Chemical rock splitting · AditNow Community

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danswift
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

5 years ago

Does anybody have experience with products such as dynacem? In places where its impossible to get power and wedges don't cut it. Without explosives, options are limited but this stuff looks good and like it could work.

Thoughts and experiences please.

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sinker
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

Definitely works; we've used it for breaking out concrete in sensitive places where access and vibration/noise are problems.

Big downside is that you need to drill more holes and deeper than you would with an explosive method so overall the energy put in compared to the results you get out is much less efficient.

In a mine exploration/dig situation you will need a lot of cordless batteries and a 36v drill to make holes sufficient in number and depth the get anywhere; where one well drilled hole and a few caps would achieve the same.

And you need the cordless drill with a paddle mixer bit and a bucket to batch it. And its heavy!

Yma O Hyd....

NewStuff
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

As said - it's not the great panacea you expect, once you look into the practicalities, it's only of use in limited scenarios.

Maybe look at plugs and feathers? We've used that with good success in areas where noise from a "chemically accelerated rock dispersal" would bring unwanted attention.

Searching for the ever elusive Underground Titty Bar.

DDDWH CC

nickwilliams
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

The other thing to bear in mind with expanding cement type products is that they are a very finely ground caustic powder which is not good for the skin and you really don't want to get it in your eyes. Potentially difficult to use in confined spaces and/or anything other than near vertical top-charged holes.

derrick man
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

I’ve used it for specialist demolition operations, particularly splitting old brickwork away from concrete. Works well for that sort of thing, but in general terms it’s not much use.

pwhole
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

5 years ago

A cave diver I know used some to split boulders beyond a sump where explosives were impossible, and plug and feathers ineffective - the boulders were sort of 2m-long potato shapes half-submerged in water apparently, so quite a problem. He said it was bloody expensive, but really the only practical method for that situation.

He even developed a counterbalanced winch like a shaduf to pick the broken pieces up and move them out of the way - all by himself 🙂