Hammer for pitching

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

John,
I've seen a Trow and Holden demonstration video and consider it to be just
an introductory tape. There is much to pitching stone that can only be
learned by experience. The film showed a man pitching granite. I assume it
was Barre granite which was sawed from a quarry block so the worker was
working with the grain, and able to make pitching look very easy, which it
is when the stone is properly prepared. My point is that you are working on
Italian marble, if memory serves me right, and that is very different from
barre granite.
The only white Italian marble I've split and pitched was very old
architechural grade building blocks. It had a pronounced grain that showed
up as gray and black lines. My stone was very easy to pitch and split as
long as I was working with the grain. Pitching against the grain was a wast
of time. I went straight to my diamond blade when going against the grain.
Getting a feel for how your piece of marble is breaking, and if there is a
grain to contend with is very important if you are starting out trying to
take off big chunks. I agree that a 3 pound hammer is good for pitching.
Just remember that if you are stricking your handset solidly and nothing is
happening, then watch out for driving a crack deep into the body of the
stone that will come back to haunt you later. A 3pounder and a handset are
going to break something!

The shape of the handle is also very important for a stone cutter. They are
designed to let the cutter get the maximum power at impact with the least
amount of effort needed to swing the hammer. The only way a man can swing a
3 pound hammer all day , 5 days a week is to learn how to do it with very
little effort.

Regarding splitting a boulder using a 10lb stone splitter, I'd call that
very risky business. The stone might break, or a corner of the splitter
might break, and go flying anywhere, like into (my) your knee. Boy, that
brings back old memories! I've used splitters that are struck with another
10lb sledge. Doing this will work, but you better have your best and most
trusted partner swinging the stricker because your well being is in his
hands!

Good luck, and wear eye protection.
George Graham