Splitting Rock

[JimMorrissey]

So I've got this HUGE rock about the size of a kitchen table from what I've been able to unearth, and it needs to go because it's right in the middle of my new road. I've given up on trying to move it. How can I split the top off this thing? I'll bury what remains. I'm thinking that I'll have to rent a generator and drill holes throught the sides, then split it somehow. The rock is something on the order of marble, but softer...heavy are hard, but nothing like granite. Any ideas?

I'll post a picture a little later.

 

[AndyR]

Hammer drill (big one), 3/4 or 1" bit, couple of feathers and wedges and you should be able to reduce that puppy in no time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have a Makita 1 1/2" hammer drill that I use for my rock work and it does great. You should easily be able to rent the drill and bits. One of the best tool suppliers for rock work may not be too far from you: Trow & Holden is located in Barre, VT. Look for "wedges & shims" - always handy for future projects. Figure to place them 6-8" apart along the top of your split - maybe even half way down the sides in some circumstances. Splitting is fun /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif - just keep at it. Hint: paint all your feathers & wedges yellow before you split - that way you are much more likely to find them in the dust then when they are stone-colored metal.

 

[v8dave]

There is a compound that you pour into drilled holes. It sets up and expands, like freezing water, fracturing the rock. You place a blanket/cover over the rock so when it fractures pieces aren't thrown too far. I can't remember the name of the product (it was a variation of bentonite) and it wasn't cheap. It was sold at several rental equipment companies around here, which won't help you on the East Coast, but try your local rental shops.

 

[glover]

thats not that big we had a rock bigger than our jd 2750 we could cplit so we had to get a backo in and dig a hole nad we pushed it in lol friggin huge so then we seeded the field out instead of pplanting silage corn lol

 

[Cactus]

Fract Ag


Dexpan is the other product....

 

[JimMorrissey]

Andy,

What tool are you thinking exactly? This is a large rock......You think a few wedges would split big boulder? I checked the site and don't see what would work well to split. There are lots of finishing tools.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Yeah, we do have that stuff at our local rental place. I'll give it another look. Thanks.

 

[ScottAR]

Feathers and wedges were used to build the pyramid. They are still used today to split car sized chunks out of the rock quarry.

Drill holes a little smaller than the diameter of the feather/wedge assy. Insert a feather on each side and wedge in the middle. Now start tapping on each one with a smallish sledge. Pretty soon a crack will form and a chunk will come off. Move chunk with tractor and repeat.

One could probably fab some feathers and wedges out of flat stock and round bar.

Edit: Wedge and shim On the bottom of the page.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Scott,

The sizes and the prices of the wedges increase dramatically. What size are the best for splitting boulders and how many would be needed. I added a picture to my original post so you have something to reference. Thanks.

 

[ScottAR]

Whoa there... I must sound like I know what I'm talking about!
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Arkansas is not really known for its rocks as we don't have many.
I'm thinking the biggest $4 or the $5 ones would work ok. 6-8" spacing across a long face as Andy suggested. Start smackin' em and they WILL split the rock. Wedges excert many tons of force on the structure of the rock. Even if it doesn't split all the way across, it will open a crack that can be widened with a log splitting wedge or somthing similar.

If using an electric powered drill, try to have an air source blowing the dust out of the hole as the dust will dull the bit fairly quickly. Air powered drills usually have a hole in the bit that blows the dust out as you drill.