Rock removal for a domestic swimming pool

As a rock drilling and blasting contractor, one of the types of jobs that come up very often is helping with the rock removal for back yard swimming pools.
In many cases the job is complicated by restricted access that prevents large machinery being used and increasing land prices have caused the shrinkage of home lot sizes in many cases. Higher density housing that results in smaller lot sizes may also restrict the use of explosives as the most cost effective solution. On this job the customer requested the used of an expanding chemical cracking agent to break up the rocks and make removal possible, I found it painful to watch the small machine struggling so I put in a few shots to speed up the works.
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[@mattbolton8230]

Merry Christmas Dave and family

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Matt, take care.

[@mikoyanfulcrum1]

Cracking or blasting we love it all!! Enjoy your holidays and all the best in 2023.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you.

[@bmcc12]

The cracking thing is wonderful, but we want to see explosions, huge explosion if possible! Thank you for your input into KZbin.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Not always appropriate #12... but there is some very big stuff on the job radar. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesb9564]

Bring ‘em on Davo! Especially the high country stuff ❤❤❤

[@peteb2]

And a bloody massive Merry Christmas to you Dave from this old fart in New Zealand. You've kept my mates & me well entertained with your hard as work, especially the forest road widening project. With the lousy weather & the changing rules around black powder cannons, it's been a bit hard to get out & let 'em rip, so watching your stuff has been a good way to spend the time instead. Cheers!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Great to hear from you Pete, not good when you can't even break out the black powder cannon, too many wowsers (someone who looks to crack down on enjoyment) in positions of power

[@Wilbargosh]

Customer: I want to build a pool? Pool company: I wish I wasn’t building your pool!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

... I did hear somebody say something along those lines Paul.

[@scotthultin7769]

4👍's up demolition Dave thank you for sharing

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

No problem 👍

[@gth042]

Make sure thumbs-up is an odd number of clicks. 3 is a lucky number :D

[@scotthultin7769]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I like all your videos the rides that you hook your boring tips on for your handheld drill how often do they have to be straightened

[@rockman531]

Hi Dave, Great little video! Hope you & Blaster Girl & the rest of your family have a wonderful & safe Happy Holidays! Take Care, Jim

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Jim, you also.

[@davidmunro1469]

Thanks Dave . That goo is magic . I will try to get my hands On some and the safety gear. A little job in my basement.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes... when you get everything just right it is fantastic, Two things to look out for when buying 1/ buy temperature range of the product 2/ short shelf life.

[@longlowdog]

It looks like Australian developers and architects are just as big a bunch of chocolate 4 mm spanners as Brits. Why they never factor in future development is beyond me. If every rear garden had a minimum of 2 meters access the world would be a better place. Lawn care companies, shed builders, pool guys would all have a much better chance of doing an economical job for the clients who paid the dim bulb guys to design their home. A 5 tonne machine and operator isn't much by the hour than a 1.8 tonne but does 4 times as much work. Another great job Dave, I hope the Christmas season brings you a wee break and plenty of good craic. Regards and best wishes from Scotland.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I hear you brother, I'm getting tired of the every increasing bad access and small blocks.

[@brunomckay1875]

All the best for Christmas and New Year buddy, its been good following you for the last few years now. Take Care. Watching from Taiwan.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Happy new year Bruno, hope the local situation remains safe for you.

[@johnwood702]

Dave Merry Christmas to you, family and all your work mates.👍👍👍😊😊😊😊

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you John.

[@williambryce8527]

Dave, they really want to have a swimming pool!!

[@09FLTRMM77]

MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Few... I was wondering about that one.

[@MrYukon2010]

Thanks for all your content in 2022 Dave. I really enjoyed it. Wishing you happy holidays and see you in 2023.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Rob... might be one more video yet this year.

[@gth042]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast You spoil us.

[@gth042]

🎉🌞🍺

[@Murphyslawfarm]

Merry Christmas Dave

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Murphy, have a good one.

[@brucelott3583]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Florida

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Bruce.

[@KPutubing]

Merry Christmas Dave - from Sacramento! Always enjoy the controlled whumps that signal the end of some massive rock!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes KP, that fixed it right up.

[@timothypirnat3754]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Dave!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Tim, cheers from the land down under.

[@jimwilloughby]

Whatever that expanding chemical is, it is amazing stuff. Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year to you, Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Hi Jim, it is "Expando" - expando.com.au/

[@andrewlockwood6102]

Oooh, first to comment. Luvin the vids! Keep 'em comin'

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you like them Andrew, one more job for the year and that is it.

[@andrewlockwood6102]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast i'd be curious to see how you deal with the tricky rocks like under or adjacent to an existing house / structure. My brother in law had his place re-stumped in Coburg and just where they wanted to put a stump - sure enough - bloody big boulder. It was blasted. Do you get those sort of jobs at all? It's not all blowin shit sky high, surely? 😁

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes, sure do Andrew, a lot of old homes in that area just have a wooden foot plate that sits on the rock and stump on top of that... just sitting there!

[@jasonstalder5208]

another rippa rock removal. thanks for ya vids this year. have a good xmas and new years

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Jason, there is a few big jobs on the radar for next year so stay tuned.

[@jasonstalder5208]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast ohh awesome, we'll be watching for sure! My dad and I are from NSW and love ya work mate 👍

[@davidhandyman7571]

Blessings from Central West NSW.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Greetings David, how is the weather out there? Love to come there for a holiday.

[@ralphdeemie4916]

Merry Christmas Dave as always great show!!!!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Happy new year Ralph, check in soon lots of work and video coming soon.

[@Murphyslawfarm]

G'day Dave great video mate

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks 👍

[@frozenjoe6313]

POINTS FOR DAVE.. Performs exotic drilling while doing a 1 and 1/2 gainer from the pike position.// Gymnastics Category OLYMPIC JUDGES RATINGS ARE........ Western judges say 8 1/2 to 9. points overall.. Excellent.... Eastern European judges say 2..1/2 to 3......" We would have used 500 pound air delivered with hardened penetrator ".......... you know Dave, sometimes people just arnt going to be happy. no matter how well you do it............... You did great. very impressive.....

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for your input again Joe.

[@frozenjoe6313]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast? I am flattered. You have probably a million viewers on this channel, in a year, and out of all those people you remembered me. . Man o man, you didnt do a background check on me did you? There area lot of people with my name so dont believe everything you hear. I only did the good stuff, . If nobody threw silver at your front door tell me and I will have to stick a coin in a envelope and mail it to you....

[@peterclark7879]

Hi Dave a small excavator is better than a crow bar, pick& shovel, I often joke that my 2.5 ton excavator has a switch to turn it into a five tonner because it's the biggest machine to fit into the job. Happy holidays.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Yes, having done a job like this with just hand tools I certainly agree Peter.

[@coop_coop007]

Merry Christmas Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks CC

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

That's the way, all excavated, perfect.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks and thanks for watching Roland

[@newhampshire-bob1604]

Merry Christmas Dave! Boy, that is an expensive pool!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Bob, probably the same or worse where you live??

[@newhampshire-bob1604]

Yes, there is certainly the potential!

[@robertgeorgewerner]

A question and a comment: would stimming help with the chemical cracking goo? The comment is, "poor quality phone video" is immensely better than no video at all. Personally, I like the cracking goo videos as well as your hydraulic plugs and feathers as well as your regular plugs and feathers. Sure the explosions are fun, especially the slow motion, but I really enjoy hearing your thought process and watching you solve problems. Sort of wish I had some rocks for you to blow up.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The manufactures suggest not Robert. On the topic of phone video, this is a bit of point of contention for me as the huge proliferation of phone based video systems has really stalled development of new handicam style video products. Your phone is only so good in that it has no mechanical zoom only a crappy digital zoom that sacrifices resolution and the lenses are tiny so they have a lot less light gathering ability, not to mention the maximum bit rate for image processing and storage is second rate. I'll drop some rocks over for you.

[@gth042]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast "Perfectionist" aka "I don't want crap". I'll bet you could recommend some good coffee and beer too. If I was down there, you wouldn't need to buy either one :)

[@robertgeorgewerner]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast definitely stop by and blow them up for me. I'd try and find you something good to drink too and certainly throw some stuff on my smoker.

[@williamjacobs236]

Another great video Dave . Merry Christmas to you and yours and Happy New Year 🎉 !

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks, you too William

[@stillwater62]

Merry Christmas Dave, to you and your family and have a Happy New Year. Cheers.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you #62.

[@eddiekilby]

Merry christmas to you my friend. Let's start the new year with a 💥Bang!!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Eddie, there will be more than a few bangs next year, lots of work on the job radar.

[@kevdimo6459]

Thanks Dave another great video even on the phone mate. Don’t ya love the quick release buckets on the excavators! It’s been twenty years since I’ve worked in construction, very few of the old fellas had them then. Have a good Christmas to you and yours.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Absolutely, worth their weight in gold. Thanks for watching Kev.

[@bobjoncas2814]

....nice work, have a good one...

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thank you! Cheers Bob.

[@dennis2376]

Thank you and have a Merry Christmas.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Dennis.

[@tugboat2739]

Howdy Demo Dave

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Howdy doody Tug boat.

[@brucet8551]

another good video Dave.i hope you and the family have a great holiday.thanks for posting.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Bruce, not really having much time of so check back soon for new video.

[@insAneTunA]

Happy holidays to everyone !!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you. I like your home made antennas!

[@insAneTunA]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Thank you 😄

[@nmopzzz]

I big part of your job here description here has got to be customer education. Convincing the customer that your not some crazy dude with explosives and convincing the customer that this is not a mining site where your going to put in 50kg in each hole that will blow out the windows... :)

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The KZbin videos have been really good for that CC in that if a customer is doubtful about the safety or effectiveness I can point them to a video of a job just like theirs.

[@westvirginiaridgewalker]

I love this channel! Thank you Dave for the great videos, I appreciate them!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Glad you like them, more coming soon as there is so much work on the job radar for next year.

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Thanks for sharing Dave have a great Christmas and new year 🎉🌲

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Kerry.

[@johnnymac1580]

Happy New Year ⚡️

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Same to you Johnny, lots of work on the job radar so more video soon.

[@LostCylon]

Been watching your vids for a while Dave, (Up near Bendigo here), finally got to see one of your vids near when it was posted, and subscribed finally :) I know blasting takes some effort to get a licence, but what does it take to use the expansion mix? I imagine a chemical safety and first aid course would be the bare minimum. Just interested, not having any need for it myself. Site work you would need various cards and all I expect.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks for tuning in again LC, anybody can buy and use the cracking goo. Most of the manufactures promote it as very safe... compared to blasting that is. Main issue is the it is extremely alkaline and will hurt your lungs and eyes very easily, It also etches glass quite well! The precautions mainly apply to mixing and pouring as when it has reacted and done its work it is fairly benign. The biggest challenge for most people would be drilling the holes.

[@porroapp]

Dave, I love your daily dose of diabolic destruction mate. 💣

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Indeed! Thanks for watching Jam.

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

Hard to tell if the rock was cracking or if it was my joints.... I hate gettin old... 😆

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Getting old is a privilege that not everybody gets to enjoy.

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Excellent words of wisdom. Thank you for sharing. 😁

[@macw2234]

Very interesting process. Wish I had decent sound equipment. The cracking sound sped up might be awesome

[@gth042]

Hmm, good use for a contact mic and/or accelerometer. I like it.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

@gth042 I have had similar thoughts Monty, I have a 3 axis geophone that normally connects to my seismograph, I have been thinking about the possibility of connecting this up and recording the sound and using it with a time lapse of the rock cracking.

[@gth042]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast I haven't made a Christmas list in decades, but this would be near the top. If you need help processing/converting the signal to an audio format for some reason, I'd be delighted to help.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

@gth042 Thanks for the kind offer, I come from an electronics technical background and should be able to sort out some op amps and stuff to get it sorted... if I ever get a round to it that is.

[@gth042]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Aah, hence the practical perfectionist. I hope you enjoy the process if you get around to it. "It's for a good cause." ...Some sensitive ADCs out there nowadays available in chinamodule form - xrafancy.

[@andrewallason4530]

Great stuff to see the expando in ‘action’. Would packing the top of the holes with bluemetal chips work to prevent blowouts, like it does with explosives, or is the process to slow? Merry Christmas you and yours.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

The recommendation is not to do this, normally there is no problem, just the combination of fresh batch of Expando + no ice water to mix with + warm rocks.

[@Hutch400]

Merry Christmas Dave😊 great year! Hey....how many customers keep the broken rock?

[@gregstone1306]

Good day Dave. Can you re-drill the hole if you witness the cracking agent ejecting and reapply? It looks like it works well if you have the luxury of time. Thanks in advance.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I've tried just this Greg, can't find a quicker way of blocking the flushing hole in the drill.

[@Green_House]

Snap, crackle, pop! 🙂

[@alanmoffat4680]

At 8:59 the butterfly was oblivious to the carnage below. Thought sound waves may have buffered her.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It's becoming a common theme lately, boom and then some bug takes of for an inspection of the carnage.

[@MostlyInteresting]

I see these and think all of 'stralia is one big rocky mess. In the states its really variable. And Merry Christmas down under.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It's really variable over here also MI - I only get to see the rocky ones.

[@MostlyInteresting]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Yea fair point. There is a Walmart location in the city that they, unexpectedly, must have used a ton of HE on to cut out all the hard granite. To make a cut big enough for the store into a 50ft wall of rock. Word is mother wally was not pleased at the cost over run. :)

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Probably more than a Tonne MI, explosives are second only to oil as far as the building of modern society goes.

[@jasethesmiff5683]

Was thinking about u today.....

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

OK...

[@gth042]

Every time I microwave something explosive (like tuna), I think of Dave and cover it with rice or kale.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

@gth042 - You need a mini blast mat for your microwave.

[@gth042]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Kale does well. Encourages consumption of extra greens. Eat greens or clean the nuker... :)

[@TechGorilla1987]

If at first you don't succeed - employ high explosives. It's the Aussie way when it comes to Dave.

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Oh... 100% TG - "When in doubt, use explosives"

[@butchphillips873]

When in doubt blow it out.

[@hisham56hamilton50]

Thanks Dave !! I love your channel man ! I wounder who is swimming in the pool now ?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

As it is winter time in Aus now I would think that it would be frogs only.

[@hisham56hamilton50]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast Blast mate ! I forgot the winter in Aus. I am in Sweden near the North pole . our swimming pools are filled with Naked blondies now ..No frogs

[@Dcoool77]

Hi Dave, Great Video =) I was wondering, is the residue of the cracking agent inert or is it still dangerous to breathe in when it has "Gone off" and you are hacking the pieces to bits?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

I would not say that it is inert but after reacting it is not as nasty. - expando.com.au/wp-content/themes/expando/inc/assets/pdf/Expando_MSDS_2020.pdf

[@Dcoool77]

Thanks for the info and Merry X-Mas Dave. Keep up the good work and the wonderful videos =)=) Cheers Mate!

[@RangieNZ]

Dave, how far away does the machinery have to be, whilst loading holes?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Of the top of my head they are not allowed to work within 15m of a loading operation.

[@ChrisB257]

Love that stuff Dave - always amazes me that it stays put without oozing out the top - incredible power. Certainly gets things prepared for the breaker to get to work. Great little machine. Nice 5 hole shot. Swimming pools must come out pretty expensive! All best for Christmas and new year. :)

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

It really is amazing stuff Chris, ideally it hardens in the hole and continues to expand, in this case it went off a bit to quickly as the rock was warm. Pools are already incredibly expensive so this does not put the price up a whole lot.

[@entertenment601]

Machine ka price kitna hai

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

apane sthaaneey komaatsu deelar se sampark karen aur pata karen

[@jasethesmiff5683]

.....fans n ac's......

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Quoting Daryl Somers.

[@keithmoore5306]

i was starting to wonder if you going to get serious or keep playing around!! personally i'd shot it right off and been done with it!

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Not what they asked for Keith but at least I got 2 shots off.

[@keithmoore5306]

@@demolitiondavedrillandblast i'll tell ya Dave it seems to me if the rock is soft enough for the goop to work the breaker should have got the job done without the goop!

[@gth042]

@@keithmoore5306 (Non-expert) I imagine hard rock is more vulnerable to expansion from the inside. Flex distributes force, and from the inside puts things in tension instead of compression and shear.

[@keithmoore5306]

@@gth042 to me that breaker is putting way more force and power into it than that goop ever could hope to so?

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

@keith moore Most of the pool guy use machines in the 5 tonne range and a breaker on that size machine will usually get through this basalt with out too much trouble, the 1.8 machine was the biggest that would fit through the narrow access and it was struggling with the rock. The goop will just as easily break hard granite that the machine would not have a hope of breaking.

[@scruffy6151]

Merry Christmas Dave

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thank 61

[@alfadoofus]

Merry Christmas Dave

[@demolitiondavedrillandblast]

Thanks Chris.