billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Jun 18, 2014 15:53:31 GMT -5
I saw a post in the archives about a Harbor Freight 6 ton Frame Bench Shop Press for breaking material. I was wondering if anyone has used one ant if the results were good. I've used the hammer and and just want see if there is a better way.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 18, 2014 19:42:48 GMT -5
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Jun 19, 2014 11:33:12 GMT -5
That's a pretty cool machine. It looks like it may be a little too industrial for my little (and full) garage. It did get me thinking about a pulley system dropping a concrete block . . . . . . .
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stephent
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 213
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Post by stephent on Jun 19, 2014 12:58:10 GMT -5
I used my large 3" diameter metal T-post driver turned upside down on the ground and one of my steel 5' long digging bars to whack some rocks a bit smaller a few weeks ago. A few drops of the bar and it breaks fist sized rocks a bit smaller. Several drops and it WILL make small gravel! Not as precise as a hammer can accomplish usually...but faster. I just raise the bar and let it drop...not letting plumb go (loose hands just around the bar) so ya can control the bar after it hits bottom and wants to tip over. It also contains the busted rocks well. No flying all over. Safety glasses still required though.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,602
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Post by Mark K on Jun 19, 2014 19:22:03 GMT -5
You will get a lot less fracturing if you drill the rock with a hammer drill and pound a round chisel into the hole.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 19:50:52 GMT -5
Crushing sounds like fractured end product. Maybe I am wrong. somewhere jamesp showed how he chipped his corals so the tumbles were fracture free.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,182
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Post by jamesp on Jun 20, 2014 2:49:29 GMT -5
Crushing sounds like fractured end product. Maybe I am wrong. somewhere jamesp showed how he chipped his corals so the tumbles were fracture free.
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billg22
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 451
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Post by billg22 on Jun 20, 2014 12:41:17 GMT -5
Scott, that's a great video. Makes me want to try it this weekend. I might wear gloves. I guess there are many ways to cut/chip/crush/saw/smash/drill material. Foxtail and Stephen, looks like I'll try those too. I have way too many big rocks that need to be small rocks. Thank's all!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jun 20, 2014 14:19:31 GMT -5
The Feather River lapidary club that hosts the world rock tumbling competition each year uses a cool old crusher to reduce the rough. This year it is brazilian agate and this thing sure did make a mess of the rough but everyone gets equally bad material and that really adds to the challenge. I usually do it the old fashioned way and put a 1" thick steel plate down on the garage floor then stand up large pieces of cardboard all around it and hit the rocks with a sledge hammer. There is some waste this way but it is very time efficient. Safety glasses, gloves, and long pants and long shirt are must. even with all that I have had some good cuts to the neck and face from flying shards of obsidian Here's a few shot from this year. This is what they started with This is the machine used to crush it And this is after the crusher mangled it,lol Chuck
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