How can I slice granite boulders?

[Tomas Lipps <tmlipps@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Furthermore:

Slicing boulders is one thing, splitting them, another.  To actually slice
them a wire saw  is your man (or a very  large radial saw).

To split boulders (and  blocks) I  came up with a technique similar to Jason's
 using a saw with a  7" blade and wide flat steel wedges.  Except neither I,
or my blacksmith friend who actually made them, were so clever as to use auto
springs -next time I will -thanks, Jason.  Its not really necessary to saw all
around the boulder unless a really clean edge is desired. It's sufficient to
"drop" the saw blade intermittently into the boulder as deeply as possible
along the intended cleavage line with approximately 6" intervals between the
cuts (saves the diamond blade). Then pound the wedges in evenly all around
(what a beautiful ringing sound!).

Another thing I might add I learned from a  old quarryman -that you don't
pound in the plugs and feathers until the stone splits -it's better to pound
them in until they're good and evenly firm (the sound is an indicator) then
walk away and leave it. The pressure will eventually (in the case of very
large blocks or boulders -overnight!) open the stone along the intended line.
Pounding them in until it opens is forcing the issue and can result in erratic
splits.

Also I found that its advisable to attempt to split the boulder or block
exactly in half.  otherwise the resultant surfaces can end up being concave
and convex rather than straight.   Finally, to make usable building stones
 from split rounded boulders, create bedding planes perpendicuar to the split
surfaces using a sledge hammer or pitching tool (i.e. hand set) and hand
chisels.
 goodluck

Tomas Lipps
http://www.stonefoundation.org/