CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
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Post by CUL-Ann on Nov 18, 2009 10:55:08 GMT -5
I have a 6" tile saw and a lot of my rocks are to big for that size cutting. What are some of the ways of breaking up rocks  ? |
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Simon
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 352
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Post by Simon on Nov 18, 2009 12:00:01 GMT -5
Hammer and chisel or You can turn the rock as you cut I had to do that with my 10 inch saw before I got the 18 inch saw.
Simon
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Post by Toad on Nov 18, 2009 13:06:13 GMT -5
Or just a hammer... Make sure to wear long sleeves and pants along with eye protection.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Nov 18, 2009 17:53:35 GMT -5
CUL-Ann
Try wrapping the stone in Burlap or something strong, and ware your safety glasses.
place it on the lawn and use a three ponder or bigger. first i should of said look for a fracture line to hit.
Doing this on the lawn well help to prevent back shock of the bunch. ( myself, lesson learned the hard way ) in some cases i`l use several layer`s of cardboard sheet.
when i look over a slab to cab, I`l white light them in the glare the light the fractures so up.
I wrap the slab in grass seed bag material, Then lay flat on plum and slap the table with it. tell it breaks on the faults.
Nice material should be saved from the hammer...........
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Nov 19, 2009 2:00:20 GMT -5
You can also use your saw to make thin "kerfs" or saw cuts around the stone. Try to keep them in a straight line - By doing this it'll make a weak point. Smack it with a hammer or hammer & chisel and it should cleave or break on your cut lines.
Just taking the rock and smashing it with a hammer with no cutting works great as well, however the stone will explode into various pieces and you'll probably lose a percentage of your rock as waste. I would not use this technique for any stone of value. It works great if your making tumbling rough though.
Make sure if you use a hammer - to do it after a bad day - You can really get some aggression out that way! :cheesy:
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CUL-Ann
spending too much on rocks
rock lover~
Member since September 2008
Posts: 380
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Post by CUL-Ann on Nov 19, 2009 9:24:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys I knew this was the place to ask, I sure like the way to get the aggression out;-)))
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Nov 20, 2009 8:11:49 GMT -5
Be careful tho!!! I had a particularly bad day and ended up with sand! ;D
Dr Joe
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Post by Woodyrock on Dec 10, 2009 1:19:40 GMT -5
I recently read an article in a 1962 Gems and Minerals magazine where one guy would carefully mark the cracks in large pieces, then back of a few (read few) feet, and then shoot the crack with a high powered rifle. BTW there was no mention of safety glasses.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 10, 2009 12:44:37 GMT -5
Gee maybe safety glasses were not common then. Just like ammunition now.
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Post by Woodyrock on Dec 11, 2009 1:30:07 GMT -5
Personally, my take on using the rifle is wordless. I know that if I did it this way the result would likely be a pile of sand. I also think some common sense when by the wayside.
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 11, 2009 10:00:33 GMT -5
I've had some success by using my saw to make a cut in (about an inch) all the way around a rock. Then taking a chisel or large flathead screwdriver and hammer and it will usually pop in half for ya (depending on hardness of the rock).
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Dec 12, 2009 20:39:17 GMT -5
A fellow I met recently made himself a couple sets of "feathers" out of railroad ties for large rocks and out of some wierd looking, super-thick nails for smaller rocks (under10"), both are the same type of steel he said. He filed down the pointy ends so that when two of the RR ties were placed back to back they come to a shared point and both got thicker as you get up to the top. The ends were fairly thin, didn't measure, but however thin they are is the thickness of your starting drill hole or saw cut. Then you put the feathers, back to back, into the hole/line/crack, position your chisel in between them and carefully hammer until the rock splits. On large rocks you sometimes have to drill a line of holes. Apparently , this is how it was done in the olden days...I haven't done it yet, making feathers is my winter project...unless I find a place to buy them!! LOL
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Dec 13, 2009 6:40:17 GMT -5
If you have an air compresser in your garage, you can pick up a set of muffler tool and chisels from one of the discount supply houses and using lower air pressure (ring ) your stone about 1/16 th of an inch deep, then, turn up the pressure and have at it ! The tool and chisel set will run you about $16.00 or a little more and you can pretty much control the break that way.
You may have to dress the one chisel point when you get the set but this tool is REALLY handy to have around when you have a nasty old piece of cement to get rid of also !
Harley
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Post by catmandewe on Dec 13, 2009 18:38:28 GMT -5
You can buy feathers and wedges at the following link. I have bought several sets from these people, quick shipping and decent price. stonetooldepot.com/feathersandwedgespiecesandsets.aspxI have used a 50 cal to split a rock, but it reduces it to tumbling rough, nothing left to saw up. Merry Christmas................Tony |
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Gotta lick those rocks to see if they shine!!
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
