Breaking oversize rocks easily

[@jaquigreenlees]

The ancient technique that still works well.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Sure does, especially when you add hydraulics to the equation - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXjCmKibj7d5qdksi=Q4LMD7Rtqb_SETk8&t=133

[@ReadTheShrill]

12:38 When a guy can play "Mary had a little lamb" on rock splitters, you know he's a pro.

[@scruffy6151]

A cracking episode.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

You are a crack up Scruffy!

[@Handleyman]

Cracking toast Grommit!

[@robertgeorgewerner]

Excellent mike for this video. I could hear all the cracking and popping. Love how well this works.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yeah, the camera is a Sony ZVE1, the sound is pretty good, it seams to have a lot of audio compression, but sometimes the inbuilt AI makes some bad decisions. My old Sony HDR-PJ790VE Handicam has the best audio of anything that I have every owned, pity it does not do 4K video. Thanks for watching.

[@noelwest8234]

I always love to see rocks broken the "old school" way. I like watching folks using feather and wedges. Best to you Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Noel.

[@AlexJBaldwin]

The pitch change in the stone as it gets under increasing stress is amazing. Then when it breaks. Good enough for the Egyptians, good enough for Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I would like to know some of the other tricks that the Egyptians knew.

[@oso9809]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Don't know about Egyptians but some say the holes were drilled then a wood peg was driven into the hole. Next add water so the wood would swell and pop the rock. In cold climates drill the hole and fill with water letting the Ice do the trick. another technique use on Mackinaw island Michigan was to build a huge fire on the rock to quarry and dumping cold lake water on the super hot rocks.

[@AlexJBaldwin]

Good old stonexlyaphone

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

I have never heard sounds like that come out of a rock before. That was impressive.

[@Token_Civilian]

And today's music lesson is from DD. He'll be playing the feathers and wedges in A Minor. Percussion is from the single jack with accompanying thuds, groans and pops from the rocks.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Sounds like a challenge...

[@maxmacdonald7174]

Cracking jokes on the job. You play the boulder well.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes.. and they were cracking jokes!

[@morrislouiseeagle7161]

Ooh old school plugs and feathers - hard graft for you Mr D but a pleasure to watch thanks for sharing this with us much appreciated

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you enjoyed it MLE

[@deanehill9730]

Easy job when you have the right gear and the time spent knowledge. Good video Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in and contributing Dean.

[@amandagardner565]

lol that broken heart shape split down the middle could be an anti-valentines day video lol. a great video Dave, and as has been said, excellent audio, we could hear the rocks talking as the strain increased.

[@richdillon2157]

Hey Dave, That sound the rock makes as it is ready to crack is like music. Different pitches and you can hear that pop. I guess you didn't know you were making music Dave. LOL... Thanks for the video, Happy New Year Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hey thanks Rich.

[@billdoodson4232]

Happy New Year Dave. Amazing how low tech can work so well.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Happy new year! These tools never ceases to amaze me Bill.

[@kevdimo6459]

Thanks for that Dave, it’s great to see your different ways of dealing with hard rock. This method is actually quite soothing to watch, listen and hear the sound of the rocks submitting the power of the feather and wedges! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@peterwalker7869]

good job. Never underestimate the power of a little hammer.

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

Today's simple machine is the inclined plane. One of my favourites! Excellent video. Loved the heart-shaped rock, turns into broken-heart-shaped rock!!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

So many people can be seen on KZbin using this tool without any grease, if they only understood the principals of the inclined plane and the roll played by friction, they would always use grease. Thanks for watching.

[@adrianianna2868]

You can hear it !! Great bits of kit. No bangers required .

[@jakepekarik7772]

😃Dave, you are a true rock master at work. Great videos and thanks for sharing your work with us.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Wow, thank you

[@thelamb288]

Happy new year, Dave. It's always interesting watching the different skill set that you know 😄. Cheers.

[@markfryer9880]

Poor rocks didn't stand a chance once Dave rocked up with his compressor, drills, wedges, and feathers. Don't show those rocks any mercy, Dave! Happy New Year! Mark from Melbourne Australia

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No mercy to rocks, this is what I am all about Mark, you should know this by now. Thanks again for watching and contributing.

[@peterclark7879]

The sound of the hammer says it all.👍👍

[@kaboom4679]

Yes it is amazing how well this ancient method works .

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It works pretty well but it does have it's limitations.

[@glennbrown1961]

Dangerous Dave playing "ROCK MUSIC" nice.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

"ROCK MUSIC" - I love it!

[@paulcooper9135]

There is something incredibly satisfying breaking rock with plugs and feathers!!! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

For sure Paul.

[@davidholder3207]

A cracking opening line Dave Dave "Lets crack on".

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼 👍🏼…………………………………………..Happy New Year Dave……………FYI , it amazes me too that rocks can be split with feathers and wedges.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Happy New Year to you too MM77. Never ceases to amaze me.

[@steenhoffmann4259]

Great work Dave. Greetings from Misery Bay Northern Denmark

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in.

[@davec7076]

Another great job - thank you Dave!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for watching Dave.

[@sirskidney7998]

Dave wins again! 🙌 Thanks for the video.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for watching!

[@dzntz1]

Love your channel, thanks for posting. Keep up the excellent content! 🇺🇸🇦🇺

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Cheers mate! Glad you are enjoying the videos. Another one has been made and will be posed soon.

[@henrydisbrowe6704]

It’s neat now I can hear it cracking

[@1957Free]

Morning Dave. I have used feathers and wedges. Since early 1970s. Still use them. I only have them for 5/8 holes. Lots of holes . On the first rock you split,I would have used twice as many . It till shocks people when I use them. They work.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

You sound like you know your stuff, they really are an amazing tool.

[@1957Free]

I found them at an old rock quarry. Took them home and showed Dad. He explained what they were. We went and used a gas powered rock drill. McCulloch chainsaw modified to a rock drill. It worked good. A couple years later a guy asked if I knew someone that could blast a rock from under his summer home. He couldn’t hookup sewer pipe because of rock. I layed under building with drill. Drilled horizontal holes. I put wedges in about 4 inches apart (100)mm Hit each wedge once all the way across. Back and forth. In the confined space it was a loud bang. The break looked like it had been sawn off. The owner thought I was the smartest man alive. I had blasting license at the time

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

" McCulloch chainsaw modified to a rock drill - that sounds interesting. I have an Atlas copco gas powered drill, not much of a drill, but if you cant get a compressor in somewhere, it will do a few holes. There is nothing quite like working under a house... ehhh.. I feel tired already. "Drilled horizontal holes" - Yeah... I know all about that this week - 3 meters deep from an elevated work platform. - but there is a good video coming soon!!

[@Dan_Hall]

Nice job Dave. I think I would have used low explosive cartridges. These work great for oversize/boulders. Drill hole space is wider (less holes drilled) and definitely separate at the crack. Good heave and low throw. No cover really needed. If low cost was the goal, then the reusable wedge and feathers is an A+. Happy New Year to you. I learn so much from your videos. Thank YOU!!!

[@andrewallason4530]

I was watching a video recently about a system in the US of micro-blasting. Seems pretty capable, but probably I’ll get an invitation to go explain myself to a judge for even mentioning it here in Australia 😂.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hey Dan, you will be delighted to hear that I have used some low explosive cartridges on a job recently.... watch this space.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi Andrew, I have seen some of these systems and they have their merits, but also some limitations. Good for the cave guys that need to enlarge some choke points.

[@precisionblastingllc8353]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Looking forward to it!!! 😀

[@remog38]

Looks very satisfying Dave (but i am not the one slogging my guts out in the summer heat 😂 )

[@pinsandscrews6459]

Having a mic on the rock to be able to hear the cracking and groaning would be awesome, except, every time you hit the wedge it would blow our ears out 🤣

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I have been thinking about doing just that... It would be better with the hydraulic wedge splitter, just have to effectively couple a microphone to the rock and plug it in the external mic input of the camera... Hmmm... Watch this space... Would have been good on this job - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKnl6hqjdt_rcksi=POo1c0Q_4bIkpLEL&t=1474

[@timothyfree6426]

Great job Dave

[@SJR_Media_Group]

Bravo... when I built the Pyramids I used copper wedges but I didn't invent pneumatic drill until much later... cheers

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

That is right, but there is good physical evidence that they used core drills and the rate of penetration, as shown by the pitch on the spiral grooving was faster than what we can do today!! Yeah, work that one out.

[@SJR_Media_Group]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Pyramids made from Limestone and Marble. Granite only used inside tomb. How they did it remains a mystery.

[@GARDENER42]

Every time you do this, it reminds me of Monty Python's 'mouse organ' sketch.😆

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Long time since i have seen that one! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGrReKyGr56oipIsi=Mm4L4DPZ7ZG7V-QV

[@williamjacobs236]

Another great video Dave .

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for watching William.

[@larrysutton6530]

I agree it's awesome what you can do with those little manual tools.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The physics of wedges are amazing!

[@scotthultin7769]

404 👍's up Demolition dave thank you for sharing 🤗

[@frankpristov9745]

love the pun and the safety tip

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in.

[@rgmolpus]

#1: Have you ever thought of using a mechanics air hammer to drive the pins in instead of using a manual hammer? #2: Have you ever tried grooving the rock between the pin holes to 'guide' the crack as you work? Even a small groove might form the final crack faster. Thanks!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

These small wegdes do not require much hammering, I have larger ones that have a hex drive for a jack hammer.

[@henkoosterhof5947]

Nice to hear the steel ,,sing,, under strain. Does it also give you an indication on the force applied?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes it does, I love hearing it tear.

[@brianpatrick9480]

Thanks for the video. Episode David Demolition and Goliath 😆

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

You should see the rock I'm working on at the moment, that might be a good name for a video....

[@ChrisB257]

Just about the oldest method in the book and love it - the power of the wedge. Interesting too is the sounds generated as pressures build up. Some pretty big-a$$ rocks there and super results. Hope you're enjoying a good summer there Dave - ''brass monkeys'' here in U.S. :).

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi Chris, a customer gave me these, I have broken heaps of rocks with them, love them! I had a look at some in China recently that were on another level - kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJiciZuGadqhm9ksi=KmKul_f6u17nqjty&t=514

[@cosmopezzolla996]

Dave, you better be careful.....I don't think the pterodactyls like your music! Great splits my friend, it's fun busting out the hand wedges sometimes! Happy New Year my friend!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Oh yeah... I have had some shockers of stuck wedges, especially the 45mm jack hammer driven ones.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

When are you going to post some video??

[@cosmopezzolla996]

@demolitiondavedrillandblast lol... yeah that's when I usually put them back away, usually with a few more dings in them 😂. Hopefully one day I can do some videos! Trying to figure out how to get some more work in the pipeline at the moment, 2024 was a bit of a slow year. Hoping for more pops and cracks this year! Cheers to a new year!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

2024 was slow for me also.

[@brockshields9336]

Love the sound of the hammering of the wedges. Quite musical. But is that a sqawking parrot 🦜 in the background, hating it?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hahahah, the bird is a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

[@brockshields9336]

@demolitiondavedrillandblast Yeah, they can be just as bad as parrots. Noisy loud mouths! I'd be screaming too, if someone dumped sulfur on my head!

[@harryjones8952]

Don’t care what your doing, just enjoying them all🎉

[@andrewclarkehomeimprovement]

So satisfying!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It really is!

[@art1muz13]

Another great job. Dave, why don't you chisel a line where you want the rock to crack at?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

That is too hard!

[@art1muz13]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast no, it's just like scribing.

[@jayh1947]

That's the first time I have heard a rock like that...................Jay

[@accxresearch]

Looks good, Dave! Are those 25mm plug.and feathers?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi, long time no see, they require a 35mm hole.

[@accxresearch]

@demolitiondavedrillandblast The even older method to reduce that boulder would be building a fire on top and tending it constantly for a week. :)

[@Ausblack]

What necessacitates a respirator for the job?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Several things 1/ hard rock contain a high proportion of crystaline silica - you really don't want this in your lungs, it slowly kills you. Although the vacuum dust extraction system works well, it does not catch 100% and as a result you would be often exposed without a respirator, this is bad is you are drilling every day. 2/ The runs on compressed air, the air that comes out of the drills exhaust is very dirty oily air - this is not good in your lungs either. 3/ small stone chips in eyes was a constant problem prior to getting the full face respirators, even when wearing safety glasses.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@10:32 - Me old lady says it looks like a heart-shaped rock, said it will look like a broken hear if ya split her right and then she went off to bed singing Nirvana. I'll see myself out.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

A heart of stone.

[@nieanderthal151]

It sounds like the wild life is cheering you on.

[@gth042]

They recognize drumming as a mating ritual. 😆

[@alexdrockhound9497]

Have you ever tried controlling where the rock splits by carving a shallow grove on the surface with a diamond saw or angle grinder? Im curious if it would work or if it would just be too little to have much effect.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes, this effective, no doubt.

[@randyhughes5160]

It’s funny how you can hear it get tight cracking and then just a thud after it cracks

[@Monkeysic]

Sounds like your splitting firewood!! What for squawking bird was that in the back ground?!?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The bird is a Sulfur Crested Cockatoo.

[@jamess5335]

I often wondered how old house and barn foundation rocks were cut. They are sort of rectangle in shape, so they aren't natural. Granite rock, but I don't see any tool marks on them, and no drill holes. They are about 9x9x36".

[@jasethesmiff5683]

Now off to sleep. Gday to all. Darn cockatoos got this video sounding like an aussie vid if i ever heard one. Just need roo's.

[@TrevorDennis100]

I had to think about 'magazine' and 'bangers'. I suspect that the word 'magazine' described a building where explosives are stored long before it was ever used to describe a publication full of pretentious clap-trap. When you started doing what you do, did it take long before you could wield that lump hammer hit after hit, without your arm feeling like it was going to fall off?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The hammer was no problem, but the drill too a bit of getting used to.

[@hmedwards3]

How big does a rock need to be before you switch from feathers/wedge to expando?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

My hydraulic wedges and feathers will break a rock at least 1.5m thick

[@hmedwards3]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I was asking how big a rock will you split with manual feathers/wedges .

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I have split 1m thick Granite with these ones, I had to really abuse them though.

[@jasethesmiff5683]

Now uncle dave.... i has a question, early on a sunday morning.... whats the mask n respirator u have when drilling? I do A LOT of such stuff of late. As well as poison spray n normal respirators dont cut the mustard. I cough my lungs up. Anyway, dm me plz. I shall continue watching. Im asking coz u da expert.... u know what an expert is 😂

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi Jason, the mask is a top of the line unit - it is a Sundstrom SR200, you can get a variety of different filters for it, for many applications. Not cheap, but very good and comfortable, I recon that I could sleep in it. When you see the WHO teams going into Ebola zones, this is the one that they use.

[@andrewallason4530]

I love listening to the xyROCKphone! 😜

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Not just you.

[@kerrygleeson4409]

You made it look easy Dave like a pro 🦘

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I have had a lot of practice Kerry, but I can't say that it is easy.

[@Jörgensmaskiner]

Blir bra krafter med 35mm kilar… jag har bara 20mm kilar men fixar relativt stora sten med dom… Vad är det för fåglar som låter när du delar sten nr2?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gultofskakadua

[@Jörgensmaskiner]

@ aha… såna fåglar har vi inte här i Sverige

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Ät invandrarna upp alla?

[@Jörgensmaskiner]

@ nej det tror jag inte… fast risken finns dom äter annat😂😂😂😂

[@ookalleoo]

👍💪

[@TheCitroenman1]

👍👍👍

[@insAneTunA]

It's been said that the Inca's used wooden wedges, and that they would wet the wood or first fill the hole with water before driving in the wooden wedges, and that the expansion from the wood slowly did crack the rock. I've always wondered if it holds any truth and if it is possible at all to crack rock with wooden wedges. Would you be willing to try that one day? Just for demonstration purposes?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I believe that this does work, so does ice.

[@insAneTunA]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I would be thrilled to see somebody actually do it. If you ever see an opportunity then I am sure that it will attract an enormous amount of viewers. I am even sure that it would go viral, because I know that a lot of history folks are very eager to see that. Just make sure that the title from the video is right. 👍

[@alfadoofus]

Crack on Dave.

[@walkabout16]

You don't have to go to jail to break rocks😃

[@russellbanfield1704]

I'll give it a crack. Hahaha.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yep!

[@MostlyInteresting]

You can tune a rock but you can't tune-a fish..............

[@jimsvideos7201]

The shooting community has prompted the development of ear defenders that block abrupt noises but pass everything else; those might be convenient here.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I have thought about this a little Jim.

[@harkbelial]

Crack is whack!! Don't do crack, kids!!! You'll end up like this guy.