How do I Split Boulders With Wedges?

Boulders split more easily when wedges are driven into the grain.

You can use wedges to split large boulders into pieces for easy removal. Boulders that are in the way of landscaping or building plans are often to heavy to lift all together. Wedges driven into the rock cause the boulder to spread apart and break into several easily carried chunks. Rock breaking is hard work, but having the right tools and technique make your efforts more efficient. Clear a large boulder by turning it into several smaller boulders using strong steel wedges.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Goggles
• Hammer drill with carbide steel bit
• 2 carbon steel splitting wedges
• Sledge hammer

Instructions

1. Clear the dirt from around the boulder with a shovel so it is free to split in all directions. Surrounding dirt absorbs some of the impact of the strikes and cradles the boulder to keep it together.

2. Search for the grain of the boulder to find the best positions to start holes for the wedges. Most stones have veins that run parallel to one another.

3. Protect your eyes with a pair of safety goggles before driving the hammer drill about three inches deep into one of the veins in the boulder. Make a second identical hole in the same vein about six inches away from the first. Widen both holes with the steel carbide bit until they are wide enough for the head of the splitting wedge.

4. Hold each wedge in place over the hole and tap them into the boulder with a sledge hammer until they stay in place without being held.

5. Drive the wedges into the boulder with powerful swings of the sledge hammer. Pull out and set aside pieces of the boulder as they break away.

6. Look for grain direction in the newly exposed rock surface to make holes for the wedges again if the boulder needs to be split more. Continue the process until you are satisfied with the size of the stone chunks.

Tips & Warnings

• Pouring water on a boulder to wash away dirt and debris will often expose the direction of the grain.

• Stretching your arms and back before swinging a heavy sledge hammer can help to prevent injury.

References

• Stone Structures: Stone Splitting Methods