mar 29, 2006

I'm just curious about your approach: Are you going to break up a bunch of rocks or chip off the top(s) of massive rock outcrops? I have a lot of rocks too and use my little backhoe successfully. I noticed you don't have a back hoe but, the last time I went to the rental yard, they had a neat mini excavator for $270/day. That's probably half again your rental cost for the compressor and hammers but sounds like a lot more fun for the money.
Cheers!

KubotaSteve · Mar 29, 2006

I'm getting two jackhammers and the air compressor for $188 from 7am Friday until 8am Monday but the catch is that I only get 8 hours on the compressor and every hour after that is $30. I have moved probably over 20 ton of rocks that were loose or I could get a chain around and pull out. While the backhoe would be nice, in my case it would be next to useless as the space between a lot of the rocks is just big enough for the claw of a hammer to fit through to dig them out.
My plan is to dig around the rocks as much as possible with a mattock and claw hammer /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif then use the jackhammer to break them off. Then back fill with top soil and hope to get a few inches over them. I would like to have grass gowing over them, but my main concern is for them to be out of my way when mowing.
Some of the rocks I am dealing with are probably 20 or 30 feet long and who knows how deep. I've all ready pulled out some that the FEL on the 7800 couldn't pick up and was even having a hard time pulling them around with a chain on the drawbar.
Just to give you an idea of how bad the rocks are, my neighbor's front yard is one huge rock ledge. When they drilled my well they hit solid rock at around 10 feet with a small gap at around 20 feet then solid rock again down to 455 feet.

MarkV · Mar 30, 2006

All I can say is eat your Wheaties that morning. A jackhammer will let you know what work is. I would also suggest adding ear protection to your arsenal of equipment. Those things can leave your ears ringing after a few hours.

I’ve only used a jackhammer on granite and we had to break off football size chunks at a time. Hopefully limestone will be easier and take larger chunks. Good luck and I am glad I am too far away to help.

MarkV

RonR · Mar 30, 2006

Ear protections for sure for everyone in the vicinity! Walmart has the foam ear plugs in the gun section. Works well.

Son and I, both big guys, rented an electric jack hammer to remove a 10x10 concrete patio. DARN, was that a lot of work!

I don't know about your rocks, but when the bit would break through the concrete, it would wedge in place. All the little dust that came out initially fell back in the hole and it wedged tightly several times. It took a lot of effort to get it out--sometimes we had to take the 2nd bit and cut yet another hole through close to the first to get the bit out.

Never again will I make fun of a crew with six guys standing around one running a jack hammer--it takes alot of trade offs among the workers to get something done.

My two cents.
ron

CurlyDave · Mar 30, 2006

when the bit would break through the concrete, it would wedge in place...

Been there, done that. The only real cure is to take smaller bites. I have found that taking small pieces actualy goes faster with concrete. I am not always fighting to get the bit back out, and it is a lot less tiring. Exerting maximum lift to try to extract the bit is very wearing. Just lifting the hammer and smaller pieces of rubble I can keep up for a lot longer.

Another trick with concrete slabs-- it is very worthwhile to trench under the slab someplace on the edge and lift the slab with a floor jack. Without support underneath it, the slab breaks up much faster.

Unless you are in superb physical condition, a lighter hammer will get more work done in a day. That 90 lb hammer seems managable in the rental yard, but after an hour or two, it seems very heavy.

Cord · Mar 30, 2006

( I'm getting two jackhammers and the air compressor for $188 from 7am Friday until 8am Monday but the catch is that I only get 8 hours on the compressor and every hour after that is $30. )

You could always just pull the wire off the hour meter...

Darren · Mar 30, 2006

I agree with Curly. A 75# hammer will be easier to use but at the end of the day, you still won't be raring to go. Another tip is to wear any kind of gloves that helps insulate your hands from the vibration, don't get a death grip on the handles. Use as light a touch on the hammer as you can and still control it. Let it and its weight do the work. If you're using anything longer than a standard (short) steel, don't pry with it unless you want to buy a new one.