UHF
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| Digging a hole in limestone
I need to dig a hole 30" x 30" and 4-5 feet deep. The problem I've encountered is that there is only about 6 inches of soil in my yard, then it's limestone. I've spent over three hours and have only gotten down 12 inches. Some of it breaks up pretty easily with a digging bar, but the deeper I get the harder I have to hit it to break it up.
Any tips? I can't get any large equipment to the area. My uncle said to try drilling holes with a hammer drill and dump some hydrochloric acid in there, but I think I'll pass on that idea. |
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cdru
Go Colts
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join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | If it's solid, a jack hammer or just a cold forged chisel and sledge and a LOT of work for a hole that size. A masonary saw also may be possible but you'll probably need to start off with a larger hole and work your way down with each pass. |
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Pacrat
Old and Cranky
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join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to UHF
Flagpole foundation? I've used both methods... sledge and a "star" drill, and a big ol' jackhammer. Neither are "good" choices, but the jackhammer is probably the speedier of the two. The best choice is to get someone else to do it for you... like, for a couple of cases of beer and a steak dinner. 
--
I was born at night... but not last night! |
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cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT | reply to UHF
Look for a construction/demolition company. There are DIY demolition kits but they are probably more expensive than hiring someone. |
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robbin
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join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX | reply to UHF
You say you can't get any large equipment there. What is the access like? How big of gate etc? Is the ground steep or fairly level? |
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Mark910
Premium
join:2002-04-21
Dayton, OH
clubs: | reply to UHF
Go rent an electric jack hammer and spend a few hours busting rock. Return it and spend a day recovering from the jack hammer. |
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LazMan
join:2003-03-26
Angus, ON | reply to UHF
If the stone's pretty solid; are you sure you need to break it up, rather then using it for a foundation for whatever you're doing?
Which, of course, brings up the question of - "what are you doing?"
Laz |
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robbin
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
| said by LazMan  :Which, of course, brings up the question of - "what are you doing?" I would guess that he is installing a communications tower and that is the hole for the foundation. |
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mityfowl
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX | reply to UHF
You would be amazed at what you can do with an electric jack hammer and a shovel. Also where they can get to.  |
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UHF
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| reply to robbin
said by robbin :said by LazMan :Which, of course, brings up the question of - "what are you doing?" I would guess that he is installing a communications tower and that is the hole for the foundation. Bingo.
Access is tough, it's up a hill, and there is a retaining wall that blocks access, and a tree half way between the wall and the house. On the other side the deck is in the way, I can barely squeeze a riding mower with a 42" deck through.
I have something going on almost every weekend this summer, so finding the time to actually work on is another problem. And I've reached the point where I have nowhere to go with the rock I'm digging out, so I need to find some time to haul it away. |
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drjim
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join:2000-06-13
Torrance, CA
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| One of my radio buddies used to go mountain-topping all the time for the VHF contests. He always carried a Makita electric "Demolition Hammer" with him, and a supply of anchors made from some kind of steel bar. He could drive the anchors right in to the rock, and most of them are still in the ground on the more popular locations here in SoCal!
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One man's Magic is another man's Engineering. |
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HRM
God Bless America
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join:2002-02-03
Darien, CT
clubs: | reply to UHF
I'm pretty sure heat/water combo shatters limestone. If you start a fire in the pit, and quench it, you should find the next xx inches to be easier to get. |
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bkjohnson
Premium
join:2002-05-22
Birmingham, AL
| reply to UHF
I've seen walk behind backhoes or excavators at some of the rental places around here that possibly could work for you. An example is in the following link. »ontario.domepac.com/vehicles/ad-···568.html |
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Rxdoxx
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Middle River, MD
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| reply to HRM
said by HRM :I'm pretty sure heat/water combo shatters limestone. If you start a fire in the pit, and quench it, you should find the next xx inches to be easier to get. Interesting heat/cold to crack it. Limestone is used in blast furnaces so it can take high heat, I'd assume ice water to quench it for as much shock value as possible.
Don't know how helpful this will be but vinegar could be a thought. Acids dissolve limestone and Acetic Acid should.
I'm not suggesting dissolving it away, but I'd consider drenching it in vinegar if I was done working on it for a couple of days. Maybe it will penetrate some cracks and make the next attempt at busting it up a little easier when you get back to it a couple of days later.
Just theory, I don't really know, but I'd be trying anything I could think of if there was a chance of it helping.
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LazMan
join:2003-03-26
Angus, ON
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| reply to UHF
I would be tempeted, if the rock's that solid - to drill some rebar into it, anchored with epoxy, then pour your mounting slab on that - unless the tower has a foundation section that needs to be burried.
I'm far more familar with working with granite, rather then limestone; and we routinely use the granite as a foundation (with rock bolts, or other anchors) for towers and poles; as well as pouring foundations directly on it...
Laz |
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HRM
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Darien, CT
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2 edits | reply to Rxdoxx
said by Rxdoxx :said by HRM :I'm pretty sure heat/water combo shatters limestone. If you start a fire in the pit, and quench it, you should find the next xx inches to be easier to get. Interesting heat/cold to crack it. Limestone is used in blast furnaces so it can take high heat, I'd assume ice water to quench it for as much shock value as possible. Don't know how helpful this will be but vinegar could be a thought. Acids dissolve limestone and Acetic Acid should. I'm not suggesting dissolving it away, but I'd consider drenching it in vinegar if I was done working on it for a couple of days. Maybe it will penetrate some cracks and make the next attempt at busting it up a little easier when you get back to it a couple of days later. Just theory, I don't really know, but I'd be trying anything I could think of if there was a chance of it helping. Actually, that is exactly what I was thinking. It was on the History channel and had to do with how Hanibal got over the Alps and it was Heat/Vinegar combo. It seemed to work in their tests btw, much better than water.
»www.google.com/search?q=hannibal+vinegar |
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kherr
Premium
join:2000-09-04
Collinsville, IL
clubs: | reply to UHF
Hell it's the forth of July ..... get some dynamite and blame the neighborhood kids ... |
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zen1
@optonline.net | reply to UHF
perhaps you would like to try this.. »www.crowdersupply.com/betonamit.htm |
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stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL
| I have used this expansion powder before it works well if you do the prep work right. You've got to drill holes on no more than 12" centers, 6" centers are better, and they need to be about 6" deeper than the final hole depth.
The other problem is getting the chunks out of the hole some of them will require heavy equip or you will have to drill and break even more. |
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UHF
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| reply to bkjohnson
said by bkjohnson :I've seen walk behind backhoes or excavators at some of the rental places around here that possibly could work for you. An example is in the following link. » ontario.domepac.com/vehicles/ad-···568.html Interesting! Nothing like that locally, but we're in small town here. I may drive over to the city and see what the rental place there has. |
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