How to open and work a crevice

[Jeff95531]

Basic yes but we're not all experts and I learned a few things. Anybody know where I can get his crevice tool?



Watch this one on sniping even if it's just to see the nuggets pop up.

 

[goldenIrishman]

Chinese blasting is an easy method to bust up rock when you can't use high explosive for what ever reason. (This mostly being not licensed to use the big booms)

All you need is a hammer and some very VERY dry HARDWOOD DOWELS. You have to be quick if working below the water line but speed isn't real important if working out of the water. You simply drive in the hardwood dowels into the crack(s) you want to bust open and then soak them with water. As they suck up the water, they're going to expand. Expanding wood is very powerful even if it's not as spectacular as watching high explosives going off.

I was introduced to this method when my sister and brother in law were building one of their many homes (They built several over the years) in San Diego. There was a boulder that was about 20 foot on each side that had to be gotten rid of from the middle of the lot. Neighbors were to close to blast it safely and they couldn't get a breaker in due to the slope of the lot. Guy comes in with a gas powered "Cobra Drill" and drills the rock in a couple dozen places. He then pounds hardwood dowels into each of the holes. The dowels were sized for a snug fit into the holes. He then soaked the entire thing down with water for a couple of hours. Once the water had soaked the dowels they expanded and broke the boulder up into much smaller pieces. Considering that no explosives at all were used, the result was impressive.

BTW.... I was out on the monthly Bean and Bullets run when ya called Jeff. Wasn't sure what time you rack out and it was late when we got back.

 

[bc5391]

Crevice Tool-Gold Mining-Prospecting-14.5"-Soft Grip-Mad Mining-Rock-Gems-Fossil | eBay
or use a oil seal removal tool
Orange U SEE IT Handle Crevice Pry Tool Gold Prospecting Pan Tool | eBay

 

[63bkpkr]

Nice information Jeff! I noticed that his pry bar was at least shaped like an Eastwing Gad Pry bar or Geologists pry bar with a small but useful right angle head on it, a good tool!! Then watching him picking up the crevice dust with his fingers was interesting but a 1" wide paint brush works much better than fingers when combined with a piece of cloth to brush the dust, dirt, small rocks and gold up onto so it can be lifted out easier................63bkpkr And the nuggets from sniping, sigh!

 

[Jeff95531]

For those interested as me, Gary said the crevice tool may be available as early as next week. Just got the "starter kit and I like all cept for no spoon.

 

[johnedoe]

That little Estwing pry bar is one of the best tools you'll find. It's light and strong, a bit pricy but you'll have it for years.....
Here's a link to some and pretty good prices too... usually that pry bar is 80 bucks +/-
Estwing GP-18 Geological Heavy Duty Solid Steel Gad Pry Bar | eBay

 

[Jeff95531]

Thanks! GMTA as I already found one for 31 (no tax @ least) but I saved it to another computer here and can't access it right now. Really respect the tool tho, and the cost. Only reason it's not on it's way is I been $pending way too much lately. I need to get back out in the woods where it don't cost nothing!

 

[KevinInColorado]

Thanks! GMTA as I already found one for 31 (no tax @ least) but I saved it to another computer here and can't access it right now. Really respect the tool tho, and the cost. Only reason it's not on it's way is I been $pending way too much lately. I need to get back out in the woods where it don't cost nothing!

Love that last sentence!