I have to take a quarter of a ton off one side of this block, and to do that I use plugs and feathers.
They are fitted so that all the pressure of the wedge plugs are exerted outward where you want the block to split, encouraged by a v-cut along the desired line.
You go around the wedges, tapping gently at first and you tap evenly, like tightening the head-bolts on a car.
Each tap rises in tone as the pressure increases - PING PING PING, PING PING PING, PING PING PING...
The top of the stone around the holes begins to spall with the intense pressure and makes sounds like a glutton's waistcoat buttons bursting at a banquet.
Eventually the Jurassic mud splits from top to bottom. It is a muffled but cataclysmic sound, like a dinosaur's back breaking beneath the muscle and skin.
Tomorrow I take six inches off the top.
You are a clever little thing! Hopefully, you are allowed to show us everything, including the final result.
ReplyDeleteNo confidentiality agreement here.
DeleteGreat split. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI bet you say that to all the boys.
DeleteLol chutzpah
DeleteGo figure
DeleteBeautiful description..you can hear it through your words. Can you use the offcuts?
ReplyDeleteEventually.
DeleteThis is so interesting, Tom, and you have explained it so well in words and photos. Thanks so much for doing this!
ReplyDeleteNo probs. It's something to talk about.
DeleteThat split must need a very steadt hand.
ReplyDeleteNot really Weave. It's about as far from brain surgery as you can get.
DeleteHow do you make the holes that the plugs and feathers fit into? Are they drilled or tapped? And I am curious as well about whether you can use the piece cut away.
ReplyDeleteA drill. If you can find a use for it, it's stock. If you cannot it remains stock until it is thrown away.
DeleteI was confused by the feathers until I googled it!
ReplyDeleteYes. We are wanton in the use of the word 'feather'.
DeleteInteresting. I suppose the surface is lifted the same way.
ReplyDeleteHow did you determine the amount equal to a quarter ton that was removed?
The weight can be calculated by measuring it to find how many cubic feet or whatever, but in this case I just looked at it and guessed.
DeleteThat is a perfect split. How long did it take to get to the actual split? The white inside the stone is has a lovely surface with subtle movement.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't really perfect because the far side of the block was uneven and it split unevenly. From beginning to tap the wedges to the split is only a couple of minutes, depending on how brave you are.
DeleteLesson 1 at the School of Hard Knocks: soft knocks, please!
ReplyDeleteIt's fairly painless compared to some processes.
DeleteFascinating. Suddenly I see a long line of master stoneworkers, starting from prehistory down to the beautiful cathedrals and then you making that first cut.
ReplyDeleteMost of the traditional techniques are ancient.
DeleteExcellent Tom. I enjoy watching a craftsman at work and, with your clear description, this was the next best thing.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to video it so you can hear the sounds, but I needed both hands.
DeleteSuch skill and always a beautiful piece at the end.that will be around for hundreds of years.
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the first photo on my phone screen, I thought it was a birthday cake with icing and candles !!!! 👍🏻👍🏻 XXXX
Just a graffitied lump.
DeleteFascinating - millions of years to form and yet minutes (?) to split. It is entirely beyond me how masons do their work - the cathedral in St Davids near my home is a place of particular awe when we consider when and how it was built.
ReplyDeleteMaybe God was right about it taking moments to destroy what took ages to create, except he works on a different time scale and sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between one and the other.
DeleteI need specs, on first glance I thought it was an iced birthday cake
ReplyDeleteYou and Jack@. I was wondering what it reminded me of, and now I know.
Delete