On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:37:46 -0500, "Spike9458"
wrote:

I'm told there is a
fluid that can be used, other than water, to pour into drilled holes and let
mother nature take over during the winter months to freeze it,

Water, but use wooden wedges too.

If you use plain water, then the force is symmetrical and the split can
go anywhere. If you take a strong (high crush strength, like elm or
oak) timber that's well-seasoned, then make it _bone_dry_ by leaving it
on the stove for a day or two, then you do two things. Firstly you make
a more powerful force, secondly you make one you can direct. Pack the
plugs into the holes so that there's a gap on the side towards adjacent
holes. Do it right and you get a neat zipper between the holes. The
"wedges" should also be near-parallel and well-fitting in the holes,
except for a flat planed on opposing sides. I used 24mm, because it's
the biggest long drill I had without getting an expensive core bit.