Demolition Hammer and Granite

[valley]

Have you ever used a Demolition Hammer to make holes in or break up garanite? The hand held type.

Thinking of buying a one to bread up granite rocks. maybe with the use of fethers and wedges.

 

[Kays Supply]

There is a product that you put in a line of holes and it will expand and destroy rock. I would love to try it to see how it works. It is advertised as a non explosive demolition product. Dexpan is it's name.

 

[Egon]

If you want to break granite in a non commercial type situation use a electric rotary hammer drill for the feather and wedge holes.

There is one poster here that has a hydraulic setup for splitting granite quarry rock.:thumbsup:

 

[valley]

Egon, Did you split the rock in the picture?
And did you use a rotary hammer, how long does the bit last? I had no good luck with drills, mayby mine are to old. I did years ago drill and dry pack steel for my foundation, with a star drill. Richard

 

[Egon]

The rock, granite, was split by myself using a Makita 1/2 inch SDS ?? rotary hammer drill that came as a package with a 4-1/2 in. angle grinder for around two hundred and fifty or so.

The bit lasts me for at least a day or more? [ Thats not really giving you any proper information] Unfortunately I have not kept track of how long the bit lasts.

But I can say for sure that if you break off a carbide tip piece and not remove it a new drill bit lasts for about two whacks!:ashamed:

I don't apply any down pressure. Just keep the drill oriented in the proper direction.

Please note this is the first rock I've split and my personal knowledge is just above the zero point.

 

[valley]

Did you have the hammer on or just the drill.

What size drill did you use?


Were you able to make thoes two slices with one drill?
That looks really good, thanks for posting that.

 

[Egon]

Drill plus hammer.

1/2 in. drill

Carbide

one bit and drilled lots more holes.

 

[valley]

That sounds great. The drill must be about 12" long. Did you buy the drill locally or order them with the fethers and wedges?
Did you get the fethers and wedges off the internet?

I really appreciate your postings. I was thinking I may need a jack hammer.

 

[BruceWard]

Egon,

Could you post a picture of or a link to the drill bit you used? I am planning to drill some holes in a rock tomorrow.

What brand of drill bit do you use?

I am surprised at how well you have done!

 

[MikeD74T]

Valley, Here's 3 sources for wedges & feathers.

http://www.trowandholden.com/store/agora.cgi?product=cat5

http://www.spartantool.us/html/splitters.html

Plymouth Quarries

Drill your holes only 1/4 - 1/2" deeper than the wedge/feather you plan to use. Granite has 3 directions of grain and can be split only two ways with the grain. As told to me by a long time quarryman: think of the flowing stream of rock as you would a tree trunk. If you've split wood you know you can split between the rings or across the rings parallel to the length of the tree but cannot split across grain perpendicular to the length of the tree. Granite is similar. Knock off a chunk with a hammer then plan your splits parallel to the way the piece broke off. MikeD74T