Hammer Time

Last week found Glenn and I hammering away at this big piece of dirty granite with the machine pictured below. It is called a rock drill and runs off of an enormous diesel air compressor which is towed behind a truck. The whole affair was dusty and loud and very hard on the wrists.


Here I am trying to get Glenn to wear some ear protection which he refused.

After the holes were filled I poured in this compound called Dexpan which expands at about 18000 psi over a 48 hour period to break the rock in twine.
After the rock was demolished Connie and I took a brief respite to the South Carolina coast for some beach time with friends.


When we returned I began laying the last course of foundation brick. Yesterday I poured a slab for the chimney and today I am finally laying brick again, working the side walls up to a point where I will begin the arch.