How to use Feather and Wedges. Breaking rocks made easy.
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- I often use a tool called feather and wedges for my prospecting endeavors. After some negative comments about how I use them, I thought I would do a video on how to use them properly and why sometimes I don't and on purpose. Feather and wedges are tools used for splitting, breaking or cutting rocks. And can be very accurate when used right. Or can be very quickly and easily (But less accurately) break a rock open to see what is inside. This is done with very simple tools and does not need explosives or the Micro Blaster. Very easy and simple way of splitting rocks open.
_______________
Dan's website, paydirt, store, and auctions: www.danhurdprospecting.com
SUBSCRIBE BY CLICKING THIS LINK: www.youtube.co...
FOLLOW ME AROUND THE WEB AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT:
Instagram: / dan_hurd_prospecting
Patreon - / danhurd
Website -- www.danhurdpros...
Facebook -- / danhurdgold
Twitter -- / @danprospecting
SPONSORS:
Arbor Fabricating classifiers use this link: arborfab.com/Pr...
10% discount code: danhurd
Gold Stream Placer Supplies: / goldstreamplacer
Kellyco metal detectors and prospecting equipment: shrsl.com/1geay...
Olight Flashlights 10% discount code: danhurd10
Canadian Link: caolightstore....
US Link: olight.idevaff...
Links to equipment used in my videos:
Gold panning equipment:
Garrett 15" Supper Sluice gold pan: shrsl.com/2c380
Garrett Gold Guzzler snuffer: shrsl.com/2c38f
Garrett gold panning kit: shrsl.com/2c38m
Razor Back Shovel: amzn.to/2ytODrW
Crevicing tools: amzn.to/2yoNUrY
Metal detecting equipment:
Garrett AT Gold metal detector: shrsl.com/2c397
Gold Bug 2 metal detector: shrsl.com/2c39a
Falcon MD 20: amzn.to/326zZUj
Garret pinpointer: shrsl.com/2c39m
Sand scoop: shrsl.com/2c3a1
Filming equipment:
Sony HX80 camera: amzn.to/2YwAmJr
Ricoh WG50 underwater/closeup camera: amzn.to/2LTgb2p
Sunglasses with built in camera: amzn.to/31bEAnJ
USB microscope: amzn.to/2LSDk55
Larger mining equipment:
Gold cube: shrsl.com/2c3a6
Gold cube trommel: shrsl.com/2c3ab
Honda generator: amzn.to/2OwFVnH
Honda water pump: amzn.to/2LS5gGj
Milwaukee shop vac: amzn.to/2YwB3T3
Milwaukee hammer drill: amzn.to/2YzrMcR
Cobra crusher: amzn.to/3164NE3
KK8 Kiln: amzn.to/2MrRzNT
Dan's hat: amzn.to/2LU34Ou
This video is produced by Dan Hurd, Prospector, Miner, Teacher and TH-camr, as part of his TH-cam channel based on educational videos about gold mining, gold panning, prospecting, rock hounding, and mineral collecting.
#goldpanning #thefinders #findinggold
I went to an Agricultural high school and majored in Natural Resources. Sophomore year we did a segment on quarries. Our teacher was a bit old fashioned and he always called them "feather and pin". We had a museum on property that my class took care of. We did an exhibit on quarries that year and I restored a very old detonator as the show piece.
💣
U can take a battery operated grinder and score down in a straight line with your holes about a quarter to half inch and it will break in that line every time. That’s how I split my thick stones when I’m doing rock work. Love your show keep up the great content
Dan, you must have been an excellent teacher! I’ve never used a feather and wedge but I feel like I could after your tutelage.
Had to remove a motorcycle-sized boulder from an area where i needed to pour a foundation. Budget called for feathers and wedges. That boulder was a rock from Hell. Very coarse granite/gneiss. For a week we pounded on it, drilled it, split off scabs and cursed it. After trying tons of different techniques, the one that finally allowed the rock to split through cleanly was to rent a long drill bit (24-36") and drill all the way through. After that, I was able to remove that thing in half a day. It split clean and straight through the holes every time. Keep up the great content Dan; I don't always watch but usually entertained when I do.
Professor screw what people say, as a prospect myself this was a very informative and helpful video!
This is my first time seeing one of your videos, and my immediate thought is "this guy loves what he does".
Nice stuff Dan, keep doing your thing
YEEEESSSSS!!!! Another Dan Hurd Video!!!! Thank you for your excellent wholesome content!
Important lessons learned from watching a neighbour splitting large rocks
1. Before starting to hammer in your wedges, check where your drill and other tools are placed, and consider where rock is likely to move when it splits.
2. Also consider where YOU are in relation to where rock is going to fall before starting to hammer...
3. Consider where you or items you care about are situated in relation to where rock will soon no longer be...
Needless to say it was an 'interesting summer'.
Wise precautions! I’ve split rocks larger than houses and sometimes the end result is not at all what you predicted.
Hope your neighbour is okay and able to get back to "Lappin" now
@The Pervy Prepper lol I was just making up a word, shortening lapidary work to lappin'
As a kid (now 66) my old man was too tight to buy feather & wedges. We had to split rocks using scutch comb, boltus chisel and cold chisel. Scutch to mark & weaken, boltus to "dig" and cold chisel for power. Used to take hours, but that's all we had to build the sea wall. Got it done, no broken bones, plenty of whinging and whining though, 😂😂😂, and too young for beer.
Breaking rocks in a, the hot sun. I watched Dan Hurd and a, It was fun. I watched Dan Hurd and a, It was fun. Sung to the tune 'I fought the law' by The Clash. Keep up the excellent work.
Dan, don't mind the critics. I'm sure most people, like myself, watch your videos to see how YOU do things. Because your videos are inspirational! Thanks! 😃💎⚒👍
Dan I'm so glad I found your channel a while back, you are one of the most wholesome TH-camrs! Keep it up, I'm a Dan fan for life now!
thats a bummer no micro blaster and thank you for showing feather and wedges.thank you for sharing.
Great video! I found some over 200 year old feather and wedges metal detecting around a giant granite Boulder here in southern Maine. The boulder was being worked to make 10' long granite slabs for a foundation. I also detected around the foundation. Lots of hand made nails found... love your channel!
Never realized the wedge and feather technology went back so far. Interesting.
Dang everytime I watch your videos I miss British Columbia so much!!! I can see the mountains from my home in Calgary. All that gold and precious stone is so close yet so far lol. Not to mention the fishing is #1.
Hi love your chanel Dan I'm disabled so can't go out much but love watch you get gold and lo e the scenery I am in the UK and live near the sea so a veiw means a lot so your chanel is wonderful
Dan you are doing just fine. I work in an industry where I work with everything from stone, redbrick, lumber, asphalt, foam, pvc, electrical, you name it. For well over 25 years. Not once have I worked with a stone mason that worked with feather and wedges. That doesn’t mean they aren’t in the field, but I find it strange so many (4) would come out for just one video to lend their expertise.
I'm really enjoying these last few videos. Very helpful for an amateur rockhound
I like the way you go from one place to another and then give informative content on the different ways to deal with the problem at hand. Always great stuff. As to the people who want to set back and try to find fault, shine them on, keep doing what you're doing for the rest of us that will benefit from your expertise and hard work.👍
Dan you could use a chalked line, weight one end down then snap it. You could use a hand grinder like a fan suggested or chisel to score it. Always great videos.
Love the unexpected videos, thank you, Dan!
Thank you Dan for another excellent video
Thanks Dan, always enjoy watching your videos.
I went panning for the first time today and found my first flakes. All thanks to your how to videos!
I only did a few pans but it was awesome!
Dan I just want to tell you I truly appreciate the knowledge, honesty, and attitude you have and share with us on your videos. I found a passion for rock hounding and to strive to learn everything I can about the minnerals where I'm from the pacific northwest. I always get excited when you post a new video! Keep up the good work!!
I use very similar feather and wedges (rubber and the circle with mm-size looks identical, same Chinese forge?) on the gneiss in my backyard in western Sweden.
My rule of thumb is to space them 10 times diameter. My 20mm holes go maximum 20cm apart. Easy enough. Really satisfying to listen for the sounds of microfracturing when the rock starts to break, I too find myself too eager on the hammer, and not waiting long enough.
Working with foliated bedrock has its challenges in planning the direction of the holes to get more than small flakes loose. I'm envious of those that have granite to work with :)
Great video Dan!
Hiya Dan, hey I don't care what people say about your stone cutting abilities, you do what you need to do. It's kinda like fishing 🎣I've had people tell me that I was catching them wrong, I should be doing this or that. I fill my freezer and they buy catfish from me. So who is doing it right. 🤣🤣🤣
I really enjoyed watching your video, I wish I would have known that trick years ago. Keep up what your doing and don't worry about what people say.
My nickname is Catfish, and I have done it well also. I hope you and your family, have a awesome blessed day. Cya!
😺🐟out!
Mr Hurd I really like your videos I wish I had the time to do this. So please be careful and keep up the great videos.
There's the Viking Welgcome!!! Thanks Dan!
Thanks for posting Dan. We love watching and learning and you are so entertaining. You include your family. You Rock! Keep up the great videos you make.
Another great video. The feather wedge is a very cool tool. I will have to invest in some. 😊
Really wish you could still use the blaster! Great video Dan! 🤘😁🤘
I was always taught to let the tool do the job, nice to hear you got the same lesson. Nice video Dan.
I agree with what you do for your interests. I ran an eagle2 rock saw that would cut 5 feet deep and I would go out in the quarry and split stone myself for whatever i needed. I used a pneumatic drill with a 3 foot bit, 2 feet apart, then a hydraulic splitter with spacers (they looked like shoe horns) to split it. If you listen to the wedges and the rock you can tell when it will go. You're absolutely correct about going slow, wait for it...wait for it...ping!
There were a few rocks we couldn't move with the tractor in the back yard garden, I used a diamond saw and made a cut around 10 cm deep and used straight coal chisels (which busted the tip), it worked... I have since bought a hammer drill and 9/16" wedge & feather set. Lucky enough I don't have to use them at the amethyst yet, still in the weathered calcite / MnO Gossan.
I love to hear the pitch of them increase until you hear the crack and then they suddenly go down in frequency.
Thank you Dan for doing the educational videos.
Good advice about not leaning on your drill bits.
That advice goes for all cutting, abrading, or drilling tools.
Let the tool do the work, you just need to keep it steady and let the tool chew at its own own pace.
Xlint video Dan. I learnt sumpin new today! Thanks for sharing.
I think I can see the main issue with how your using the feathering wedges , See what it is , is you have gotten too famous and found to much cool good stuff, so haters who are jealous have to come out of the wood work and complain , mostly because they cant get their fat asses out of their recliners and look for stuff them selves. I mean I could be wrong ... they may actually be sitting on Sofas and not in recliners
I think You hit the feather and wedge on the head!
ahaha...my guess...recliners...lol
I have been watching your videos for about 3 days now. I love them. You do some amazing work and without drama. Stay safe and hydrated.
This was very COOL to watch. Thanks for the great knowledge and footage.
Seriously just do you man, enjoy your videos Dan, keep doing you :)
Excellent video and explanation, please create a video demonstrating how to cut the round stone for use in a millstone.
Tbh i didnt think id be too intrested in this 1 dan as i love gold content but ive found this educational and entertaining, thumbs up frm me 👍
Thumbs up Dan! I'm so sorry you get any negative comments-- your channel is fun and informative!
Thanks Dan your the best .I have watched a lot your a great teacher thank you for your videos
Thank you for the lesson Dan!
We love ya Dan, your an inspiration
I know a few places where this will be very useful , not to mention making easy camping seats and tables lol
Thx Dan
Dan you make great videos and we are all entertained! Those people who think they can do better should be like you and show us, not just tell us and think that’s good enough.
Awesome job Dan love how you will go back an show and explain things honesty up front awesome thank you
Thank you dan for the teaching lesson ! I appreciate it ♡ be safe be healthy!
I’ve used the feather n wedge for landscaping purposes and though some rock drills faster dry , using water while drilling on other types works faster and helps the bits last longer 😉
Another way I removed stone / bead rock was making a hot fire at the base and then using water ( I was on a lake ) to fracture it and it worked very well 😉
Thanks, this was my question :)
Good video. I'm tryingto break some natural stone blocks just for fitting and am having a bear of a time with it. I got some of these but now I need a hammer drill.... They're not big blocks but I was stupid and liked the look of natural stone. Would have been done with this project years ago if I just went with the manufactured wall blocks...
Haters gonna hate. Thanks for the knowledge Dan
Another awesome educational video! 😊😉
great work fam. GOLD QUAD OUT!!!
Haters are going to hate no matter what. Keep up with the great videos and prospecting.
Rented a hilti like yours that came with quad tipped carbide drill bits and they work fast, way better than the regular twin tip.
My man! Thanks for the informational video ive been wondering what those are called.
I love this video. It answered my questions.
Love the video, you never cease to amuse. Thanks!
First thing Dan you have to realize that you are a man with a great deal of knowledge. You are a teacher. You are Not an entertainer, all of those funny voices and bulging eyes distract from the knowledge that you have to transmit to us.
Dan I know how you feel. It's triple digits where I live anywhere from 108 to 120. Love the videos also who won the mats and gold.
Dan, as you already know there always going to be haters out there telling you your doing it wrong and how it should be done. One of my most hated sayings is “ if I were doing it “ it drive me crazy when someone says that. Your doing it the way that it works for you and that’s all that matters. I enjoy all your videos ( even though you find nice big pieces of gold and all I find are tiny pieces. LOL) keep up the look work.
Just think Dan,you are the first person accorded the privilege of being able to see inside these rocks
Love getting the notifications! Woo-hoo!!
I look forward to your posts all week !
That was really cool watching to split rocks with a hammer and wedge.
Always something new to learn! Thanks for sharing Dan.
I just tried these feather and wedges for the first time....they work awesome...thank you Dan!
Thank you for the upload. Very cool. I have a big rock in my way I may have a solution to now
Thanks Dan dry ice works too!!!; )
One important thing Dan, there will always be people who are hell bent on being trolls and however skilled you are, they will do there best to belittle you. Carry on doing amazing vlogs and being an all-round decent person 👍☺️ and ignore homo sapien idioticus maximus.
Thank you for another great video. God-bless you and your's.
Lovely vid found that visually pleasing
We will, we will rock it!
Thank you for this video it really helped me out
Great tutorial, thanks! I'm getting ready to split some large rocks on my property to complete a garden wall. Have the feather and wedges, now need to rent a larger drill. I'm guessing you're a fellow Canuck... what are the "rules" for splitting rocks; can one just drive up a local forest service road, find a pile of interesting looking rocks, and start splitting? I'm in south western BC for reference.
Hey Dan treat yourself to a nice carbide splitting chisel or heat treat the tip on your cold chisel. Also when you see a stone splitting on a shelf like that it's the natural fault / bedding line . You can learn to read the stones and split them on the bedding plain. Also larger stones alternate holes with wedges or even multiple empty bore holes. Keep it up guy
That was a great video Dan. Thank you!
Whaaaaaat an old prospector just told me about this! Happy to see it in action!
Beards really responding to the Sun and Mountains.😁😁😁👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Darnit Dan, you were just so cavalier with your wedges, didn't you know those rocks shouldn't be taken for.....granite! Hard rock mining is exactly what it says...hard! Thanks for sharing this informative post sir, hope you and your family are well~ PS Big chunk may have been andesite but was a little on the grey side from the video~
Great video enjoyed watching 🙂
I used to break rocks in my parents’ driveway (much to their chagrin) by smashing them with a sledge hammer. The driveway was hard pack gravel, and not concrete or cement. I found many fascinating things in rocks 50+ years ago, and I am still finding neat things in rocks. (Even more when I wear my reading glasses - getting old kind of sucks.)
A good video man
and thanks
In wickenburg Arizona
And I can use you information
Specimen prospector ✌️🙂
Another great video. You should always wear glasses when using wedges and chisels as they can shoot back out with force.
Great video Dan very informative I'm definitely interested in getting some! That'd be useful for clearing the claim
I remember the old star bits used with a hammer to match the size and feather wedges
the heat you been getting in Canada is crazy my aunt and uncle lived on the island so anything over a 100 degree is just nuts.
This is fantastic information and I am going to use this for sure but what would you do if you had super large boulders, let's say the size of a car, underwater?
As always, great content and awesome information for all! Thanks Dan!
Loved the vid Dan just thought I would throw it out there of you had just one rock to break up in a pinch. concrete wedge anchors work pretty well but you would need to put the holes like 3" apart and be patient while you tighten them down.
Mr Dan! A string and a weight will help you make a straight line! Think you can find some led sitting around or some other heavy metal to use as a weight? The straighter the better sir! Its looking good and i wish i was there with ya. Another comment recommended a cordless grinder with the appropriate discs.
Hi, most rocks (even granite) have a fabric, a mineral orientation. Your first split should be perpendicular to the fabric, after which you go parallel then right angles again and always try to use the rule of halves so that each block is splitting the progressively smaller block in half. Recognizing fabric comes from experience and also understanding the nature of the type of rock you are working. You'll have better results every time.
Is it the grain you are calling fabric
There WAS a form of feather and wedges back in the times of the Egyptians. The difference was that they would chisel out a groove with copper chisels and then use feather and plugs to split the rock instead of making drill holes for the feather and wedges. Stay cool, Dan! Hope you had a fun time on Canada Day!
Awesome video Dan👍✌
I think I see a "16" on your feather and wedge set. There's actually corresponding bits in the same measurement scale. You should be able to find a masonry bit in a 16 out there. Makes things easier!
Honestly I think you might be on to a little somethin here Dan. If the feather and wedges really make it that easy to crack these granite boulders (which you seem to have an ample supply of XD)
I think you had the right idea trying to find a purpose for them once they're cracked. If you even wanted you could polish the face of some of those you've cracked open (once you shore up the drill sites, probably with a diamond grinding machine. Or diamond sawing the hole sites completely off.) Then all you have to do is get some sort of buffing attachment for your drill and polish the face. I betcha that with the right buffing compounds you could even get stones that look like this 14:51 to look like a countertop.
I hope you like the idea as much as I do, although I'm sure that in order to monetize it you'd to take a few detours from you prospecting path, but if you're in need of some sick stovetops for your campsites maybe you should look into that buffing attachment, probably made with leather for the first rub with diamond paste sold at Cabking.com. I betcha want a super low grit like 220 actually is pretty cheap like 5 bucks a syringe. And then maybe felt for the second coating where you'd probably be talking about cerium oxide.
Hi Dan love your videos