Fabrication: Hanger with 10mm bolt hole

alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
I?m sure a plan will form, I can borrow capping gear (and have done from chief of ?the others?  :sneaky:  before ) so it?s available.
 
Cantclimbtom

Cantclimbtom

Well-known member
I'm sure I'd seen it less expensive on fleabay from a different manufacturer, also the fancy dexapan at ?110 or so for 20 kg, which is a lot of boulders!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153124156715
You do need to drill some wide holes how wide depends on how many/close and rock type but nothing smaller than 20mm at very smallest optimally 30mm (it's more Hilti territory than an old black and decker) . Also because grout flows downhill you need access to the top and drill downwards. Cleaning the holes is helpfulto reduce blowout. I'm not suggesting this as a standard method for all, but it has it's place. It does work, doesn't go bang and doesn't have the potential "complications" of a more lubricating approach. Lastly, cold conditions are helpful, in hot countries they might need to mix it with iced water, our climate is more suitable :)
Edit: fair disclosure... I've broken a few rocks in my time but not in a cave with this grout
 
pwhole

pwhole

Well-known member
aquamole jim used it quite a lot in the Doom's Retreat project, so hopefully he can offer some practical tips if he sees this :)
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
I'll stick with plugs and feathers, if there's anything that needs splitting rather that capping.

Jim is a massive fan of not getting rock debris in his eyes before the dive back to base. And I can't blame him, so this slurry stuff and plugs and feathers fit the bill for him.
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
Went back to Tried and tested methods this evening, with good results, just ran out of Drill battery.  :cry:  for reference the crowbar is 60cm long, so not the 1mx1m "whopper" I was explaining...


The caps went well yesterday, we managed to split a rock similar in length but thinner and oblong in shape, amazingly it split right down the middle, you could have almost used it like a piece of slate.
 

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alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
Ironically the boulder waggled when it was intact, after i slid the top of it off, it became stuck fast!


Ah well, i'm sure the remnants wont take long to dispatch with a charged drill battery.
 

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SamT

SamT

Moderator
pwhole said:
Ah, the old ways are the best :)
Click to expand...

Not necessarily true.  Horses for courses. Plug&Feather, snappers, caps, hammer and chisel, inflatable bags, Alfred nobles magical elixir,  even fire setting.
They are all tools in the box to be used. 
Use the right tool for the job.
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
Personally - I'd have used caps on this.  Quick, efficient, you've got plenty of space to work in.  You'd have had it done and cleared on the day.
 
F

Fishes

New member
Plug and feathers might be a bit slower and use more battery power but they don't create a load of noise that might attract unwanted attention and they are safer. There are plenty of reasons not to promote more energetic solutions on a public forum.
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
I think I?d need to set off an alarm if I were to use pellets in the vicinity of the dig. We did use a few caps in the rain on sat, but made short work of it regardless. It was hardly a chore to pop over on my way home from Castleton on Sunday, only 15mins added onto drive time. Walking and p+f on top of that but still worth the effort :)
 
SamT

SamT

Moderator
alastairgott said:
I think I?d need to set off an alarm if I were to use pellets in the vicinity of the dig.
Click to expand...

I didn't suggest that, and as Fishes says, probably best to use euphemisms for "chemical hammers" online.
 
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