Channeling through rock

just do it

So I've hit a sheet of rock in the middle of a drain. It's about 6 ft long and I want to get down 18 inches. Track machine can't shift it. What's my options?

cjpm

just do it wrote: »

So I've hit a sheet of rock in the middle of a drain. It's about 6 ft long and I want to get down 18 inches. Track machine can't shift it. What's my options?

A rockbreaker.... The hint is in the name! ;-)

Once the digger is big enough she won't be long bursting it.

cjpm

A dozer with ripper won't work because you are in a drain. Nothing else is economical due to the small depth of cut. How big is the excavator you have on site?

just do it

I was just looking at them on Google images. It looks like they're just an attachment for the machine. 13 ton track machine.

_Brian

Rock breaker is your only hope at this stage. Bigger one they can get the better as weight is everything.

Lots of lads hate them on their machines as it's hard work.

ganmo

They're hard on juice but it's the only job.
What type of rock is it?

Reggie.

Can't go around it or is that out of the question

Greengrass1

A load of DYNAMITE

Reggie.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

A load of DYNAMITE

Be some width of a drain then

Milked out

The digger might be a bit small for the job but if you're going breaking it you could break out as much as you can and use it as a stub road for a paddock or 2 as the digger is there, depending on the type of rock

Suckler

Greengrass1 wrote: »

A load of DYNAMITE

Gelignite was the stuff of choice around here for a long time.

Reggie.

Milked out wrote: »

The digger might be a bit small for the job but if you're going breaking it you could break out as much as you can and use it as a stub road for a paddock or 2 as the digger is there, depending on the type of rock

I'm surprised that a 13 tonne couldn't manage a rock that size. We managed to pull one out of the ground something similar size when building the house. Now I'm sure it's probably deeper in the ground or something

onyerbikepat

if a rockbreaker can't be got, would a consaw work? You'd have to step down in steps to get to 18". Maybe leave the cuts 6" apart and drive wedges in to break the rock to the side. Tough work but I've done crazier.

Milked out

Reggie. wrote: »

I'm surprised that a 13 tonne couldn't manage a rock that size. We managed to pull one out of the ground something similar size when building the house. Now I'm sure it's probably deeper in the ground or something

When he mentioned sheet of rock I assumed there would be a bit more underneath, that's always the case here. We put in about 600 of roadway from shale type rock here, there was a handy bit jutting out at the surface but a fair amount more underneath. Other than that it's boulders we hit which the digger can shift when draining normally get a 20tn machine here

TITANIUM.

Had a very similar problem here with a drain running to a swallow hole.
Digger operator couldn't shift the rock and wouldn't go at breaking it.
I went old school, dug around it ,set a fire in the hole, heat the rock as hot as you can. Throw a bucket of water on it and attack it with the sledge.
Abit of hardship alright but I got the job done.
All that being said unless brute force and ignorance is your forte get a rockbreaker.

blue5000

Op I'm a bit surprised that the lad on the digger hasn't suggested/got a rockbreaker.

freedominacup

blue5000 wrote: »

Op I'm a bit surprised that the lad on the digger hasn't suggested/got a rockbreaker.

I'm not.

onyerbikepat

I'd say all that vibration does damage over time to all joints, engine etc.

Reggie.

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I'd say all that vibration does damage over time to all joints, engine etc.

It can make bits of a machine

grizzlyadams

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I'd say all that vibration does damage over time to all joints, engine etc.

Maybe if it was in a quarry working 12 hr days , 6 days a week etc etc , most machines only do a bit now and then , I've never seen one that has been damaged over time due to rock breaking , I even did a bit y'day :-) as it happens digging a drain

severeoversteer

get the biggest rock you can find and drop it on it from as high as the track machine can lift, that's what I do to reduce sizes of boulders when im on the digger

have done it hundreds of times

Limofarmer

severeoversteer wrote: »

get the biggest rock you can find and drop it on it from as high as the track machine can lift, that's what I do to reduce sizes of boulders when im on the digger

have done it hundreds of times

You can't be serious . I seen the scars after my neighbour from home tried that . Rock shattered came through the window and he ended up having surgery to save his eye and has a terrible scar from graft to side of his face .

I think this is where farmers need to use common sense with health and safety .

grizzlyadams

severeoversteer wrote: »

get the biggest rock you can find and drop it on it from as high as the track machine can lift, that's what I do to reduce sizes of boulders when im on the digger

have done it hundreds of times

Unbelievable Jeff..............!

severeoversteer

get en experienced operator not a person who hasn't served their time on a 360 machine

Limofarmer

My neighbour was well experienced and had done it many times . He is probably 30 years on machines and was sure he knew what he was doing ..

Reggie.

Limofarmer wrote: »

My neighbour was well experienced and had done it many times . He is probably 30 years on machines and was sure he knew what he was doing ..

It only takes it to go wrong the one time

just do it

blue5000 wrote: »

Op I'm a bit surprised that the lad on the digger hasn't suggested/got a rockbreaker.

Well the area I need to carry water through had an electric cable to a house sitting close to the surface. I'm assuming the machine that was on site at the time 10 years ago was unable to rise this section of rock. The drain I've just dug was through a lawn to carry water away from a section of the tarmac yard that floods. It was dug with a mini-digger that couldn't shift the rock.

Local knowledge and the fact the electricity wire was left sitting so high leads me to believe a track machine wont shift it. However he hasn't giving it a go yet so I was just doing some research ahead of his arrival . Neither nor I are optimistic he'll shift it hence the query.

grizzlyadams

just do it wrote: »

Well the area I need to carry water through had an electric cable to a house sitting close to the surface. I'm assuming the machine that was on site at the time 10 years ago was unable to rise this section of rock. The drain I've just dug was through a lawn to carry water away from a section of the tarmac yard that floods. It was dug with a mini-digger that couldn't shift the rock.

Local knowledge and the fact the electricity wire was left sitting so high leads me to believe a track machine wont shift it. However he hasn't giving it a go yet so I was just doing some research ahead of his arrival . Neither nor I are optimistic he'll shift it hence the query.

Post a pic ?

just do it

grizzlyadams wrote: »

Post a pic ?

No need. The plan is to try rising it with the track machine and if (when) that fails -> rock breaker.

Reggie.

just do it wrote: »

No need. The plan is to try rising it with the track machine and if (when) that fails -> rock breaker.

Then you can be JUST DID IT

Good loser

I've seen rock deepened with a ripper - a one tooth (long) narrow bucket.

just do it

Good loser wrote: »

I've seen rock deepened with a ripper - a one tooth (long) narrow bucket.

Do you mean a channel cut through it or pushed down into the ground?

Mac Taylor

Jdi, how did you get on? Mac

just do it

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Jdi, how did you get on? Mac

Will know by Saturday. Lining up one or two other bits and pieces to justify having the track machine here

Had a bit of crack though using the mini-digger on Monday evening. I've more respect for my man's "eye" for heights and levels after. Having never operated one before it took me ~2hrs to dig no more than 10-15m! Admittedly it was the section in the lawn, there was a curve, and I was digging up against the kerb. Very jerky at the start but a few days at it and you'd get the hang of it. My wife and 5yo daughter were having a good auld laugh at Daddy outside at play

Reggie.

just do it wrote: »

Will know by Saturday. Lining up one or two other bits and pieces to justify having the track machine here

Had a bit of crack though using the mini-digger on Monday evening. I've more respect for my man's "eye" for heights and levels after. Having never operated one before it took me ~2hrs to dig no more than 10-15m! Admittedly it was the section in the lawn, there was a curve, and I was digging up against the kerb. Very jerky at the start but a few days at it and you'd get the hang of it. My wife and 5yo daughter were having a good auld laugh at Daddy outside at play

Mac Taylor

just do it wrote: »

Will know by Saturday. Lining up one or two other bits and pieces to justify having the track machine here

Had a bit of crack though using the mini-digger on Monday evening. I've more respect for my man's "eye" for heights and levels after. Having never operated one before it took me ~2hrs to dig no more than 10-15m! Admittedly it was the section in the lawn, there was a curve, and I was digging up against the kerb. Very jerky at the start but a few days at it and you'd get the hang of it. My wife and 5yo daughter were having a good auld laugh at Daddy outside at play

Have used a mini digger a few times not very successfully!!!! Would not like to be in a tight spot with one:D At least the wife and kids enjoyed the show!

Reggie.

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Have used a mini digger a few times not very successfully!!!! Would not like to be in a tight spot with one:D At least the wife and kids enjoyed the show!

Its easier to drive a 12 ton than 3 ton would you believe

blue5000

just do it wrote: »

Will know by Saturday. Lining up one or two other bits and pieces to justify having the track machine here

Had a bit of crack though using the mini-digger on Monday evening. I've more respect for my man's "eye" for heights and levels after. Having never operated one before it took me ~2hrs to dig no more than 10-15m! Admittedly it was the section in the lawn, there was a curve, and I was digging up against the kerb. Very jerky at the start but a few days at it and you'd get the hang of it. My wife and 5yo daughter were having a good auld laugh at Daddy outside at play

Jdi you should have got a rock breaker on it and hired it for a week;)

just do it

blue5000 wrote: »

Jdi you should have got a rock breaker on it and hired it for a week;)

. Mammy mightn't be in house when I'd come back in though!!!

Reggie.

just do it wrote: »

. Mammy mightn't be in house when I'd come back in though!!!

Every picture off the wall

kay 9

If that rock is 6'x18" approx, a 20 ton machine will have no difficulty moving or removing it. No need for a breaker unless it's bedrock which it could very well be in a drain. Let us know how ya get on

Farmer Pudsey

Get the loan of a jack hammer or a fairly big kango:rolleyes:

A week to ten days should do it

gctest50

splitter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks40-3MNxGY

gctest50

set of feathers n wedges - bit more affordable :


Item location: HELSTON, Cornwall, United Kingdom

£45.00 Approximately EUR 56.37 - might be shte though ?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Plugs-and-Feathers-Stone-splitter-Boulder-Breaker-5-feather-10-wedges-14x130mm-/171398991954?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item27e82d1052

Upstream

What sort of rock is it? Is it a shale type that will break up easily or its it tougher than that, could you try hitting it a few bats with a sledge to see what happens (don't forget the goggles) or has that been tried already? If it's not too bad the kango of firing it to crack it might be an option.

Good loser

just do it wrote: »

Do you mean a channel cut through it or pushed down into the ground?

A channel cut through it.

The Letheram

Just on a digger operator refusing to use a breaker. I would have no problem withbthe extra charge for it, but if any digger operator refused to use one he would be back up on his low loader pronto and out. They are there to do a job and thats it. We don't refuse to do difficult calvings or walk away from mastitis etc just cos the going got tougher and I wouldn't expect them to either.

kay 9

The Letheram wrote: »

Just on a digger operator refusing to use a breaker. I would have no problem withbthe extra charge for it, but if any digger operator refused to use one he would be back up on his low loader pronto and out. They are there to do a job and thats it. We don't refuse to do difficult calvings or walk away from mastitis etc just cos the going got tougher and I wouldn't expect them to either.

Out the gate with him. Get someone that respects being asked.

td5man

The Letheram wrote: »

Just on a digger operator refusing to use a breaker. I would have no problem withbthe extra charge for it, but if any digger operator refused to use one he would be back up on his low loader pronto and out. They are there to do a job and thats it. We don't refuse to do difficult calvings or walk away from mastitis etc just cos the going got tougher and I wouldn't expect them to either.

Why pay 10k for a breaker and not use it?

Mycroft H

gctest50 wrote: »

set of feathers n wedges - bit more affordable :


Item location: HELSTON, Cornwall, United Kingdom

£45.00 Approximately EUR 56.37 - might be shte though ?

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Plugs-and-Feathers-Stone-splitter-Boulder-Breaker-5-feather-10-wedges-14x130mm-/171398991954?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item27e82d1052

Plugs and Feathers absolutely work. Hard work but they didn't have rock breakers back in the day...

just do it

td5man wrote: »

Why pay 10k for a breaker and not use it?

I'm presuming he doesn't own it!