jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 463
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Post by jasperfanatic on Feb 20, 2019 20:28:46 GMT -5
Only been doing this a few months and I'm wondering what others are doing when you get rocks that are entirely too big for your saw? Some I can work around with targeted small cuts on some areas until it fits to get the whole rock, but that is assuming two things - first, it isn't going to ruin an opportunity for prime cuts, and second that I can get it in the vice at all. Over the last couple of months, I've picked up a few that are just too big to even whittle down because I can't get them in the vice. I have a 14" saw, and while I'd like a bigger one (and let's be honest, who wouldn't?  ), that's not in the budget for quite a while. I tried to split one larger piece of jasper with a hammer and chisels, but it just blunted the chisels and threw sparks...that stuff is HARD! Maybe a rotohammer and then a chisel in one of the holes? There's a couple that will have to wait for access to a larger saw as I don't want to lose the patters, but the majority just need to be split enough so each half will fit. Any suggestions? |
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El JeffA
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 353 
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Post by El JeffA on Feb 20, 2019 20:58:29 GMT -5
I just ordered a set of 8- 5/8” feather wedges with the drill bit on Amazon for under $21. With Prime, I received it in 2 days, free shipping. Although I haven’t had a chance to use them, I am confident this is what I’ve been needing to handle those big ones. Prior to that, it was just a sledge hammer that was leaving too much waste and fractures in the rock. Good luck!
Jeff A
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 20, 2019 21:08:13 GMT -5
I’ve used an angle grinder to grind as deep as I could around the perimeter. Then I put my chisel in the groove and smack it. Sometimes it still takes multiple whacks to break it.
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jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 463
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Post by jasperfanatic on Feb 20, 2019 21:52:51 GMT -5
Those feather wedges look like the answer. I've seen them before in some rock carving videos but had no idea what they were called. Thank you!
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Post by greig on Feb 20, 2019 23:40:16 GMT -5
I just ordered a set of 8- 5/8” feather wedges with the drill bit on Amazon for under $21. With Prime, I received it in 2 days, free shipping. Although I haven’t had a chance to use them, I am confident this is what I’ve been needing to handle those big ones. Prior to that, it was just a sledge hammer that was leaving too much waste and fractures in the rock. Good luck! Jeff A Feather wedges work really well. You just need a good way to drill your hole and you will be golden. |
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Post by greig on Feb 20, 2019 23:44:45 GMT -5
I have been around guys who use a concrete saw. It makes a great deal of noise and dust, but does slice a larger rock.
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showet
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Feb 22, 2019 18:17:14 GMT -5
The first thing I would do is to check and see if there is a local person or Rock club that has a larger saw. You might find someone who can cut it for you or maybe cut it in half.
I don't personally like the idea of breaking it unless I am planning on tumbling.  |
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Post by stephan on Feb 22, 2019 22:22:23 GMT -5
The first thing I would do is to check and see if there is a local person or Rock club that has a larger saw. You might find someone who can cut it for you or maybe cut it in half.
I don't personally like the idea of breaking it unless I am planning on tumbling. Ditto, except that I don't tumble. |
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Post by grumpybill on Feb 23, 2019 8:40:50 GMT -5
I’ve used an angle grinder to grind as deep as I could around the perimeter. Then I put my chisel in the groove and smack it. Sometimes it still takes multiple whacks to break it. As a stone mason, I used a similar technique to split stones up to 24" thick. But...instead of a chisel, I used short, blunt, quickly tapered wedges. A chisel can "bottom out" in the slot, resulting in the stone splitting at an odd angle. (Of course, this works best on homogenous material. Not so well with breccia or other stones made up of multiple material.) |
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,640
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Post by QuailRiver on Feb 23, 2019 9:36:00 GMT -5
IMO if you really have the bug then just hang on to them until that inevitable day that you do have a large enough saw to slab them without risking destroying the best patterns.
Larry C.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2019 11:14:51 GMT -5
Big hammers, and (or) a buddy with a bigger saw.....
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Post by grumpybill on Feb 23, 2019 13:04:16 GMT -5
The problem with "big hammers" is that you have no control over the direction of the break(s), end up with random sizes and usually introduce unwanted fractures in unwanted places.
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), that's not in the budget for quite a while. I tried to split one larger piece of jasper with a hammer and chisels, but it just blunted the chisels and threw sparks...that stuff is HARD!
