How to split large boulders! Using ‘Wedge and Feathers’

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 53

  • @philiphoweartistwriter272
    @philiphoweartistwriter272 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Thank you for a simple, direct video on how to split boulders. Best one by far that I have seen, now I think I can do it!

    • @samigaming9398
      @samigaming9398 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      TH-cam Mary and jesus in the Qur'an and Mohammad in the Qur'an and the scientific miracles of the Qur'an and Mohammad in Hindu scripture and song of Solomon ch5 v16 in

  • @letmegoguy
    @letmegoguy 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Great idea for when I have a boulder too big to move!

  • @NCmtnDweller
    @NCmtnDweller 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Well done

  • @jimmyjones9257
    @jimmyjones9257 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Keep the videos coming that is how I am learning this craft. I live on Haida Gwaai. So I am learning from U tube. Slowly and slowly getting the tools tools I need.

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Love it! Thanks Jimmy what type of projects are you working on there?

    • @jimmyjones9257
      @jimmyjones9257 ปีที่แล้ว

      Boulder wall on a sloped lot.

  • @nickmoore3855
    @nickmoore3855 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I believe you want the feathers to be all the way down to the curve of the feather. Which will help the wedge from not falling out, as happened in the video. Also with harder stone your feathers can be damaged and eventually bend by having them halfway out of the stone with so much pressure of the stone and hammer.
    Happy hammering!

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hey Nick thank you! I need a bigger bit for my hammer drill and I will try those tips out!

  • @nateearle844
    @nateearle844 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Rock climbers know that high pitched ping from a well driven piton. Satisfaction.

  • @mathiasmartin8194
    @mathiasmartin8194 ปีที่แล้ว

    Excellent video and explanation, please create a video demonstrating how to cut the round stone for use in a millstone.

  • @TaitGuy
    @TaitGuy 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Great video and Great info, very useful! Thank you !!!!

  • @raineyd801
    @raineyd801 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Do I need to dig around the whole boulder before using the hammer drill and feathers & wedges? Parts of my boulder are 2” under the topsoil so it creates a 2’x2’ hot spot where grass won’t grow. The rest of the boulder is deeper so grass grows over it.

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hey I imagine you wouldn’t have to dig around the whole thing. Another option would be to use a concrete saw and cut the top could of inches off by making a deep cut every 2” or so and then using a chisel to remove the inner material

  • @ajazkarim6387
    @ajazkarim6387 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hi how are you sir I hope you are well you can break any stone with this method I am from North Pakistan the stones here are very hard at the foothills of Karakaram Himalayas.

  • @jaroslavchorny
    @jaroslavchorny ปีที่แล้ว +1

    HI Kevin. What is the name of the store you have your wedge and feathers from? I heard "Michael and stone tools" but didn't find the store in Vancouver.

  • @dferrari888
    @dferrari888 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Any idea if this same method would work for a boulder that's 3 or 4x the size of the one in your video? Or would you need larger/bigger wedges that can go deeper?

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  ปีที่แล้ว +3

      This same method should work with this size of wedges, you just may need more for a larger Boulder.

    • @cayrick
      @cayrick 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@HardscapeCanada If a row across the top won't work drill the side and insert wedges as well.

  • @davidsanderson8548
    @davidsanderson8548 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Do you have any advice for attempting to split a quartzite rock?

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hey I haven’t tied to split that particular type of stone, as it is much more dense than its predecessor sandstone and wouldn’t likely act the same way with the grains. I would think cutting it would be ideal, or maybe a mix of cutting and wedge and feathers if it’s a large enough piece

    • @davidsanderson8548
      @davidsanderson8548 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@HardscapeCanada Thank you for these tips. I have about a 300lb quartzite boulder in my backyard thanks to the last ice age. I can drill holes in it but the irons and feathers will not split the material. Small chunks will shear off perpendicular to the drill holes. I will try your suggestion.

    • @cayrick
      @cayrick 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@davidsanderson8548 my expertise is in basalt rock. I drill 5/8 holes at 4" spacing about 4" deep and make sure if the rock is in a hole you at least dig out one side for expansion. Basalt is very hard and you can drill on top only and easily split it. Have done this on 36" boulders. However occasionally a virtually identical rock behaves quite differently and seem to be able to absorb the stress. In this case I try to drill close the edge and break of slices. On a large rock it can be time consuming so If I can break the top off and lower the height by a few inches so it allows me to grow plants I just take off the top few inches and cover it over.
      Harder rocks are much easier to deal with than softer rocks, unfortunately. The process is addictive and after awhile you want to crack every rock you see on the side of the road.

    • @davidsanderson8548
      @davidsanderson8548 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@cayrick Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience. I never dreamed that there would be a need for a Ten-Step Program for rock splitters. 🔨🔨🔨🔨

    • @giotto4321
      @giotto4321 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Make sure your drilled holes are created in as straight a line as possible then really ensure the feathers are all inserted (and remain) in the correct position, ie. they face their 'partner' feather directly perpendicular to the line of the crack your trying to induce. The straighter you do both these tasks, the easier it's going to be to split the rock. Good luck!

  • @ZaidAbualrob-k9u
    @ZaidAbualrob-k9u 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    on what basis the number of wedges we need, and the distance between each, and location of the intended split

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Ideally spacing around 6”, but it really depends on that particular stone type and hardness etc. a bit of trial and error is a must.

  • @Popeslash
    @Popeslash ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A boulder 3 or 4 times that size is blocking a path in the forest. What do you recommend?

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hey look into a product called Geobreak, it’s an expanding grout that is used to crack and break large rocks

    • @Popeslash
      @Popeslash ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@HardscapeCanada Thx for the suggestion! I'll have a look and let you know the results when I take it on. Have a good day o/

  • @TimeSurfer206
    @TimeSurfer206 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Rotohammer, bandaids, respirator, face shield.
    The feathers and wedges are on their way.
    I'm gearing up in stages.

  • @marks6663
    @marks6663 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    what do the feathers do? Why not just use the wedge? I see the feathers are rounded to match the shape of the hole, but why not just make a rounded wedge?

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  หลายเดือนก่อน

      Great questions! The wedges allow for pressure to be directed deeper into the stone. If we used just a wedge we’d probably find that the top of the stone would spall or break instead of the entire thing splitting.

  • @cayrick
    @cayrick 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Kev what size drill did you use and what size are the W&F's. I used 5/8" W&F's (5/8" bit)on basalt (hard) and it is like a hot knife thro butter. Rocks that are permeable or porous can deform internally and disipate the expansion stress and are ineffective. Best I got was some spalling or flakes from the rock. Now I have to decide on bigger W&F's or another way like Dexpan. What is your experience?

  • @pab913
    @pab913 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    What type of drill bit did you use

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I use a carbide tipped drill bit for SDS drills like my Hilti hammer drill I use in the video. Sizing will vary depending on the size of your wedges and feathers

    • @pab913
      @pab913 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@HardscapeCanada Thanks! Appreciate the info.

  • @fbu795
    @fbu795 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great vid but what was up with the dramatic plug-in shot? Lol

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Haha just trying to keep it interesting ya know

  • @darcyassels15
    @darcyassels15 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hi all, I’m new as it gets to rock splitting, I’ve watched several videos, the only thing I am not sure of is what is the absolute best drill bit I should be using. I have a boulder roughly 5ft in diameter, and I’m assuming it’s just a regular rock (sedimentary)🤷🏻‍♂️. The location of this is out in the forest so the only drill I have to use is the Dewalt 20v SDS Hammer Drill DCH133. I have 10 (5/8”) wedge and feathers at just over 4” long. How many drill bits should I bring along? Any suggestions? Thanks

  • @tomaud
    @tomaud 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice video. I liked it and subscribed. I have a really hard piece of stone/rock at 40 to 45 cm thick (deep) (1 1/2 ft.) that took a very long time to drill the holes into and a variety of thickness in different places which wedges with feathers can't split even that I followed the instructions seen on videos. Some of the wedges and feathers are completely in and others are barely above the stone surface and the hammer is recoiling. One of the wedges/feathers is jumping out of its hole upon being hit with a hammer. The stone is 1,5 meter long maximum (5 ft.) and 1 meter wide in its widest place (3+ ft.) while in the middle it is 80 cm wide (under 3 ft.). The top of the stone/rock has a "mountainous terrain" so to speak (variety of reliefs) so the holes were drilled at different "heights" of the stone. Are the wedges/feathers too short for this stone/rock? Can a rock/stone of various reliefs be split like this? The wedges are about 10 cm long (4") and I used 5 wedges for the stone's length of 1,5 m( 5 ft.). After drilling 5 holes I sprayed the stone powder/dust with a water stream and then drilled more into watery holes. The stone got wet a little bit. Wrong or right, I don't know. I can post photos or even a short video within the next several hours.

  • @hepburn118
    @hepburn118 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Yeah, I still think dynamite is way more fun.

  • @kerryemmerson8954
    @kerryemmerson8954 ปีที่แล้ว

    Why dont you pool water into the site. Keeps it cool so it lasts way longer with no dust.

  • @NCmtnDweller
    @NCmtnDweller 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Looked on eBay only seen cheaper Chinese junk and other styles with oring holding all together etc
    Where might a person buy some CANADIAN or USA made ones like u used ???

    • @HardscapeCanada
      @HardscapeCanada  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hey check them out right here! If you do order let them know I sent you! www.miconproducts.com/wedges.html

    • @darrinmc
      @darrinmc 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Trow & Holden also sells them

    • @cayrick
      @cayrick 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I bought a few sets of 5/8 Chinese wedge and feathers on Amzn. 7 for $30. On really hard rock like Basalt or granite they do an incredible job. So if you won't use them often they are what you want. Problem is some other rock types which are porous will deform as you drive in the wedges and will be ineffective and the boulder will chip or spall and small pieces fall off. Maybe in such cases larger W&F's such as Kev shows in his video will work or the alternative which I am in the process of testing is Dexpan expanding cement.

  • @gamegeekx
    @gamegeekx 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    There has to be a easier way when your arm gets stuck in a boulder.

    • @timothyanderson2108
      @timothyanderson2108 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Gold
      No one else picked up on that 😂

  • @ajazkarim6387
    @ajazkarim6387 ปีที่แล้ว

    ہیلو کیا حال ہے جناب امید ہے کہ اپ خیریت سے ہوں گے اپ کے اس طریقے سے کسی بھی پتھر کو توڑ سکتے ہیں میرا تعلق شمالی پاکستان یہاں کے پتھر بہت سخت ہیں کراکرم ہمالیہ کے ٹو کے دامن میں

  • @cybens1
    @cybens1 19 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I think the most important part is having a hammer drill.

  • @packard224
    @packard224 หลายเดือนก่อน

    what kind of drill bits do you use