69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Sept 2, 2004 14:47:00 GMT -5
What is the best way to break up a large rock, say this 6" piece below, into smaller pieces for use in a 3# barrel?
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 15:10:26 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Carefully![/glow] Safety glasses on, large hammer ready, cover it with a towel or something (I use an old rug) and whack it hard. Oh yeah, don't do it right on your cement drive or sidewalk. Get a piece of steel plate to whack it on.
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Sept 2, 2004 18:26:10 GMT -5
Thanks! Here's my results so far. I can see this is going to take a little practice...
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 2, 2004 18:56:19 GMT -5
Good Job! I just broke up some Hemetite and (I think) tiger iron in just that manner, goggles, towel, hammer, cursing. (Did we forget to mention that part?) The hematite was relatively easy, the tiger iron called for the cursing part. I set aside some sticks for the neighbors dog. Like clockwork he shows up when I start breaking rocks and tries to steal them. I was ready today. Shoved a stick in his mouth and made it a game. The dog is as big as I am so I had to get creative. Played fetch for a while and he finally ran off to explore the neighborhood. Simple minds are easily entertained. That's why I like busting rocks ;D Keep Whackin!
cookie
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 20:03:08 GMT -5
Looks like you definitely have it figured out Beeper. Good job!
[glow=red,2,300]LOL Cookie[/glow] I can just picture you trying to bust rock and keep a big dog busy at the same time. Good thing he's friendly.
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 2, 2004 20:48:53 GMT -5
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2004 21:45:05 GMT -5
Check around at a salvage yard, it should be easy to find a piece of steel plate. The one I have now is about 8 inches square but for awhile I was using a piece of steel bar that was about 2 inches wide.
[glow=red,2,300]~ Cher ~[/glow]
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 2, 2004 22:01:53 GMT -5
And, yeah, the towels will be a loss. Buy cheapies at Walmart, got to garage sales or, like I did, ask your Mom if she has some old towels. Heck, I'm using most of her "old towels" in my bathrooms and whacking on my own. ;D
cookie
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Post by sandsman1 on Sept 3, 2004 5:53:42 GMT -5
try useing a cold steel chisel and a 3lb crack hammer (short handled sledge) you get less waste---what i mean is pieces so small you cant do anything with them
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 3, 2004 10:02:17 GMT -5
and mind you fingers when you do it sandsman's way!
KD
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JKowalski33
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 451
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Post by JKowalski33 on Sept 3, 2004 13:52:55 GMT -5
So you would recommend a chisel and hammer over a rock pick? But isn't it hard trying to hold the rock stilll while holding the chisel and hitting it with a hammer?
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 3, 2004 15:04:50 GMT -5
um, refer to Cookie's comments on cursing? yes, it gets tricky, you kinda got to wrassle the little sucker in it's rug/towel, mind your fingers and toes and WHACK! (ouch!)
KD
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Post by sandsman1 on Sept 3, 2004 18:35:12 GMT -5
jk the way i doit is to choke up on the chisel hold it very close to the rock this way you can lay part of your hand on the rock to keep it still wile you whack it it takes alittle practice but you will get it ----i got tired of doin it that way because i couldent get back up off the floor cause of my back so i got a saw hahahaha
a rock pick is for pullin rock outta the ground i wouldnt try and use it to break rocks
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 3, 2004 19:03:50 GMT -5
they sell cold chisels with a little rubber hand protecter too, so you can grip it and whack it with a modicum of precision.......
still , it takes a bit of practice. when i lose what little patience i do possess, i wrap the offending rock in a plastic garbage bag and whack it with an eight pound sledge........grrrrrr (you don't want to see me angry).
KD
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Post by puppie96 on Sept 3, 2004 20:43:43 GMT -5
Last night after dark I took this rock outside -- this was one that I picked up in Wyoming, wanted to put in a batch from this site -- just a pretty dull looking rock. So I used the same method as everybody else with the goggles, towel, and axe, smooshed it and it seemed to break pretty easy. Put the pieces in the vibe, went and washed it out this eve, what do you know but what that rock was full of shells -- BIG ones -- like a couple over 1" diameter. There are some imprints but for the most part the intact shells or fragments are there. Now I don't know what to do with this -- the surrounding conglomerate rock I guess around it also seems to have stuff in it and it's pretty -- will the shells polish if I go on tumbling it?
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