How to Get Started in Concrete Crushing and Rock Crushing

Concrete and stone crushing involves breaking down large chunks of rock and concrete into smaller, more manageable pieces that can then be reused. This process typically involves the use of a concrete crusher or other specialized equipment to reduce the size of concrete, so it is suitable for use in construction projects, like road building, foundation laying, landscaping, retaining walls, and more.

Whether you’re creating and selling recycled aggregate for your sole business, or crushing material that you tear up as part of other work, there are some key basics of concrete crushing that you need to keep in mind.

Understand the full rock crushing process

There are three general steps in the rock and concrete crushing. The first is removing and breaking up material on your jobsite into workable pieces using hydraulic breakers, pulverizers, or other demolition equipment. The second step is removing any metal from the concrete so it doesn’t damage equipment or end up in your aggregate material. And the third step is using your concrete crusher to smash the material into even smaller pieces that can then be used in other construction projects.

Within the third step can be multiple concrete and stone crushing stages to further break down your material into the desired size for specific applications and to remove dirt and other foreign objects.

Use the right concrete crusher for different stages

Employing the right concrete crusher at each stage of your aggregate processing operation is critical to your success.

Jaw crushers – This type of crusher uses compressive force to break down concrete into smaller pieces. They are available in a large range of sizes, depending on how large the pieces are and the volume of work you are completing. This type of concrete crusher works by having two vertical jaws create a V-shaped opening called a crushing chamber. One jaw moves, and the other one remains stationary; the concrete in the chamber is crushed between the two jaws into smaller pieces that then move farther down the V shape. There are both mobile and stationary jaw crusher options available.

Cone crushers – This type of crusher also uses compressive force to break down rock and concrete. However, unlike your jaw concrete crusher, these models feature a rotating cone that compresses and breaks down concrete or other hard material against the walls of the crushing chamber, instead of a V shaped jaw.

Impact crushers – Unlike jaw or cone crushers that use compressive force to break down your concrete, these crushers use impact force the smash the concrete into smaller pieces. The faster the speed of an impact crusher, the finer the material will be, but your equipment will experience greater stress and faster wear.

Most rock and concrete crushing operations use jaw crushers for primary crushing, because they excel at breaking down larger pieces of concrete directly from your demolition operation. Cone crushers or impact crushers are preferred for secondary and tertiary rock crushing, because they are effective at producing a very fine, uniform aggregate material.

Screen your aggregate

During the concrete crushing or stone crushing process, the material is broken down into smaller and smaller pieces of various sizes. The use of vibrating screens allows you to separate these concrete pieces based on how big they are, allowing you to use the different sizes for specific applications. Vibrating screens will also help you remove any debris or contaminants that may be present in your recycled concrete. By removing these contaminants, recycled concrete can be used in new construction projects without compromising the quality or integrity of the final product.

Choose the correct equipment for your rock crushing job

If you’re getting started with concrete crushing, you might not be sure which equipment will be best for your specific needs or projects. In these cases, it’s best to rely on the experts like our team at Wilson. We can look at your particular operation, what you are using the crushed concrete for, and recommend how many stages of rock crushing will be necessary, which type of concrete crusher and screen to use, and answer any other questions you have about the process.

Find the best market for your concrete aggregate

Concrete crushing can create an additional revenue stream for your construction or demolition business. Depending on the grade of your recycled aggregate, there are a wide range of markets that may be able to use it:

• Construction contractors
• Road building operations
• Landscapers
• Homeowners
• Water management contractors
• And many others!

Boost your sustainability

Whether you are crushing material to use for your own aggregate or selling the aggregate to other buyers, you will now have a new recycled resource for your business. By reusing concrete for your aggregate instead of new material, your waste concrete is no longer going to end up in a landfill and you won’t need to rely on virgin material.

If you have any questions about concrete crushing and stone crushing or need to choose the best crusher or screen for your operation, reach out to our team today!