|
Post by Fredo on Jul 8, 2008 11:53:28 GMT -5
I just found a really cool product that will break any rock without using explosives. I'm totally stoked. I love finding new stuff that actually works. We used about 20 pounds of the stuff and broke up a piece of solid limestone as big as a small car.
|
|
|
Post by emanon on Jul 8, 2008 12:00:09 GMT -5
Nice. How large rocks does it break up? I know of some projects that could use that where my office is - unless they are already using it. I know they used to just blast them. We are in the Sierra Nevada mountains, so we run into some large rocks there.
|
|
|
Post by Fredo on Jul 8, 2008 12:04:23 GMT -5
Nice. How large rocks does it break up? I know of some projects that could use that where my office is - unless they are already using it. I know they used to just blast them. We are in the Sierra Nevada mountains, so we run into some large rocks there. One could break any size rock with this stuff. It's just a matter of drilling. The liability has gotten so great that it's becoming impractical to blast, especially on residential projects.
|
|
|
Post by CoffeeShooter on Jul 8, 2008 12:09:39 GMT -5
So, what is it & where do we get it? I love explosives.
|
|
|
Post by Fredo on Jul 8, 2008 12:46:18 GMT -5
So, what is it & where do we get it? I love explosives. It's essentially unhydrated lime. You mix it into a slurry and pour it into holes dilled in your rock. Come back in 8-10 hours and it will have expanded and split the rock without throwing chunks into the neighbors' swimming pools. We beat on this rock for nearly 3 days with a jackhammer attached to the backhoe with limited results. This stuff split it over night and we took the pieces out with a bobcat.
|
|
|
Post by emanon on Jul 8, 2008 12:48:41 GMT -5
That is very cool. Will have to check with our geo boys and see if they are using that on sites.
|
|
|
Post by Fredo on Jul 8, 2008 13:51:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by tnshecat on Jul 8, 2008 15:14:27 GMT -5
Sooo cool!! I have the edge of an old gunite swimming pool (which I had buried several years ago) and part of the concrete pad that was around the deep end. This stuff is so thick the guy who was doing the work for me just didn't have the equipment to pull the edge of the deep end in. Full of rebar. I have been trying to figure a way to disguise it with a low planter or bench.
I didn't read the entire article but can you be kinda precise as to what part of concrete you "blast"?
|
|
|
Post by Fredo on Jul 8, 2008 15:41:53 GMT -5
Essentially, you drill holes in the part that you want to fracture and then pour the stuff in. It expands and breaks it up. You then haul the chunks away.
|
|
|
Post by CoffeeShooter on Jul 8, 2008 16:02:43 GMT -5
So this would work on an old sidewalk?
|
|
|
Post by Fredo on Jul 9, 2008 8:44:58 GMT -5
So this would work on an old sidewalk? Easily. We usually use a jackhammer for concrete, but this would work too.
|
|