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Post by Jim on Mar 8, 2005 11:50:39 GMT -5
8-)MY wife and I are new to tumbling and this site. What is a safe and easy way to break larger stones into smaller pieces. My wife and I are really exited about our new hobby and all help will be appreciated.
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Post by Cher on Mar 8, 2005 12:01:17 GMT -5
Hi Jim, I have a small 8x 10 piece of steel plate that I put my rocks on to protect the cement from cracking. I cover my rocks with old towels or an old rug then give them a whack with the flat side of a slitting mall. Better if you have the right equipment and know how to look for fractures to see if you can split them with a chisel.
Cher
PS ... Welcome to the forum. Join up, it's just more fun that way. PSS ... a stupid omission on my part ... Very important to wear safety glass.
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stonedagain
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2004
Posts: 114
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Post by stonedagain on Mar 8, 2005 12:19:00 GMT -5
Hi Jim Welcome! I do it exactly the same way as Cher. Make sure to protect your eyes.
~Rhonda
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 8, 2005 12:22:54 GMT -5
I got this and hammer and chisel at a local swap meet for less than $10. Works like a charm. Definately need to strike the rock on a metal plate (the 2x4 was just absorbing the shock...) and, yes, wear eye protection!
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 8, 2005 12:27:35 GMT -5
I got a plate from a broken sliding keyboard tray from work (they were gonna toss it out ) I put an upside down box on top of it (the box has a cut out "window" (like a tissue box - to see what I think I'm doing & it lets me work in there and the fragments stay inside for the most part) and with a cold chisel & hammer, try to split them. Some are very hard to split - but I may try whacking it with a towel/carpet thing. What's a splitting mall? Doesn't this make rock mush all over, do you get useable pieces?
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Mar 8, 2005 14:23:33 GMT -5
I have the same set-up as 'Voodoo Rage' does except I have a section of Railroad tie on its side in the box. Basically a hammer and chisel will be the weapons of choice.
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Post by Cher on Mar 8, 2005 14:35:33 GMT -5
A splitting mall is a double headed (wedge shaped) axe for splitting wood. One side has the ax head, the other side is flat, sort of like a sledge hammer.
Yes, I get useable pieces. I just use this because I had one, rather than going out to buy something else. I don't use it like I was splitting wood, it's got enough weight that a light smack generally breaks the rocks up nicely.
Cher
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Post by Tweetiepy on Mar 8, 2005 14:51:51 GMT -5
I gotta try that! maybe I won't be needing 40 whacks anymore - I find that a lot of the stuff I have doesn't have any fractures or has a domed/smooth surface and the dulled chisel slips on the surfact - the hammer might do a better job
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littlejimie
starting to spend too much on rocks
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Member since January 2005
Posts: 170
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Post by littlejimie on Mar 8, 2005 18:06:47 GMT -5
Hello, Jim---welcome to the forum!! As for busting rocks, I use a box and a anvil as a base. I cover the box with clear plastic as much as possible (helps me see what's going on); also a cold chisel works good on fractured rocks---as for hammers, I use an old hand-me-down claw hammer---use eye protetion. Become a member and join us! Jim
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 8, 2005 21:26:38 GMT -5
Hello Jim & Wife ... Welcome to the board ... there are a lot of very knowledgeable folks here and they are always ready to help with any questions that you or the Misses may have! I have a different technique ... I put my rock on an old fence post about twenty yards behing my home. I then get my .338 Win Mag with 220 grain hollow points and blast away! I have tried to get my wife to hold the rock on the post ... but she just won't do it I told her that she could just put one finger on the stone to keep it from falling off of the post ... and you guessed it ... she gave me a finger ;D Actually, I too follow the exact directions as just about everyone else ;D John Southwestern Kansas
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Mar 8, 2005 22:07:47 GMT -5
Ok, I saw those photos of the beautiful tumbled p-wood yesterday and decided to get my own barrel rolling. I had to break up some larger pieces (my first time doing so). I took a regular old claw hammer, and set the p-wood on the sidewalk, then smashed it with the hammer. It broke up the wood, but it also broke up the cement. I moved the wood to the dirt yard and proceeded to smash it some more with aformentioned hammer. It worked, but I also cut my little finger on a shard and nearly bled to death. One particularly nice rock wouldn't break no matter how many times I smashed it. It didn't chip at all, and sparks flew when I struck it. Maybe it was some kind of flint - anyway, the moral of the story is, don't do what I did. Do what they do - S
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Post by Cher on Mar 8, 2005 22:13:46 GMT -5
I can't remember which site I read it on but one of them said NOT to use a regular claw hammer. They are not made for this and they claim the metal could splinter. Something I think to do with the way the steel is hardened or something. Just thought I'd mention this.
Cher
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Post by Condor on Mar 8, 2005 22:27:29 GMT -5
I use a 3lb Estwing crack hammer. I also have a few slabs of heavy concrete that I got from construction sites. After placing the rock on it, I'll hammer it by itself, or use a large pointy chisel. I prefer and will be buying one like VooDoo Rage uses. I try, (but don't always) to place cardboard around where I break the rocks to prevent them from flying off. That works well.
Condor
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Voodoo Rage
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2005
Posts: 127
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Post by Voodoo Rage on Mar 8, 2005 23:37:08 GMT -5
Tonight I was beating up on some hematite chunks and some of them were pretty stubborn. It was time to put the kids to bed, so I had to quit. I'll continue tommorrow.
I just got an extra CE tumbler off of Ebay for $10+s/h (used, broken belt). So now I've got up to 4 barrels rolling!
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Mar 9, 2005 10:22:01 GMT -5
I use the same basic way! Hey want to see something real cool? Take 2 pieces of quartz (any old kind but the clearer the better the effect!) Go into a pitch dark room (again the darker the better) and carefully smack the rocks together! tell me what you think!
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