Wedges

[Richard Emmans <r_emmans@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everybody,

I do a lot of splitting with wedges. I have tried
wedges I had made myself to whatever design I thought
best. Eventually I settled for plain wood-splitting
wedges you can get at any hardwarestore or builder
supplies. To split the easiest is to cut all around
the stone with your angle grinder and tap at leat two,
better four wedges in. If you can't turn the block
around just cut as far as possible and tap in wedges.

It helps to have a round steel bar underneath the
block where you want the stone to break. The bar
directs the force from the wedges in the correct
direction. A good sledge hammer quickens the process,
but you can do it with your regular hammer as well.
So far I have split sandstone, marble and granite with
this technique. I prefer feathers and wedges with
granite, but in any case it's a grand feeling to hear
the sound of the hammer hitting the wedges become
progressively higher and sharper to suddenly dull down
and sound hollow. Lovely sound!

Enjoy splitting,
Richard