AusBonsai

Petra wrote:I remember reading somewhere, first thought here. But it was said that runing over with the car broke it down. I would think lay it out flat put a board on top and drive over it a few times. Might work.

yea, that would work, the problem is it would probably work to well, it would probably turn it to dust instead of a grit.


jamie

Bretts is the one that crushes it by hand.
He has tried most methods I think and found the hammer works best.
For me I gave up on Scoria, except to line the bottom of the Bulb pan pot to stop the diatomite running out. the 10mm stuff is about the right size.

now I do not worry about trying to use it as substrate component

Ken

Husband has been thinking about rock crushers, he can probably do it too, will probably need industrial sieve, such as used by geologists, to sort into size.
Actually the most reliable producers of 2- 3 mm grit that I have found is our ant colonies. What they bring up from below is just a lovely size. Only problem is that they object to me collecting it, have to be fast with a long handled broom..

Bretts wrote:I've crushed up some before and it is no fun. I have been looking into making a rock crusher. I have looked at the commercial industrial size ones and I am not sure I can replicate that. I am thinking something like a cement mixer with big lumps of steel to crush as it turns. Finding a way to sift out the crushed rock at the same time is where I am stuck.
Maybe you have some ideas Jamie?

I am not so sure a blender would work though?

Way to bring up an old thread, but...

That's an awesome idea Bretts! In answer to your question, why not get some 5mmx5mm square gal welded mesh and make up a hatch for the opening on the cement mixer. Add you 12mm scoria close the hatch, run it with your steel ball suggestion, then simply tip it over like you were pouring the cement, only the 5mm scoria will fall through the mesh. Tip it back up add some more scoria then continue.

The hatch would just need a latch to stop it swinging open whilst pouring and fixed on the other side with a hinge welded or pop riveted to the barrel.

Howdy,
Having used the gravel from ant nest in the past, some thoughts and hints.
Ants put a chemical on the nest to stop seed germination, this makes it good to stop weeds if used on the surface. The same chemical will stop root growth when used in the soil.
Ants put a chemical on the nest to make it water proof, this will stop the soil staying wet if used in a soil mix.
To collect ant nest gravel use a long handled shovel sprayed with insect spray. Use a bucket with a good lid, a nappy bucket is good.
When you seal the bucket spray in lots of insect killer spray. Leave sealed in the sun for at least a week.
Wear enclosed shoes and long pants well sprayed with insect killer spray.
I now use a commercial mix and try to use my time to style rather than fiddle with soil mixes.
Happy bonsai,
Bruce.
Don't forget, all welcome at Bimer this Saturday for a demo by Lindsay Bebb.

Hi Mitchell
I could just tip it out into a sieve but I was trying to think of a way that once the medium was small enough it just fell out as you go. I may have mentioned it above but I still wonder why large scale operations don't utilize some sought of mechanical sifter. That would be a simple build. One of the last times I was at Ray's I noticed one of the workers sifting away at his big pile of bonsai soil with a standard sifter. That's a big job

I am with Bruce on this at the moment I am concentrating on using the mediums available that need minimum sifting instead of the medium from local landscaper that needs alot of work so I spend more time working on the trees instead of sifting.

Scorio must be out there in the size we want but I still haven't found a supplier?

Bretts wrote: Scorio must be out there in the size we want but I still haven't found a supplier?

The folks that supply Buzzings with the "Special order" landscaping grits, do scoria in smaller than 15mm, I think only 8mm. Buzzings don't have it in those lil' display grit carts, but it is pictured in that companies brochure in store. I rang them and they will do bulk 8mm. Forget the name though, i'll try and grab it.

Thanks Mitchell I reckon 8mm is ok for stuff growing out but I would love to find some more like 2-7mm.
Hmm Grant seemed to have some in his soil test

Yeah i'm after 2-7mm also...