Nothing to do with woodwork!

[kando]

G’day folks,
As titled this has nothing to do with woodwork but as my timber bird-room and flights don’t need to be finished till the middle of next year (I missed the 05-06 canary breeding season) (BTW, thanks to everyone who shared their ideas with me, the new bird-room and flights are looking good even though they’re not finished yet) the wife thought I should make a start on a bush pond with waterfall and the landscaping that goes with it that we have been wanting to do for some time.
Anyway, I got a free load of large rocks from a mate’s property up the other side of Little River and the largest rock is 1.39m long x around 70cm wide x around 78cm high and is solid volcanic rock…not the light aerated type. It’s to heavy for two men to lift and so I thought I would cut the rock into two pieces.
Using a 230mm masonry cutting blade in a large Makita angle grinder, I made a cut around the center of the rock, I then tried splitting the rock by placing a bolster chisel in the cut and belting it with a sledge hammer…that never even chipped this rock!:mad:
So I’m asking if any of you have any ideas on how I can split this rock in two?
And no! I do not have access to jelly, TNT or plastic explosives
If any of you have split rocks like this, I would appreciate you sharing with me how you did it.
Thanking you in advance for your ideas,
Bill in Geelong…Kando…with a little help from my friends.

[Schtoo]

Well, dunno if it will work...

Drill a bunch of holes where you want to cut it.

Drive in some tight fitting and very dry wood spikes.

Add water.

Like I said, dunno if it will work, but I think that's how they broke up big rocks before explosives.

Failing that, get a powdermonkey to do it. Won't take them long to do it, and shouldn't be too expensive either.

[Ratbag Oz]

You could always turn a big job into a huge job and do some beautiful intricate carvings with a hammer and chisel..........

Nah, guess not.......

[kando]

Thanks Schtoo, I'll give the wood stakes/spikes a go mate but I'm not sure about: Failing that, get a powdermonkey to do it. Won't take them long to do it, and shouldn't be too expensive either.
I live in a built-up area and I don't think the neighbours would aprove! If the wooden spikes fail, guess I'll have to hire a Kango but I only need it for that one ten minute job...so is life

Thanks to you too Ratbag Oz but I never was much good at carvings with a hammer and chisel mate

Cheers, I'll let you know if the wooden spike work.

Bill...Kando...with a little help from my friends.

[Daddles]

Didn't they used to use vinegar and heat or something? I'm talking really early times.

Richard

[Schtoo]

You will be more than 10 minutes with a Kango. I don't think I have ever used one for such a short time myself, and I was usually doing concrete. Besides, Kangos don't cut very well, they do take small bites and reduce something large into small pieces that you can throw away.

With the wedges, bake them dry, dry, dry before bashing them in. I hope they work, but I have my reservations.

Daddles, the wedges are pyramid era, so how early is early???

Never heard heat and vinegar before...

[Harry72]

Fill the crack/cut with water for a few days till the rock has soaked it in and then heat it... you'll hear a huge crack!(like chucking some creek rocks on a bonfire... )
Judging by the size you described that rock would weigh at least 1-2 ton!
I've just moved a sandstone rock about 1m X .8m X .4m and it dropped my ute by 70mm... and the ute can carry 1200kg!(drops 100mm fully loaded... 1200kg pack of wood from the lismore bulk buy organised by Emac)

[Rocker]

Wait till next winter; fill up the drill holes with water, and let the ice formation split it. You are not far from Antarctica down there

Seriously, though. I remember my father used to split logs with steel wedges. I don't know if you can still get them. But I don't rate your chances of success as very high without using explosive. Basalt can be very tough.

I remember that 30 odd years ago in N Queensland all you needed to do to obtain dynamite, which was sold in the local store in Chillagoe, was to pay $5 for a Miner's Right. Maybe things might have changed by now.

Rocker

[bennylaird]

Lots more rocks out that way. Why not just get one the size you want?

[AlexS]

Was going to suggest the ice method as per Rocker. Also, they used to use what was called a 'drill & feathers'. The feathers were a pair of tapered round wedges, with a tapered hole down the centre. A hole was drilled in the rock, the feathers inserted and a tapered piece hammered down the centre of the feathers.

Personally, I'd find another rock.

[echnidna]

what sort of rock is it?

[fxst]

as Schtoo said it may take a while but it worked for stone masons for centuries but I go with the majority here and say unless you really need that rock go get another instead.
Pete

[BJP]

what sort of rock is it?

obviously a very hard one

[kando]

G'day mates,
Thanks for all your tips but a mate from over the road had rented a big kango to do some demo' work at his place, he brought it over to my place with a spade bit, stuck it in the deep grove I had cut around the rock with the big grinder and three minutes later, the rock split neatly in two pieces...next time I'll try getting smaller rocks but I did need a few real big suckers (rocks) for a pond and waterfall project I'm doing in my back yard

Bill...Kando, Geelong.
PS. From what I've seen on the news, the weather down here in Geelong has been much better than the weather in Queensland so that will do me