Rock excavation is a necessary first step in many large scale construction projects. The process clears away solid rock to make way for foundations for buildings and dams. It can also be used to remove undesirable rocks from a given area.
Depending on where a given excavation is taking place and what the surrounding area looks like, different tools and techniques may be necessary. The industry has developed a wide array of excavation tools to meet this need, and some of them are honestly pretty awesome. Today, we take a look at the coolest tools used for rock excavation.
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The Rock Saw
The rock saw is a circular saw blade that attaches to excavation equipment. It is commonly used for cutting concrete or asphalt, but can also be put to use to cut natural rock. The blade rotates at a high speed, allowing it to cut smoothly and precisely through whatever it’s been set to work on.
Rock saws are available in various sizes and can be angled to cut in directions other than straight ahead. Many are built with reduced vibration and low noise levels as a priority, so as not to disturb those living nearby.
The Skid Steer Saw
A subcategory of rock saw, the skid steer saw has the ability to create a trench once it reaches its cutting depth. This high powered unit allows the excavator to remove long sections of rock all at once, rendering it a more efficient tool in many situations.
The skid steer saw is extremely powerful and can be put to use on such hard materials as rebar, granite, basalt, and asphalt.
The Rock Grinder
A rock grinder is a rotary tool used for tunneling, mining, trenching, and demolition. This cylindrical attachment is arrayed with a series of teeth that bite into and churn up the rock to be excavated. These tools are great near gas lines or in other places where it’s critical to keep vibration low. They can also be used underwater.
The Concrete Grinder
Although they sound similar, the rock grinder and the concrete grinder are actually quite different. Concrete grinders are designed to make concrete surfaces either grittier or smoother, depending on which attachment is being used. A concrete grinder may also be used on wet concrete. When the concrete to be ground is dry, however, a vacuum attachment is used to siphon away the ensuing dust.
The Hydraulic Concrete Saw
Hydraulic saws are favoured because their motors produce less noise and are cheaper to maintain than their gas or diesel counterparts. Although they are slightly less portable and deliver less weight over the blade shaft than gas powered saws, the hydraulic saw is certainly a good choice for any project that’s going to be done in a populated area where disturbing the peace is a concern. It’s also a great way to put a check on the budget of a project.
No doubt about it—when it comes to cutting rocks and concrete, there are some amazing and powerful tools from which to choose!
