alastairgott
Well-known member
I'm looking for some advice. Recently I have had need to break up a boulder the size of a desktop PC (increasing in size to the bottom where width= 2x desktop PC's).
To clarify, the only angle of attack was from the front of the "Desktop", I had originally thought I would just take off the top leaving the Base of the Rock (but had no idea how deep it went).
In the End I resorted to plugs and feathers, as they are tried and tested approach for me and come out with very little inaccuracies. (the rock ended up coming out entirely! took some good crowbarring!)
Method used:
1 small drillbit length of a pint glass.
drilled hole handspan from the top of the rock (angle of approach front of Desktop PC)
Placed one black Cap in.
light tap, light tap, light tap..... no movement, heavy tap- twist... repeat... boom.
findings:
no breakage in rock, in fact nothing! hit rock with lump hammer after, several times, nothing.
2 more holes had been drilled prior to first cap, one (2nd hole) was a handspan diagonal to the (left and down) the other (3rd hole) was directly vertical from first hole but equidistant from the 2nd hole.
the 2nd hole went slightly better and took the side off, and the third was reasonably successful.
I think I used one more cap (4 total? maybe?), but by this time I was getting bored of the tedium of putting goggles and ear defenders on for little use.
In short, where was I going wrong?
Should my holes have been longer, ie should I buy a longer drill bit?
should I have been trying to "bite off" more rock and therefore put some more caps in?
Needless to say I've been back and disposed of the rock, but with my trusty 16mm Plugs and feathers which give you a satisfying crunch and crackle when the rock is splitting. back to mattocking mud again!
To clarify, the only angle of attack was from the front of the "Desktop", I had originally thought I would just take off the top leaving the Base of the Rock (but had no idea how deep it went).
In the End I resorted to plugs and feathers, as they are tried and tested approach for me and come out with very little inaccuracies. (the rock ended up coming out entirely! took some good crowbarring!)
Method used:
1 small drillbit length of a pint glass.
drilled hole handspan from the top of the rock (angle of approach front of Desktop PC)
Placed one black Cap in.
light tap, light tap, light tap..... no movement, heavy tap- twist... repeat... boom.
findings:
no breakage in rock, in fact nothing! hit rock with lump hammer after, several times, nothing.
2 more holes had been drilled prior to first cap, one (2nd hole) was a handspan diagonal to the (left and down) the other (3rd hole) was directly vertical from first hole but equidistant from the 2nd hole.
the 2nd hole went slightly better and took the side off, and the third was reasonably successful.
I think I used one more cap (4 total? maybe?), but by this time I was getting bored of the tedium of putting goggles and ear defenders on for little use.
In short, where was I going wrong?
Should my holes have been longer, ie should I buy a longer drill bit?
should I have been trying to "bite off" more rock and therefore put some more caps in?
Needless to say I've been back and disposed of the rock, but with my trusty 16mm Plugs and feathers which give you a satisfying crunch and crackle when the rock is splitting. back to mattocking mud again!