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Step 1
Split huge landscaping boulders with a sledge hammer, if you simply want to break one into smaller pieces. A sledge hammer works fine for this, since you just want to break a big boulder down into more manageable pieces.
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Step 2
Use a concrete saw to split landscaping boulders when you want to manage how the boulder splits. Cut a groove with the concrete saw into the spot where you want to split the boulder. Make the groove about 2 inches deep. Then, put a chisel into the slot and hit the chisel with a large hammer.
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Step 3
Know that a brick hammer is another alternative when you need to split landscaping boulders. A brick hammer is like a regular hammer on one side and has a chisel head on the other side. You can use the chisel head to split the boulder at the spot where you want it to separate.
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Step 4
Look for the veins in landscaping boulders when you want to split one. Many boulders have veins that are fairly easy to spot. A vein usually shows as a long, wavy line that is shaded differently from the rest of the boulder's color. When you see this strain in the boulder, put your chisel or your concrete saw on the vein. Boulders split easier at a vein.
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Step 5
Be aware that slate boulders have many different veins. Simply put a chisel on one of the veins, tap gently with a hammer and it will break easily.
