removing boulders

T

treasurefindr

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Feb 5, 2006
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I have the opportunity to work on a project this summer that involves cleaning out a potential "glory hole". The problem is that the area is in a bowl. Very steep canyon walls on both sides, tall waterfall on one end and a geologic upheaval "about 15 feet" on the down stream side. Boulders as big as vw bugs.
Blasting is not allowed. Area is too steep to even get large equipment into. Any suggestions?

I was thinking anti-gravity device but i can't remember where to to get one.
 

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Dang you could always fish it :wink:
 

you can try a winch hooked to some type of basket device that you drape over and partially under the boulders to move it. I know its worked for others in the same situation
 

Stryker_FO said:
you can try a winch hooked to some type of basket device that you drape over and partially under the boulders to move it. I know its worked for others in the same situation
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If you can dig part way under it, then lift it with inflatable air bags. Try http://matjack.com or other similar industrial air bag companies for ideas on that. I've done similar things with tractor inner tubes with rubber mats laid over them, but not related to prospecting. It might be less a matter of removing the boulders than to lift them enough to brace them while working underneath. Or shift them over out of your way, work the area, then put them back.

F.
 

A come-along, cable, and lots and lots of blocks (pulleys). All I've ever used. Its slow, but be patient and above all else be extremely careful! It's real easy to get hurt doing it. There is a book out there called Miners Boulder Winching Handbook, its very small, only 10 pages, but it covers all the math you'll need for winching boulders. Its put out by IJS enterprises. copyright 1986, reprinted in 1990.


Move rock 2.jpg
 

As Jeffro said come a long is the best bet. You can never have enough snatch blocks (pulleys) in my book Don't have the catalog with me here but A&B prospecting out in Mesa Az. has a ready made steel cable sling. Mine cost around $60 bucks (I think) used it to pull large rocks out of a ravine in california, was a lot safer than what I'd been doing prior. Couldn't find a safe place to tie off so used the draw bar on the jeep. Funny thing was I was using the come a long for about half an hour before I thought Hey stupid why don't I just pull them with the jeep?!?! Sun must have got me that day :P If you can't find A & B let me know & I'll PM you the info when I get to my catalog.

Oh! the around $60 price I quoted you is from memory and about 10 years ago, might have gone up a bit?
 

i agree with the comealong idea. sounds like you have a long trip into this area so the least amount of equipment you haul in and the lighter it is the better. id use some chain link fence as a wrap for the boulders. its cheap and lasts a pretty long time. and then a good comealong or better yet one of those big hand operated winchs(i forgot the name of it)
 

I've used and seen others try to use those cheap comealongs with little 1/4" diameter cables from china, that I shiver at the thought of anyone accidentally buying and trying to use one for something like this. The OP did say:
Boulders as big as vw bugs.
Click to expand...
and I don't think I'd be recommending anything with less than a half inch cable to winch that with.

I have an old cast iron comealong with about a 5/8" cable and I don't know if that would do the job without help.


F.
 

If you look in the above pic, thats the size of that one. You see about 1/4 of it sticking out of the water. Yes, you need thicker cable for the mainline, but after the pulleys, you can do the actual winching with a standard comealong, just remove sections as you winch them up.

Like I said, its slow, but it works.

And yes, you're right, always use rated equipment for what you plan to move. The book I mentioned has weight ratios, cable tolerances, etc. for figuring that stuff out.

Here's the same boulder, 1/2 sticking out of the water. We built a coffer dam to help displace some weight.

I can't stress enough, like the above poster- its VERY important to use rated equipment. A snapped cable can take your leg clean off!
 

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I watch a website relating to off-roading and one of the things that seems to happen a lot, is people getting stuck, using their winches and failing to drape a coat, or old blanket over the cable while winching. Has to be one of the simplest things to do for safety's sake, but so many just can't be bothered, or don't know any better. I drove tow truck many years ago, (before hydraulics became popular), and even then I knew enough not to do dumb things with cables under high tension.

I was thinking that maybe I should drag my old comealong out of hiding and shoot a picture of it. Its been awhile since I last used it and its in serious need of a grease job, but its a mean looking old thing that needs a good 4 foot length of pipe to operate. I think I'll have to add that to the bottom of my to-do-list before this coming summers prospecting/nugget hunting trips.


F.
 

Absolutely Correct! Equipment selection is very important the Chinese comalongs WILL fail. If buying a new comealong you have to look at them with the fact that YOUR body parts are going to be in the mix. I have seen a tow truck driver break a J hook off the cable. Put a nice crease in his cab & broke the back and side window. The only comical side to it was watching him chase a van across a large parking lot.

The chain link fence sounds like a great idea! But the sling I mentioned was bought with my body parts in mind. It's a lot easier to carry just drape it over your shoulder or over the top of your pack. Doesn;t snag on everything you pass by.

The other thing we haven't mentioned is you can buy a well built comealong & go to home depot or other building supply and buy some larger dia. / capacity cable. Thimbles are a buck or two. Crimp sleeves are a buck or two. The crimper is 24 or 25 bucks.

A very valid point was made, people kids dogs etc need to be kept at a safe distance
 

Large plastic barrels work fine and are very durable. Chain or cable can be attached easily without damaging barrels. They can take a beating and no need to patch. The 50/55 gallon size work well. The large holes make it easier to fill with air from your compressor (260/263?). For large boulders maybe 3/4 barrels. Used barrels can be found very cheap. No need to completely lift rocks. Just lift enough to be able to slide the boulders. Normally you move material from one wetted part of the stream to another part of the wetted stream. The weight of the volume of the displaced water is about what you will be able to lift or float.

Good Luck!
 

Good of you to point this out Functional. Snapped cables are dangerous!

I like the float idea too. Just enough to move the rock.
 

If you are going to be a serious dredger and move huge rocks there is only one safe pulling device to use, it is called a GRIP-HOIST, There are several different ones, they are pricey but safer. I have moved rocks much bigger than VW,s both on dry land and in water. I have also used the winch on a articulated 4X4 CAT log hauler but they are kind of rare! Big truck snow tire chains work well for wrapping around rocks, 22" truck chains using two of them work very well. A griphoist used with snatch blocks and a gas rock drill to drill anchor bolt holes will move big ones, it has a shear pin like an outboard motor so you do not break the cable.
Check out this link and when you find an old beer can under your big rock you will know I was there first.
http://tractel.thomasnet.com/viewit...access/griphoist-tirfor-tu-series-?&forward=1
 

What Jeffro said and a chainsaw winch...You'd be surprised at what you can move!
Luck to ya!
~Nash~
 

I was thinking on your problem and thought why not make and use a gin pole device? You have plenty of trees and the more pulleys you use the more effective it would be. You wont be able to lift it but you may be able to slide it over. They are simple to build and you could fit all the rope and hardware in a couple of duffle bags. Take a chain saw nad make the poles out of a couple of stout trees down there.

Ian
 

Ian, not everyone knows what a gin pole is.
I have used them in putting up towers but someone else brought it.
Maybe you have a link to show folks?
 

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