big piece of jade

[lparker]

I got a little 145 lb piece of Russian jade (nephrite) and a saw too small to slab it. Had a theory that I read, probably here, that if a large piece is scored, it can be split with a chisel. So I bought a cheap circular saw and a wet/dry diamond blade and tried a couple time to cut a line in it an 1" or so deep and surprisingly enough, succeeded. Tap a chisel in it and a piece or two about the depth of the cut comes off leaving the other 8-10" on the block. One cut was about 2" from the edge...the second cut was about 4" from the edge. Anyone got any suggestions? Should I try down the middle?


Lee #1

[monna0000]

Can't help but for some reason i watched this Yesterday, dont know if it's any help.

[Deleted]

Nov 12, 2016 16:46:07 GMT -5 lparker said:

I got a little 145 lb piece of Russian jade (nephrite) and a saw too small to slab it. Had a theory that I read, probably here, that if a large piece is scored, it can be split with a chisel. So I bought a cheap circular saw and a wet/dry diamond blade and tried a couple time to cut a line in it an 1" or so deep and surprisingly enough, succeeded. Tap a chisel in it and a piece or two about the depth of the cut comes off leaving the other 8-10" on the block. One cut was about 2" from the edge...the second cut was about 4" from the edge. Anyone got any suggestions? Should I try down the middle?


Lee #1

Works well with Jasper's, glad to know Jade too!

Make pieces the size you like. Pics useful. I don't believe size of piece being made is important in the trick.

[Deleted]

My idea was to to score all the way around,the split the piece in two. Are you getting layers off without going thru?

[MrP]

lparker 30+ years ago my bride and I built a split rock fireplace so we split and face many rocks. I used 3lb hammer and a 2 1/2' wide rock chisel, scored lightly, at first, along and around what I wanted to split then started giving it the business. Some rocks will split easy but others are very hard to split. The longer the rock is uncovered and exposed to the weather the harder it is to split. I think Jade being the type of rock it is it will not split easy. One thing to remember is to make sure you sent the force in the direction you want the split.....................................MrP

[Mark K]

You could rill it with a hammer drill in a line and drive a round gad into the center hole and split it that way. You will have drill lines to deal with, but at least it will reduce to the point you can use it.

[lparker]

Nov 12, 2016 17:06:56 GMT -5 monna0000 said:

Can't help but for some reason i watched this Yesterday, dont know if it's any help.

That was interesting. I might try take on a smaller rock. It looks like it works great on stuff like sandstone and limestone...a bit more work on hard rocks.

Lee

[lparker]

Nov 12, 2016 17:17:42 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

My idea was to to score all the way around,the split the piece in two. Are you getting layers off without going thru?

yup, it breaks and feathers off to the outside.

Lee

[lparker]

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[wampidytoo]

With jade you generally have a grain to deal with. Some easy to see and some hard to see. With your piece it looks like you are going cross grain or at an angle to it with the cut which could be causing the break to go off line. I would suggest taking the cut all the way to the bottom on the sides then use multiple wedges tightened a little at a time all the way across. Some jade will refuse to break across the grain and all you can do is split it with the grain then cut most of the way through.

I have not worked with a piece of jade that large but I think it would be the same for most sizes. A real tight grain can be split just about any direction.
Jim

[lparker]

I'm going to get some wedges and shims along with a hammer drill and carbide bits. I'll try drilling the side and split it that way (maybe)

[broseph82]

[lparker]

I think a 14" saw would work on it BTW, the wedges and shims worked. I'll get a couple pics posted when I get the time...maybe Sunday.

Lee #1