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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
My parents have been to a garden show and seem some water features that they liked - until they saw the price! My challenge now is to try to make one :-) The feature was bascially a large(ish) rock with water bubbling up through it. Obtaining a rock is probably not a problem - garden centre will do at a push - but to get one predrilled seems to make the price jump from about a fiver to 45 quid! Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). The other thing is that this "rock" had what the seller called "a special halogen bulb" in the hole so that the water bubbled up over the bulb. According to my dad this looked like a small bulb with heatshrink on with just a couple of wires sticking out of the end. These were 25quid each... Question two: Any ideas what this "special halogen bulb" might have been? Maybe a super bright white LED would work? Dad wasn't convinced that it was a real bulb at all. I suppose one answer to drilling the hole is to make the rock - anyone got any recipies for half realistic rock mixes? :-) cheers, Darren |
#2
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
dmc wrote: Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). This would depend on the kind of rock. Most limestone is reasonably soft and ought to drill OK with an ordinary masonry bit. A nice bit of granite will be more hard work. Question two: Any ideas what this "special halogen bulb" might have been? Maybe a super bright white LED would work? Dad wasn't convinced that it was a real bulb at all. I'd have thought any low voltage lamp would do, there would be something to be said for making the connections reasonably water proof but even this wouldn't be strictly necessary. Maybe something involving fibre- optics would be effective? Nick |
#3
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
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#4
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
dmc wrote:
Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). Hi Darren, what sort of stone is this? How big is it? How long is the hole you want to drill? __________________________________________________ ______________ Sent via the PAXemail system at paxemail.com |
#5
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
In article ,
jerrybuilt wrote: dmc wrote: Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). Hi Darren, what sort of stone is this? How big is it? How long is the hole you want to drill? I don't know yet - we don't have it :-) Personally I quite like the look of slate but my parents taste may well differ! Darren |
#6
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
I suppose one answer to drilling the hole is to make the rock - anyone
got any recipies for half realistic rock mixes? :-) My mother made some cakes a few years ago - maybe I can ask her for the recipe? ROFL |
#7
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
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#8
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
In article ,
Andy Dingley wrote: I suppose one answer to drilling the hole is to make the rock - anyone got any recipies for half realistic rock mixes? :-) Try the pond newsgroups and look for "hypertufa" recipes. Oooooh. That sounds interesting. And having read up a bit looks like it maybe a flyer. Any ideas how it would cope with sitting in water all year? It doesn't sound all that frostproof. Cheers all, Darren |
#9
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
jerrybuilt wrote:
dmc wrote: Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). Hi Darren, what sort of stone is this? How big is it? How long is the hole you want to drill? Unless you have a particular rock with sentimental value that must be used, then forget it. I tried it. Any rock thats soft enough to drill won't stand up to the water. Useable rocks are incredibly hard. And recently B&Q were selling reasonable 2 rock light kits for £25, reduced for clearance to £12.99. Asda had 3 rock light kits for £15 but theirs didn't look like real rocks. |
#10
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Drilling a rock to make a water feature?
dmc wrote:
Question one: How likely am I to be able to drill a hole in a rock. Something like 15mm I guess. I have a decent SDS drill is this likely to just smash the thing up? Should I be looking for a non-hammer solution (diamond?). Rather depends what sort of rock it is how hard it might be, possibly best to try drilling with the hammer off and to start off with a 6mm drill bit. The other thing is that this "rock" had what the seller called "a special halogen bulb" in the hole so that the water bubbled up over the bulb. According to my dad this looked like a small bulb with heatshrink on with just a couple of wires sticking out of the end. These were 25quid each... Question two: Any ideas what this "special halogen bulb" might have been? Maybe a super bright white LED would work? Dad wasn't convinced that it was a real bulb at all. An LED has the advantage of never needing replacing. Possibly more than one arranged in a circle with a gap in the middle. Something like 6 LEDs, 6 resistors, some wire heatshrink sleaving and expoxy resin should cost a lot less than 25 quid. I suppose one answer to drilling the hole is to make the rock - anyone got any recipies for half realistic rock mixes? :-) Portland cement makes a reasonable subsitute for Portland limestone |
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