Micro blasting

[Load77]

Curious if anyone has used one of these?
Obviously it can’t blast as much as high explosives. But I was thinking the small drill holes, cheaper cost per blast could be a feasible option for the small operator.
The drilling would be faster and easier, so maybe being able to do more blasts per day, and the lower cost of operating could help offset the difference in using high explosives. Not to mention permits. Insurance, etc.

 

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[Mountaineer2020]

Apparently Oregon minds think alike. You're asking the same questions I asked. BlasterJ covered micro blasting in the ICMJ and in a thread here if I can link it.... http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/hard-rock-mining/630657-blasting-rock-breaking-8.html. Another good thread is A Little More for the Small Miner by Mad Machinist. Great discussion about tramming, blasting, mucking and equipment. I have a micro blaster and have used it but mostly to test and pop some difficult rocks out of roads. It does break a boulder up pretty quickly but from what I've read blasting a face might not go so well. Don't know haven't tried it for that purpose.

 

[arizau]

Apparently Oregon minds think alike. You're asking the same questions I asked. BlasterJ covered micro blasting in the ICMJ and in a thread here if I can link it.... http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/hard-rock-mining/630657-blasting-rock-breaking-8.html. Another good thread is A Little More for the Small Miner by Mad Machinist. Great discussion about tramming, blasting, mucking and equipment. I have a micro blaster and have used it but mostly to test and pop some difficult rocks out of roads. It does break a boulder up pretty quickly but from what I've read blasting a face might not go so well. Don't know haven't tried it for that purpose.

As for face blasting it is necessary to have a larger relief hole or several holes around the blast hole so that the blast energy has a chance to expand to crack the rock between them and not just shoot out the blast hole like a cannon. Once you have an opening then that is the relief for future blasts. You can google relief hole blasting technique for more info.

Good luck.

 

[BlasterJ]

As for face blasting it is necessary to have a larger relief hole or several holes around the blast hole so that the blast energy has a chance to expand to crack the rock between them and not just shoot out the blast hole like a cannon. Once you have an opening then that is the relief for future blasts. You can google relief hole blasting technique for more info.

Good luck.

^What everyone else has said. If you want to break into a hard face, you need to create relief. You're going to need a drill that can make ~1.5" holes at some point. A big SDS Max electric can do it, but it's slow. A Pionjar gas-powered drill works if you are drilling vertically. An air drill and a tow-behind compressor is the best, but not exactly self-contained or stealthy. You can also try expanding grout for breaking out that first wedge of material.