Time to move a couple small stones...

[ToadHill]

I saw an old miner once who had some very large rocks he wanted moved. He used TNT and put it on top of the rock, covered it with a clay patch and set it off. It split the rock into several small pieces. He said you can buy TNT that will blow in one direction and exert all the force into that area.

I certainly don't know but if you can fine a demolitions expert maybe he can make small rocks from big ones.

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, Another thing to consider is using leverage to move the rocks. I saw a video of an old guy move huge rocks by placing pebbles under them and using leverage with pry bars and such. It was amazing. Wish I kept the link now. Be creative in your thinking. Some of your future customers may not want the rocks destroyed, but rather moved for landscape ... whatever? Leverage stuff you could use with your tractor for future jobs like this. For example, some kind of see-saw that you can activate with the weight of your tractor or fel. Then prop the rock up in increments for easier rolling/pushing over?
... just a thought.

I hear what you're saying. I was thinking block and tackle system... or using a steel beam wedged against those trees (that are coming out anyway)... or BOTH... together with something, ANYTHING that would make those suckers slide more easily... perhaps an old polypropylene truck liner or something similar.

I am also getting very good at talking my way out of moving or destroying such rocks or rock formations with alternative plans. I may ultimately be able to do so in this case too.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

I saw an old miner once who had some very large rocks he wanted moved. He used TNT and put it on top of the rock, covered it with a clay patch and set it off. It split the rock into several small pieces. He said you can buy TNT that will blow in one direction and exert all the force into that area. I certainly don't know but if you can fine a demolitions expert maybe he can make small rocks from big ones.

Dang! There's never an old miner around when you need one!

Seriously, this client is not going to want to use explosives even if I could offer him that option. I've got to believe that the rock drilling guy would be cheaper anyway... but I really don't think the client wants a destructive approach here. In the end, I think he'd really prefer that they just be moved out of the way as at least one of my competitors has already offered to do.

Dougster

 

[Jay4200]

I am also getting very good at talking my way out of moving or destroying such rocks or rock formations with alternative plans. I may ultimately be able to do so in this case too.

Have them declared a part of an old rock wall, then you can't more them .

Don't bother even thinking about doing anything with your tractor - won't happen. If you really have to move them, hire a BIG excavator for a half day.

My 9' Woods wouldn't even roll this one (included in picture for scale) - I had to attack it with a demolition hammer. Luckily for me, it was a poorly-formed rock and broke up pretty easily.

JayC

 

[Kendall69]

Rent a full size tractor with a jack hammer attachment on the end of the backhoe.

Hammer away at it, then pick up the pieces with the front end loader.

Less expensive method is:

Drill a series of holes along the line to be split. Their distance apart is set mainly by the length of stone to be split with the available shims and wedges. Holes can be spaced up to 1' (300mm) or more apart, but the closer they are the more accurate the results. To drill each hole, hold the grinding chisel or star drill in one hand, with the shaft perpendicular to the rock. Rest the drill point on the rock and hit the drill smartly with the lump hammer. Do not use very heavy blows, however, since these will not necessarily speed the work and, if attempted on other types of rock, may shatter the stone. Then turn the drill 60°. Continue hitting and rotating the drill until the hole is 4-5" (200-250mm) deep, or less for a small slab. Flick the dust out of the hole from time to time with the cleaning tool. Drilling granite by hand is a very slow, tedious job, so don't exhaust yourself by trying to rush it. 2 When all the holes are drilled, insert a pair of shims in each with a wedge between. Pound each wedge once, moving down the line in consecutive order. Return to the first wedge and repeat the operation until a thin crack forms between the wedges. 3 Insert one or more large steel wedges into the crack. Retrieve the shims and small wedges. Then hammer the big wedges a few times until the split is wide enough to >insert the crowbar or wrecking bar. Remove these wedges and lever the slab apart.

Here are some things you will need

Wedges & Shims for Rock Splitting, Stone Splitting, Granite Splitting, Marble Splitting

 

[Dougster]

Have them declared a part of an old rock wall, then you can't more them . Don't bother even thinking about doing anything with your tractor - won't happen. If you really have to move them, hire a BIG excavator for a half day. My 9' Woods wouldn't even roll this one (included in picture for scale) - I had to attack it with a demolition hammer. Luckily for me, it was a poorly-formed rock and broke up pretty easily.
JayC

No official historical designation likely here... ...but you're right: That big one... and possibly also the smaller one... are clearly outside the capability of my 509 backhoe. I'm not even considering that route.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Rent a full size tractor with a jack hammer attachment on the end of the backhoe. Hammer away at it, then pick up the pieces with the front end loader.

Well, believe it or not, this is the approach the CAT rental folks said would be useless on solid rock... even using one of two fairly large hammers on their mid-sized and biggest rental track excavators. Great for concrete they said... useless on solid rock. Even though I was standing there with cash in one hand (Lots of it!!!) and my operators license in the other... they still told me not to even try as I would not be happy with the results.

Less expensive method is: Drill a series of holes along the line to be split. Their distance apart is set mainly by the length of stone to be split with the available shims and wedges. Holes can be spaced up to 1' (300mm) or more apart, but the closer they are the more accurate the results. To drill each hole, hold the grinding chisel or star drill in one hand, with the shaft perpendicular to the rock. Rest the drill point on the rock and hit the drill smartly with the lump hammer. Do not use very heavy blows, however, since these will not necessarily speed the work and, if attempted on other types of rock, may shatter the stone. Then turn the drill 60°. Continue hitting and rotating the drill until the hole is 4-5" (200-250mm) deep, or less for a small slab. Flick the dust out of the hole from time to time with the cleaning tool. Drilling granite by hand is a very slow, tedious job, so don't exhaust yourself by trying to rush it. 2 When all the holes are drilled, insert a pair of shims in each with a wedge between. Pound each wedge once, moving down the line in consecutive order. Return to the first wedge and repeat the operation until a thin crack forms between the wedges. 3 Insert one or more large steel wedges into the crack. Retrieve the shims and small wedges. Then hammer the big wedges a few times until the split is wide enough to >insert the crowbar or wrecking bar. Remove these wedges and lever the slab apart.
Here are some things you will need
Wedges & Shims for Rock Splitting, Stone Splitting, Granite Splitting, Marble Splitting

Thanks very much for the excellent, detailed explanation and link.

Dougster

 

[schmism]

id send your pic to the sales dept of the wedges and fethers peeps and have them advise how big to buy.

get some and start splitin away

 

[newlife]

Being from coastal Maine where we have nothing but grainte, I have some experience here. Kendall is right, order about 20 pins and feathers the 1" size is good. Go to the local rental center and get a 1.5" hammer drill with a 1" bit. Find some vein in the rock and start drilling holes about 4" apart 5" deep. Set the pins and feathers and start tapping them with a 3 pound hammer. The rock will break.

 

[buzst]

newlife,
I'm trying to split some very similar rocks here in NH. How long does the process take?