Splitting Rock

[vtsnowedin]

I'm disappointed in all of you.
This is a tractor forum and we have to find a way to move that rock using a tractor.
I suppose you could mount your drill on you FEL bucket and let the tractor provide the down pressure but I expect that would be hard on the drill. Probably better to just find the biggest headache ball your tractor can lift with either the loader or the backhoe if you have one and repeatedly drop it on the rock until it breaks into pieces you can load out. An iron ball is best but a river cobble that is sounder then the rock your breaking will do.
:laughing:
Just kidding actually. Lots of good advice up thread. If I could drive to it to build a road or to move the finished step away from it's parent rock I'd rent a compressor and both a sinker drill and an 80 lb. jack hammer and whittle it away in short order. The job I was on last night had a Cat 330 excavator with a demo hammer sporting a six inch diameter point to break up some blue ledge high bottom in a drainage trench and to bust up some old bridge concrete columns that are in the way. A bit much for what we are talking here but the right tool for that job. There is a lot of difference between one rock and the next. Granite though hard has a fine grain and will split on planes if the force is applied along the plane. Other rocks like West Lebanon NH blue ledge just sits there and taunts you until you apply enough force to break it into small cubes. My father was a stone polisher in Barre VT and could see the grain in a piece of granite. I never learned that trick but I've seen every method described above used successfully so it's a matter of your circumstances and budget. You might just wale away at it with a twenty pound sledge but you'd get awful tired before your done.

 

[racerboy832]

All we seem to have out here is Granite. Nothing more frustrating then drilling alot of holes, Putting the feather/wedges into it to sheer off a couple inches horizontally. The Dexpan is neat cause it will expand up to a month. I got kinda addicted to watch huge rocks crack over a few holes and a little dexpan. Sure beats the excavator at $1800 a day.

 

[Joe H]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/211184-splitting-rock-questions-2.html


Pyrodex Pellets | Bass Pro Shops

50 caliber pyrodex pellets

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Wick-Cannon-Fuse-Feet/dp/tags-on-product/B001B2NEZY]Amazon.com: Waterproof Wick Cannon Fuse 10 Ft Feet 3/32: Toys & Games[/ame]

cannon fuse



I'll let you in on a little secret. We use this method to "mine" our way through constrictions in cave passages to find new cave. Get some pyrodex pellets, I think they are .50cal? Anyways they are 1/2" in diameter pellets. Get a long 1/2 SDS+ hammer drill bit and drill. Drill the hole as deep as you want or can. The pyrodex has holes in the center that happen to match up with cannon fuse. Feed 5 or 6 onto the cannon fuse (or 10 or 12), slide them into your hole in the rock. Pack plumbers putty into the hole but being careful not to tear up the cannon fuse. Light and hide behind something. Your rock will be shattered. May have to take it apart in sections....

I suppose it works because the gasses expand so quickly that the rock cracks before it has time to expel the putty. If you don't pack enough putty or don't pack it sufficiently it can blow back out the hole. It takes practice - how much pyrodex to use or how many holes to drill or how deep to drill depends on the size of rock, type of rock, and whether you're talking bedrock, or loose boulders. Loose boulders are good, they are much easier to shatter with fewer pellets. If you use too few pellets or try to take too much rock off at once, it will just make a muffled sound and nothing will crack. If you use too much, it's best to be in a safe place, as rock projectiles will fly everywhere. Sometimes we use too much on purpose heh heh. Obviously you can't use this method next to a home or in town, etc. If you use just the right amount, it makes a relatively quiet noise and cracks the rock with no projectiles. I use a Bosch 36 volt lithium-ion hammer drill with a couple spare batteries for the holes. Having a generator and line powered hammer drill would be faster...

 

[dex3361]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/211184-splitting-rock-questions-2.html

Pyrodex Pellets | Bass Pro Shops

50 caliber pyrodex pellets

Video Link: http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Wick-Cannon-Fuse-Feet/dp/tags-on-product/B001B2NEZY

cannon fuse

I'll let you in on a little secret. We use this method to "mine" our way through constrictions in cave passages to find new cave. Get some pyrodex pellets, I think they are .50cal? Anyways they are 1/2" in diameter pellets. Get a long 1/2 SDS+ hammer drill bit and drill. Drill the hole as deep as you want or can. The pyrodex has holes in the center that happen to match up with cannon fuse. Feed 5 or 6 onto the cannon fuse (or 10 or 12), slide them into your hole in the rock. Pack plumbers putty into the hole but being careful not to tear up the cannon fuse. Light and hide behind something. Your rock will be shattered. May have to take it apart in sections....

I suppose it works because the gasses expand so quickly that the rock cracks before it has time to expel the putty. If you don't pack enough putty or don't pack it sufficiently it can blow back out the hole. It takes practice - how much pyrodex to use or how many holes to drill or how deep to drill depends on the size of rock, type of rock, and whether you're talking bedrock, or loose boulders. Loose boulders are good, they are much easier to shatter with fewer pellets. If you use too few pellets or try to take too much rock off at once, it will just make a muffled sound and nothing will crack. If you use too much, it's best to be in a safe place, as rock projectiles will fly everywhere. Sometimes we use too much on purpose heh heh. Obviously you can't use this method next to a home or in town, etc. If you use just the right amount, it makes a relatively quiet noise and cracks the rock with no projectiles. I use a Bosch 36 volt lithium-ion hammer drill with a couple spare batteries for the holes. Having a generator and line powered hammer drill would be faster...

I have wondered if this method is legal? If it is it would be a great way to bust big rock.

 

[Egon]

If you really want to get serious mix up your own black powder, roll some fuse, get some fertilizer and diesel fuel and your all set for the big time!:thumbsup:

 

[vtsnowedin]

:shocked::shocked::confused3::thumbdown:
Caution : Caution : CAUTION.
Blasting without a license and insurance is illegal in most if not all states. Even if legal the responsibility of everyone's safety is squarely on the shoulders of he who lights the fuse or throws the switch. Post 911 the powers that be have tightened up regulations and have developed a no tolerance for private citizens fooling around with things that go bang or collecting things that make up into bombs even small ones. It didn't used to be this way, farmers could get an Ag blasting licence and order dynamite from Sears of Monkey Ward's and have it shipped to the farm parcel post, but times have changed. Use the Pyrodex pellets in your muzzleloader where they belong.
A guy near here was playing with a home made cannon a few July's ago. They over loaded it and it blew up. Even though they were standing a hundred feet away a piece of shrapnel flew to them and struck a boy in the neck killing him. The guy that built the cannon has sense committed suicide.

 

[gunns]

I've several (10 to 20) large granite boulders to split ranging in size from lawn tractor to Volkswagen size that need splitting. Based on this thread and You Tube videos am I correct in thinking that I can split them with an electric drill and feather/wedges? It appears that one poster, Gunnahafta, was doing it with 12v battery drill and a ｽ core bit. I have a Hilti 14v high torque hammer drill and a Milwaukee ｽ heavy duty right-angle drill. The Milwaukee is not a hammer drill.

1. Would either of these work with a diamond core bit?
2. Should I stick with my hammer drill and a regular stone/masonry bit?
3. What size feather/wedges are recommended?

I realize that if this will work it will be a LOT of Work. That part doesn稚 faze me. A year or two ago I cut down nine eucalyptus trees (some over 80 tall) sectioned them into rounds (some close to 3 in diameter) and split all of it by hand with a Chopper1 Axe. My only concern is can I split the boulders with one of my drills and feather/wedges?

Thanks guys for all the info but is still need answers to the three questions if someone has tried what I'm thinking of doing. Again thanks for your time and effort!

 

[schmism]

1. Would either of these work with a diamond core bit?
2. Should I stick with my hammer drill and a regular stone/masonry bit?
3. What size feather/wedges are recommended?

1) yes with a diamond core bit in any modern cordless 14-18v drill will do fine.
2) i dont see why you wouldnt stick to reg masonry bit especially for deeper holes
3) when you by the feathers and wedges they can give you ideas of what sizes are used and how many are needed for what size stones. its my understanding that 3/4" holes are normal with 1" being used on larger stones

 

[Egon]

On the serious side!

I have split a few Granite boulders using feather and wedges. Used a 5/8 in. rotary hammer drill, 1/2in. rock bit and 1/2 in. feather and wedges. The holes drilled were usually about 10 in. apart and 8 or so inches deep. Initially I used an angle grinder with a rock blade to cut a 2 in. deep line that the holes were drilled on.

Feathers and wedges were ordered from Miles Supplies in Vermont.

For your situation try and fully expose the rock and then pick a line for the holes. The line should be nearer the middle than the edges.

A rotary drill will be much faster. Wear breathing protection as the dust [silica] is not lung friendly.

 

[yomax4]

Another easy method is to use an Arc Air Exothermic Slice Torch. Easily pierces holes in anything. Rock, Steel, Wood, Concrete, What ever. Pierce a dozen holes and hit it with a sledge hammer and chunks will fall off. Google Arc Air Slice.

 

[schmism]

Another easy method is to use an Arc Air Exothermic Slice Torch. Easily pierces holes in anything. Rock, Steel, Wood, Concrete, What ever. Pierce a dozen holes and hit it with a sledge hammer and chunks will fall off. Google Arc Air Slice.

spend $40 on a set of feathers and wedges and spend a lifetime splitting boulders with them over and over....

Spend $40 on arc rods and burn 2 holes in a rock and be done.

Ill stick to the feathers and wedges.

 

[gunns]

Well it looks like I'll be using feathers/wedges. Spoke with the people at Trow & Holden and they recommended starting off with the 3/4" sets. Great people to talk to. Per the advice on this site I've been digging out around the biggest boulders (car sized) to ready them for splitting. The smaller ones up to a ton I've been moving by hand with block and tackle and skids since I don't have a tractor YET! One day........... Some of them are half way buried in the ground but still need to come out. I just use a ten foot section of 2" water pipe and rock the boulder back and forth and stack small rocks under it to get it to grade level then pull it off with the bock and tackle and a skid. You'd think at my age, 64, I'd find something better to do but there's something about putting in a good days work like that that makes you feel good. Guess I'm just old fashion.

Say... speaking of that. Are any of you into CAS / SASS?

 

[hog987]

Has anyone mentioned to build a fire around the rock and than pouring lots of cold water on the rock to crack it? I have never done it but know of people who have and it works great.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Has anyone mentioned to build a fire around the rock and than pouring lots of cold water on the rock to crack it? I have never done it but know of people who have and it works great.

Ayah that's up thread there somewhere. Also you can drill holes and fill them with water and let it freeze in winter or in summer drive in very dry oak wedges then soak with water and let the expansion do the work. I think the ancient Egyptians used the wood wedge technique 6000 years ago.

 

[Egon]

At 64 and active as all get out start splitting them rocks down to cobble size or smaller block size and start selling them for sidewalks, driveways, landscaping etc.:thumbsup:

 

[gunns]

At 64 and active as all get out start splitting them rocks down to cobble size or smaller block size and start selling them for sidewalks, driveways, landscaping etc.:thumbsup:

That thought, selling the granite, hit me last week. I was thinking about splitting them into 6"x6"x24-36" blocks and sellinmg them for landscaping/retaining wall material. Just counting the big stuff I've got probably 50-60 large boulders that are at least 1 ton up to over 24 tons. I'll have to check into the local need for such material. If I'm lucky and they're worth selling maybe I could make enough off of them to at least make a downpayment on a tractor. Then I could be more than a want-to-be member on this forum.

 

[vtsnowedin]

That thought, selling the granite, hit me last week. I was thinking about splitting them into 6"x6"x24-36" blocks and sellinmg them for landscaping/retaining wall material. Just counting the big stuff I've got probably 50-60 large boulders that are at least 1 ton up to over 24 tons. I'll have to check into the local need for such material. If I'm lucky and they're worth selling maybe I could make enough off of them to at least make a downpayment on a tractor. Then I could be more than a want-to-be member on this forum.

Hey the guys in Barre Vermont have made a living for a hundred and fifty years selling people rocks cut shaped and lettered anyway the customer wanted. If They can do it why not you? The trick is in finding customers you can convince that they want the rocks you want to sell. It amazes me the number of flatlanders that will buy landscape boulders to decorate their property not realising that the local redneck they need to hire to plow the driveway charges extra for each rock he has to avoid.

 

[gunns]

Re: Splitting Rock Which Drill?

Can't believe it's been two years since I was posting here. Been sidetracked with other responsibilities. Now I'm ready to start splitting. I've been looking at drills, mainly Bocsh. What do the rock splitters here recommend? SDS-Plus vs. SDS-Max. What does the measurement in the drill description refer to? Is it the maximum drill bit size recommended for that specific drill? At Home Desperate and Lowes I've seen plenty of SDSplus bits but no SDSMax bits. It's my understanding that the Max are the stronger - right? The plus drills were selling for $300 and the Max as I recall were $400.

I know this question will open up a Chevy vs. Ford type of war but which drill seems to be a favorite. I have a bunch of large boulders (some VW size) to split and will make use of the split rock around my property and will try selling as slabs and steps etc.

Any help is appreciated!