Breaking up basalt rock with Expanding Grout

How do you break rock when you are unable to use the excavator mounted hydraulic breaker and explosives are definitely off the table? One good option is to use an expanding grout product. First you must drill lots of holes in the rock, mix up the expanding grout (in this case I used Expando), pour it into the holes and wait a few days before ripping out all of the broken rock.
Please hit the like button and subscribe, that really helps.
Don't forget to follow us on Face Book and Instagram:
/ demolitiondaverockblas...
/ demolition.dave.blasting
www.demolitiondave.com.au

[@rodrod383]

I love your content and the youtube algorithm loves comments so here is a comment 🤠

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Rod, I see over and over that the algorithm hates my blasting content. Consistently the videos that are evergreen and continue to be promoted are the ones that do not have any explosive content. The algorithm sucks+++

[@TrevorDennis100]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I am amazed that Google would weight the mystical algorithm with any criteria other than making them money. They need to get creative and sell advertising to coffee and energy drink companies, with catch phrases like 'Start your day with a BANG!'

[@rainegunnari4147]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast pppö

[@joenicotera2991]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Since you are a Brit, you may want to consider using a little thermite on that regulator. It's cheap, never explodes and fairly child proof. Just select 80% of your Aluminum from the coarser options, add 2% charcoal, with a nice even 50-50 mix in the blender, pack the mix in the hole an follow the top with a bit faster and very well mixed of 60% rust with %40 fine powder for the top. All of your UK, fans will be fascinated with how cheap a rock breaking experiment can be.

[@Dumb_Furry_UwU]

Bruh you need more attention just for the sake of finally convincing rich preppy folks to actually respect the people BUILDING their whole country. Instead of just wanting to be rich and spoiled and not wanting to get woken up 😢😢😢😢 awww imagine having to WAKE UP. So sad I feel so bad for them.. But Yeah! Angry rant aside I love your content bro you do important work and i respect that!! 🩷

[@ramosel]

When I bought my mountain house, there was a "leftover" rock that had been shifted from somewhere under the house and left there for 20+ years. A Geologist said it was 32+ tons of granite. It was too close to the back of the house to blast. No one wanted to move it as it could have gotten away and rolled 400ft down the mountain into some homes below. Six hours with a big excavator with a bull-prick did little. So we used Dexpan.... the hardest part was drilling all the damn holes in granite. We poured it, tarped it, weighted the tarp down and by dinner time we were hearing it cracking. End result was I got 30 tons of cubed granite I used on a lift wall for a road I built behind the house.... and the big rock is no longer an eye-sore. Expanding grout is an amazing product.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It is an amazing product and I like to allow the customer to drill a few holes if they are concerned about the cost of a project and want to save a bit of money - not very often that I get a lot of holes! Thanks for watching and contributing.

[@ramosel]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I had to rent an Atlas Copco Jack Hammer and a self contained trailer/compressor big enough to run it. I had to buy 2 rock bits... I was sore for a week. I'd gladly pay for the equipment again... but next time, I'll hire someone to do the drilling. That was F'ing brutal.

[@alphaexcavation]

That excavator operator is top notch! He cleans up his work area as he goes and he is as gentle on the machine as he could have been while still doing a difficult job. Well done. 10/10!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Agree, a little to gentle maybe.

[@ohasis8331]

A couple of minutes watching that last guy work, it's plain enough to see why he's your favourite operator.

[@richwielechowski5191]

Developer should send the whole row of home owners on an extended vacation and let you use some fairy dust. Dave, thanks for taking us to work with you.

[@sirtiberius1083]

I have a feeling it would disturb the fence

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Great idea Rich, I could have had it all out in a few days.

[@rodneymayfield3352]

digging out the rock is like watching a house of cards fall, pick the right rock to move and the whole pile collapses

[@kellijackson8012]

I’m just an old lady but I love these videos and wish I had learned more about this kind of work when I was younger. Thanks for posting these and sharing your work.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

You are so welcome Kelli, thanks for watching and contributing.

[@damirnedzibovic7074]

It's nice to have you back, Dave!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks, it's good to be back.

[@AusFlip]

Thanks. I bought some expanding grout about 20 years ago. I couldn't get it in Australia and had to buy 20kgs from the USA. Need more, glad I found this video so I could find an Australian supplier. I don't want to try to remember how much the stuff sent from America cost me.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Best of luck!

[@butchphillips873]

I love that thump the hydraulic splitter gets out of the rock when it lets go. Thanks for another ripper vidio.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

You bet, the best thing about this compared to the large jackhammer driven plugs and feathers is that they don't get stuck.

[@davidhandyman7571]

Beauty, Dave's back.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Oh yeah.

[@porroapp]

Good to see you well Dave! Thanks for another fantastic video. I get so much mental health benefits from your videos watching you blast, and dig rocks out. Honestly it's a form of therapy for me. Thank you again and keep up the good work!

[@djdeaf13]

Thats alot of Expando! Glad you got all of the excavator action in this video!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes! 775Kg all up.

[@Damicske]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast almost a tonne

[@johannesfiftyeight9287]

With all that stone in the ground, I have to wonder how in the hell they sunk the fence post to build that fence!

[@Damicske]

core drill :)

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

They did not sink the fence posts, I wonder how the hell it is standing up.

[@Damicske]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblasthu what, hooooow? so much questions now

[@gth042]

Anchors is my guess. Kinda like how a lot of things could be built {Sam Kinison voice} "instead of removing all the rocks just to put some back".

[@johannesfiftyeight9287]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblastThanks, I did notice it move a bit with the nearby stones...

[@pewpewwithtodd8077]

That was really cool, I had never heard of that expanding goo stuff before, and that hydronic splitter reminded me of a tree root slowly breaking the rock, but instead of years, it was moments.

[@paulsto6516]

Good show! Thanks for taking us along.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for coming Paul.

[@WowCoolHorse]

it's so good to see someone actually use proper PPE to protect against silicosis

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yeah... for sure, I go to a lot of trouble with this, shame more people do not take as much care.

[@sal-1337]

ywnbaw

[@robertayers9424]

A few days before this video, I was in need of some rock breaking. I started going through the videos and then you gave us this one. I've watched it 3 times now I believe, all because I like a happy ending! Enjoy watching how you treat the rock and watching the dig out! Thanks for the education and entertainment! I wish I had audio looped together of the rock cracking. I find it soothing.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I'm glad that you enjoyed it Robert.

[@vsvnrg3263]

i noticed paper with a piece of rock on it a couple of times. is this to remind you when you filled the holes?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No, this is the Expando MSDS that come with each box, gives some emergency treatment advice in case you get some in your eyes etc.

[@odc43054]

What a load of goo! I looked twice to make sure that was Kev, right as you thanked him. It’s been a while since he’s been on a video as your assistant. It must have been great to have a hand pouring all that stuff!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes, it has been a while, Kev is only available on Saturdays at this time.

[@charleswelch249]

You definitely have a talent for breaking rocks. Seems like a lot of Australia is covered by basiltic lava. You never need to worry about running out of work mate.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Only some parts of Aus.

[@Hutch400]

"Breaking News" Daves got another great video!!!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you like them!

[@pete_ski]

Nice to see you back at it Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Indeed, more blast video coming soon.

[@cosmopezzolla996]

This is a way to look forward to Monday! I've been waiting for a be video, glad you're back..... guessing you've been busy! 🍻 cheers Dave, great job!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

More to come soon Cosmo.

[@brianpatrick9480]

Glad to see you again. Thanks for the video

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in and commenting.

[@bobbaer869]

Welcome back Dave and a great video 👍👍

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Bob.

[@paulcooper9135]

The Expando is amazing stuff! Watching the hydraulic breaker is mesmerizing! Seeing the big iron ripping the rubble out great too! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you enjoy it Paul.

[@lancer525]

Bloody good job, Dave!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks.

[@GStone-jl1ov]

Brilliant your back greeting's from Wales uk

[@cyberhornthedragon]

thank you for the video dave good to see it !

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in.

[@dleland71]

Watching those boulders 'POP' with the hydraulic splitter is almost as much fun as the explosives!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It is #71 If you like the splitter, you will like this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKnl6hqjdt_rcksi=eBOrO5fW-eNeUcDD&t=920

[@jaykay3080]

I could watch broken rock being ripped out all day 😁. Thanks for the bumper episode.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Me too.

[@johnd7129]

Glad to see you are safe and well. Excellent entertaining video.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you enjoyed it John.

[@noelwest8234]

Great job and awesome video as always.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for the visit.

[@rockman531]

Hi Dave, Good to see again! I'm betting you've been very busy! That one cranky homeowner put you to work for a couple of weeks. Amazing how the goo reacts to hot rock! Glad you're being extra careful in the heat! Great video as always! Thumbs up! Stay safe. Jim

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Jim, the guy was a bit unhinged and there was no pleasing him. we had a few 38,39 degree days in this job, too hot to do what I do so I'm glad the the Expando can not be used in this temperature range.

[@richdillon2157]

Hey Dave, Another great video, You sure put a hurt on those rocks. I hope all is well. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Sure did, it would have been got to be able to a time lapse video of it all cracking up but the cameras would have been stolen in 3 minutes out here.

[@DulishusWaffle]

I've never heard of such a grout! That's sweet!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It's so good!

[@lughomorain]

Love the videos, keep up the great work.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks, will do!

[@johnbrown-rm8kc]

Awesome work !!!!!!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@dennisryan7487]

LOved the Video Dave! Keep Em Comin!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks! Will do, the next one is in the making.

[@jasethesmiff5683]

Pick n sledge get thru that. Good to see u. Enjoy the day

[@HenryLoenwind]

The breaking is nice, but what intrigues me the most is the existence of those rocks. It is so alien to me. We don't have them here because nature does the same expando-magic each winter.

[@HANKTHEDANKEST]

Eastern Ontario here and yeah, we've got tough stuff around (granite in the high areas) but most of the "rocks" around me are old seabed, and you can work that stuff apart with a twig just about.

[@RogowskiBubba0864]

Thx Dave, greetings from the Netherlands 😊

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi there!

[@joemonks3161]

The noise from this site must have been a nightmare for those on the other side of that fence!

[@peterclark7879]

Hi Dave, as usual your work is everything it's cracked up to be.🤣🤣

[@amandagardner565]

g'day Dave, i've been thinking you must be busy or on holidays. another great video.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I am!

[@Travis_22]

Love the videos, bro 👍 Respect from UK

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in Travis.

[@Travis_22]

​@@demolitiondavedrillandblastMy pleasure. Gonna watch the whole thing now with shitty hail blasting against me windows 😂👍

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Turn the volume up Travis.

[@Travis_22]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast 😆

[@michaelkelly8955]

Just love that rock pop

[@insAneTunA]

Another cracking job ! 👍

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks.

[@bottomlands]

When I was building houses, I'd tell Karen next door that "no one complained when we were building your house" lol.

[@aquaseafoamcrayon1739]

🤣🤣🤣

[@GARDENER42]

That's what I was thinking.

[@einfelder8262]

I thought the same - live and let live for a week or two. But maybe they had a small baby which would change things - it would for me.

[@thebackwardpointinggodwit8080]

I think they were objecting to the vibration and damage to foundations rather then the noise. Noise would,not have been much different either way.

[@petergraphix6740]

@@thebackwardpointinggodwit8080 Yea, the vibrations can carry a long distance with a lot of power. We had a D10 ripping limestone just a little over 100 meters away from our house and there was one particularly hard layer than when ripped felt like the dozer was in the room with you. When you get a layer with high seismic velocity and low levels of discontinuity it can really carry energy a long way.

[@GARDENER42]

What's on the pieces of paper - Expando information?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

This is the Expando MSDS that come with each box, gives some emergency treatment advice in case you get some in your eyes etc

[@nineteen-sixty-nine9373]

Your a rockstar mate!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks... I never thought of it like that.

[@leonmarut7092]

good job dave

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks

[@ChrisB257]

Lot drilling - lot of rock - lot of Expando!! Some good results though nuisance with ejections. The hydraulic is certainly fascinating to watch... such huge and impressive force. :)

[@horsebee1]

We used a similar method in the 1980's to take out a foundation in the city but rather than a mixed liquid product we used a plug which was the same size as a plaster gel plug called "silent explosive". We dropped the plugs into a bucket of water for five minutes then into the holes and walked away, 15 minutes the foundation broke up.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I have never heard of this one HB.

[@scruffy6151]

What a pain in the back side.

[@josephastier7421]

Trenching along a footer, fantastic idea.

[@senyaw53]

A lot of holes in that one Dave. I guess that is why there are bluestone quarries at Wollert. Good job in the end. There will be more work when they start building houses.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Groan...

[@sproket168]

I've been in the industry for a while. Never seen this product. Ill remember this

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

expando.com.au/

[@user-wu7sn7ml7v]

Thanks Dave Every method you use is granite surgery😂 I always enjoy your videos. The hydraulic splitter sounds like breaking candy😂😂😂.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you like them! If you like the splitter, you will like this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKnl6hqjdt_rcksi=eBOrO5fW-eNeUcDD&t=920

[@markmayer2029]

Nice to see it is cooling off down there, so you can do some rock work. It is warming up here in the states, so I can start splitting some boulders tomorrow. We just got a foot of snow. As usual, thanks for entertaining video. Mental note to self- don't come back in my next life as a rock bucket. Always nice to see the fence flex, makes you wonder how they got the posts in. Cheers.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The posts were not "in".

[@montanadan2524]

Nice work Triple D on a big job. Do you have control of crack direction with the power spliter?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes, to a large extent, but the rock does not always comply. I have 3 of these splitters so If I drill a line of holes and use all three, there is good control.

[@Tomhohenadel]

Great to see you again mate. Have missed your videos. How’s the weather. Be safe

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Weather has been all over the place Tom, had a few 38 - 39c days during this one and had the heater on Two nights ago.

[@williambryant5946]

Great video! 👍

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks William.

[@Murphyslawfarm]

G'day Dave great video mate

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks 👍

[@glenjamindle]

Could you cork the top of the holes to stop it from ejecting the expando?

[@billdoodson4232]

I'm always impressed by how well that "goo" cracks the rocks, when left for a couple of days. Would love to know how it expands sideways and not just out of the hole. interesting chemistry I think.

[@joewee]

Same! @Demolition Dave- how come you don't have to plug the holes? I'm shocked it expands "out" so much more than "up"

[@gwharton68]

Never seen a hydraulic rock breaker or expanding grout, but they sure works great

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

They sure do #68.

[@drewcagno]

Do you think dropping a little dry ice into the holes to cool the rock down might help?

[@ronchappel4812]

Interesting! I'd never heard of this before

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It has been around a while, probably at least 30 years.

[@anthonyjohnson100]

Would this expando work for breaking basalt 12’ deep for ceptic tanks here in Hawaii? We have to use a hydro hammer on a large excavator to dig through the solid basalt and it is really hard on the machines.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Short answer is yes, however it is not remarkable in applications where you have to make a blind hole like a septic tank excavation as the rock has nowhere to move, once you have a free face it will be OK.

[@marklundeberg7006]

I love seeing that nose picker excavator tool.

[@tda2806]

That "neighbour" probably had to put up with noise for longer with your drilling and multiple visits from the excavator than if they had just let the breaker work for a day whilst they went to the races!

[@leospear]

The problem with the jackhammer is not just the noise, that can be drowned out, the problem is the vibrations/impacts going into the rock that will travel through solid earth and cause vibrations in buildings. I'm sure the neighbours are pleased that the construction company are kind enough to hear them out and bring about another solution. Imagine if you were in that situation and got ignored? Not cool.

[@HenryLoenwind]

@@leospearAs someone who had to deal with vibration damage from the utility putting in new underground power lines under the sidewalk (in sandy ground!) two years ago, I second this.

[@sdfglkjhdfkjdhldskfj]

Do you ever rotate the hydraulic splitters 90' for a second go in a different axis?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

yes, for sure. It is a hit and miss though, seems to work best if you withdraw the wedge as soon as the first sign of a crack appears and then rotate 90 degrees.

[@jimmeh213]

Love that blue stone. Part of Melbourne's history it is.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It is, must have been hard work splitting all of those blocks 150 years ago.

[@gusgone4527]

What happens to those chunks of rock afterwards? I imagine they are a valuable commodity for people building with natural materials. (One more for the logarithm.)

[@chuckvoss9344]

an amazing amount of work to build a house.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Oh yeah.

[@TyphoonVstrom]

Don't worry- developers seem to make decent profits. Everyone in that row of houses gets to pay for those rocks.

[@brittonbowen7474]

What does a job like this pay/ cost ? Thanks for filming!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

A lot more than it needed to.

[@YerluvinunclePete]

The foundation of those houses is on that same outcrop. They're close too. If they broke all that rock up with a big breaker it would have shook them apart..

[@richparker7778]

Dave, who is the manufacturer of your hydraulic wedges ? I always enjoy your content. Thanks for sharing.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Xaimin ProDrill - www.prodrillrocktools.com/product/hydraulic-rock-splitter

[@MichaelHolloway]

an Octagon split with the wedge splitter! how rare is that?

[@hank5655]

Dave the job was very big challenge and having to put with a pain in the A@@ neighbor he must be the kid who held on to a fire cracker as a kid!! Hey how hot does the cracking agent get when it the highest? Really enjoyed the video

[@tiredoldmechanic1791]

Expensive job.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yeah... could have been bashed out in a day or Two with the big machine fitted with the breaker.

[@allanseidel5070]

Is Expando a mixture of aluminum powder, sand and portland cement?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It is mostly Calcium oxide.

[@gtipp10]

What are those fence posts founded into? They must be drilled into the basalt.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No... good luck is all that is holding them in place!

[@gregjames2150]

Dave. Love your Chanel. Why don’t we see more of the hydraulic wedge splitter? That’s fantastic.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

There are several other videos on my channel that feature it's use Greg.

[@Tjousk]

Indeed

[@moethorpe998]

I have a question, is it better to drill with one drill size or is it better to use a smaller size than going up a size like they do in metal work?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

This pilot hole technique does not work with a rock drill.

[@moethorpe998]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I am a simple Wee Man. I would like to know the reason behind why a pilot hole technique wouldn't work in Rock

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The rock drill bit will always jam, believe me.

[@markmayer2029]

You can pilot hole say an 1 3/8", then go to a 2 1/2" reamer bit. Going from an 1 3/8" to 1 3/4" will drive the bit too quickly, jamming the bit in the hole . Even a 40 ton excavator would have a hard time pulling the steel. Usually ends up bending or breaking the steel.@@moethorpe998

[@ReadTheShrill]

How well does that Expando work on safes? (Asking for a friend.)

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Not well, too slow.

[@sirskidney7998]

Hey Dave! Great to see and enjoy another of your videos. So.....as a homeowner do you tolerate a week of the hammer or three plus weeks of drilling, excavating, drilling, excavating, drilling.....Looked like a nasty job and heaps of hard rock but that Expando is the ^#*t!. Many thanks for taking the time to film, edit and upload this job.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hmmm... the drilling is a lot louder than the hammer, but the vibration of the hammer sends people on a bender after a while.

[@maxmacdonald7174]

Beautiful

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@scotthultin7769]

474 👍's up demolition Dave the most explosive man on KZbin thank you for sharing 🤗

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for watching.

[@Mike44460]

It must be extremely expensive to build in Australia. Is this the type of terrain you run into all the time?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No, only in a few areas.

[@marcoallin]

do see pockets of mineral specimen sometimes?

[@marcoallin]

i saw a couple, could be valuable n them

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

This is vesicular basalt, it has air pockets inside (vesicles) sometimes in these air pockets you see white crystals.

[@marcoallin]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast calcite im guessing , we rarely see inside big boulder like that, i love your video

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼……………………………………………………………….I’m always amazed how well the cracking goo works.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Me also.

[@MrDhalli6500]

Makes me wonder how that wooden fence is standing up, it's not like that rock stopped at the fence line.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It was only just standing up.

[@reese8752]

Neighbors… that’s why I own the vacant lot next door.

[@TrollinCrazyRussian]

very cool

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks.

[@jcaddy881]

What type of rock is this stuff dave?

[@trx4ever]

Breaking up basalt rock with Expanding Grout

[@bottomlands]

Read the video title?

[@markmccoy1512]

Is there a limit on how deep you can drill when using expando?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No.