Using Crackit: Storage & Precautions

Storage and packaging

Crackit ships as four 5 kg moisture-barrier bags inside a waterproof 20 kg carton.

1. Even in sealed bags, long storage in humid conditions can reduce performance. Keep cartons dry and use stock within a year.
2. Never stack bags directly on the floor — palletise and store in a dry warehouse. Properly stored product remains effective for about 12 months.
3. Open bags in a low-humidity area right before mixing.
4. Reseal partial bags tightly after use and use them soon. Once opened, moisture exposure can weaken the powder.
5. Reject torn or water-damaged bags — moisture may have already activated the mix.

On-site handling

• Wear safety glasses, rubber gloves, and a dust mask in enclosed spaces.
• Stay clear of filled holes for 2–3 hours — splatter or blow-outs are possible in hot material.
• Store dry and mixed material away from heat sources.
• Match the product grade to your measured hole temperature.

Tips for better results:

1. Pour steadily and agitate the slurry so no air pockets remain in the hole.
2. Fill to within about ½ inch of the surface — not overfilled.
3. In summer, pour early morning or evening when the rock is coolest. Hot material increases blow-out risk.
4. Shade filled holes with tarpaulin or wet hay in direct sun.
5. On very hot days, chill mixing water with ice before adding powder.
6. Some contractors add extra water on certain materials to stretch coverage — test first on a small section.
7. Measure both air temp and material temp inside the hole — they are often different. Don't guess. Tie a string to a thermometer and lower it into the bore.
8. In winter, 1% calcium chloride can be added to the mix.
9. If powder in a hole has dried without cracking, add water to the filled bore.
10. Never mix in glass jars, metal cans that narrow at the base, or any container that could shatter under pressure.
11. Never pump Crackit under pressure.
12. Hand mixing takes longer and increases blow-out risk — use a mechanical paddle when possible.
13. Above 23°C material temperature, add ~150 ml extra water per 5 kg bag.
14. Clear drill cuttings from every hole before filling.
15. For marble, drill to 95–98% of block depth.
16. Need faster results? Add more holes, closer together.
17. Standard mix: 1.5 litre clean cold water per 5 kg powder.
18. Stir continuously to prevent lumps.
19. Pour within 10 minutes of mixing.
20. Cover filled holes with tarpaulin in direct sunlight.
21. After 2 hours, a little cold water in the holes can accelerate cracking.
22. One 5 kg bag + 1.5 L water ≈ 2.68 L slurry — enough for ~11 ft of 32 mm hole.
23. Shelf life is 1–2 years in dry storage depending on humidity and temperature.
24. Every site is different — a short test break on your actual material beats any generic chart.

Safety on site

1. Use Crackit only for breaking rock and concrete — not for any other purpose.
2. Crackit becomes highly alkaline (pH ~13) when mixed with water. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water; seek medical help if it contacts eyes or mucous membranes.
3. Wear safety glasses, rubber gloves, and a hard hat during mixing and filling. Use a dust mask in tunnels or poorly ventilated cuts.
4. Never pour Crackit into bottles or cans and leave it — pressure can rupture the container.
5. Keep your face away from filled holes for at least 3–6 hours. Blow-outs are most likely when material temperature exceeds chart limits.
6. Protect holes from rain and direct sun with tarpaulin only — not heavy coverings that trap heat.
7. Do not use hot water for mixing.
8. Mix no more than one 5 kg bag at a time.
9. Confirm you have the correct grade for measured temperatures.
10. Keep product away from children and animals.

Field notes

1. For ledge work, Crackit plus a hydraulic hammer is often the most economical approach — holes can be spaced wider.
2. Underwater demolition: build a cofferdam, pump the area dry, fill holes, wait 15–20 minutes for initial set, then flood again if needed.
3. Crackit must go into drilled holes — pouring into existing surface cracks won't work.
4. Safety glasses for everyone in the work zone; hard hats and steel-toe boots recommended on active demolition sites.
5. Holes in sun or near running equipment read hotter than air temperature — measure in the bore, not with a weather app.
6. Cold weather, hard rock, or wide hole spacing all extend break times. If nothing happened overnight, wait — pressure keeps building for 24–28 hours.
7. Steam rising from the bucket means the mix is going off too fast — add ~½ gallon water, stir, and discard. You waited too long between mixing and pouring.
8. Smoke or steam from filled holes signals a possible blow-out — clear the area immediately. The vapour is steam only, not toxic.

Blow-outs — causes and prevention

Common causes

1. Hole diameter too large for the temperature range.
2. Mixing water too warm — check the temperature chart.
3. Too little water when material is above 23°C.
4. Too long between starting the mix and filling holes.
5. Hand mixing instead of mechanical stirring.
6. Guessing hole or water temperature instead of measuring.
7. Holes shallower than 4× diameter.
8. Powder stored in heat before use.
9. Skipping sections of this manual.
10. Holes closer than 10″ apart in soft rock or concrete on hot days.
11. 1½″ (38 mm) diameter is the most reliable bore size.
12. Blow-outs rarely happen more than 3 hours after filling.

How to avoid them

1. Match product grade to measured material temperature.
2. Keep powder away from heat, sun, and warm vehicles before mixing.
3. Cool powder bags before use if they've been in a hot store.
4. Mix in a wide metal bucket — not narrow plastic containers.
5. Cool mixing tools before you start.
6. Use 1.5 litre water per 5 kg bag unless the chart says otherwise.
7. Never use hot water.
8. Hand-mix two bags (10 kg) maximum per batch.
9. Mix at least 2–3 minutes until lump-free.
10. If the slurry stiffens, add a small amount of water — don't exceed ratio limits.
11. Fill all holes within 5 minutes of finishing the batch.
12. Don't overfill bores.
13. Don't tamp or ram filled holes.
14. Don't plug holes with setting mortar after filling.
15. Never pour mixed Crackit into glass bottles — dilute and discard unused mix with plenty of water on open ground.