Squaring Stone

[OwningGeezer]

Hi all,
I'm quite new to all this so i appreciate your help. I'm getting started on a project of mine and I need to quarry (is this the right word?) a boulder. I have a boulder on my property that I want to split into a square stone. I'm just confused as to how someone can go from a boulder to a square stone by hand. I have a rotary hammer and will be receiving some stone working tools (wedges and shims, chisels, etc.) soon. Are there any tricks for processing boulders so that it's square? (I don't need it to be perfect.) I've read up on plumb bobs, lapping, etc. but i'm still confused. Thank you!

[Joe Little]

Without any skills , you would be best to use a saw verses trying to split .

One key bit of info needed : how large is this bolder and what's your square size you
Are trying to achieve ??

[Dan R.]

What type of stone?
You seem to have researched it enough to acquire the correct tools.
There is far more to know than can be typed on a forum.

Either hire a professional on tinker away at your own pace.

The deeper you drill the holes, the straighter it will split. The closer the holes are together, the smoother the split (for the most part). Hammer the plugs in sequence & at the same rate.

Split on side at a time, for a total of 6 sides.

When you accomplish this, grinding it smooth will take the longest.

What is the final use of this block?

[OwningGeezer]

Thanks for all the replies! The basalt (also called blue rock in hawaii) I will be splitting is about 5'x18"x17" I will be trying to split it into a block that's about 17-18" square. I want to carve an usu, which is a stone bowl used for pound mochi. I felt that if i started with a square stone (the basics first) it would be much easier to carve into the bowl.

I don't think a saw will work in my case (well at least any type of saw i could get my hands onto), so I guess i'll take my time with my wedges and shims. I was thinking that i could try attaching a bubble level to my rotary hammer so the wedges make a nice split. I guess using a square, marker, chisels, and a lot of time are what it'll take to get it from split to square.

I should look for a professional stone carver. Although I don't believe it's all that popular in Hawaii. I have only seen people build rock walls using cement and cinder block houses. Nothing like the east coast. I have a feeling it's because the basalt here isn't all that amazing? I've noticed that a lot of the basalt boulder i've examined have a lot of veins. It seems like it would be a big pain in any sort of serious carving. Thanks again for the help and i'll try to keep the forum updated on my efforts!

[Dan R.]

Basalt ahould split pretty cleanly.
Very hard.
You may want tothi k about flying an expert (me) outto auper ise for a week od so. Haha.

[Joe Durfee]

You may want tothi k about flying an expert (me) outto auper ise for a week od so. Haha.

Allow me to translate:

"You may want to thing about flying an expert (me) out to supervise for a week or so. Haha."

[kevinp]

[Darryl Miller]

You may want tothi k about flying an expert (me) outto auper ise for a week od so. Haha.

Allow me to translate:

"You may want to thing about flying an expert (me) out to supervise for a week or so. Haha."

You beat me to it Joe!

[Dan R.]

Typing on my small phone with XXL fingers.

Thanks for the translation.

[scott m]

Never done it, but how about taking a 5" dry blade on a grinder and cutting all the way around the stone. Then drive wedges in to split it...........

[Ken Lago]

Never done it, but how about taking a 5" dry blade on a grinder and cutting all the way around the stone. Then drive wedges in to split it...........

Not quite that easy Scott.

[Dan R.]

Never done it, but how about taking a 5" dry blade on a grinder and cutting all the way around the stone. Then drive wedges in to split it...........

Not quite that easy Scott.

Still grasshopper!!

[Caleb]

It's far less skillful but if you're only talking about cutting 18" you could go rent a concrete saw from HD and cut about all but 5-6" of the center... then finish it off with a grinder..... just a thought..

[Mark Smith]

A diamond chainsaw would work. Not sure how much $ you want to invest in this. We have them in stock electric or hydraulic.

[Dan R.]

That is cool!!
Can they cut granite?
How big are the blades?
pm some pricing.

[graniteman]

That is cool!!
Can they cut granite?
How big are the blades?
pm some pricing.

Maybe post some pricing.

[Dan R.]

How can I get a special director deal, if the pricing is posted?

Post an SFA member price and a non member price!

[graniteman]

I'll bet member or non member money spends the same

[OwningGeezer]

I have a 5 inch wedge and shim set coming in that should be able to split it no problem. I don't think i'll need the chainsaw. I'm not so worried about cutting it. Rather I i'm worried about cutting it so that it's square.

As i'm waiting for my tools to come in i've been pondering this. I was thinking of using my drill press to drill a hole square through a 4x4 and then using that hole as a guide for my masonry bit. At least my holes for my wedges and shims would be perpendicular to the surface of the stone. Once I split the first side I was thinking of measure a set distance from the split around the whole stone, then splitting it at that point.

[Andy Ross]

Dan- are you aware of voice to text? What if something happens to durf? Who will translate?

[Dan R.]

Andy, I am still in rail posse mode when it comes to tech.

OP, no need for a guide for your drill bit. All that will do is create a hassle for stone dust to exit the the drill hole.

[Mark Meriaux]

Precision drilling won't have a profound effect. The stone will tend to split along natural clefts.

Basalt ahould split pretty cleanly.
Very hard.

If you are needing a precision-cut size, then you should oversize the piece slightly and plan on grinding the faces flat to the final size.

Once you get your shim/wedge set, practice on other rocks or the opposite end of the piece so you can get more comfortable with how it will split. Drilling more holes closer together and keeping even force on the wedges will yield the best results.

[OwningGeezer]

Hi everyone,
I figured i would update you all on my progress. I uploaded three photos: two of my splits and a third of where i'm currently at. Right now i'm trying to level the bottom of the bowl. I figured once that's done, I can flip it over and work it from the top down.

On a side note, does anyone have any good literature on granite/basalt carving? I'm trying to find it online, but most of the stuff i find deals with making rock walls or carving soap stone.

[ChrisGraham]

Please take no offense to the following comments. But you took the time to split a rather large rock? and are going to take the time and have the want to... to carve it into a bowl shape form? If when your you are done you want to continue to do more I have a job opening here in Kentucky.

[ChrisGraham]

I think what you are doing is bad ass BTW. Look at a rock and make it into something that its not. This is what we do every day. Kudos to you.