Another hit for the Mincon hammer

4HDS down-the-hole hammer achieves almost 100,000 metres for EPC Blasting Services

A MINCON 4HDS down-the-hole hammer, supplied and serviced by Rock Drill Engineering and used by EPC UK Blasting Services Ltd, has successfully achieved a service life of almost 100,000 metres.

But maybe that is only to be expected from the company that produced the hammer used to successfully drill the first supply holes to reach the trapped Chilean miners back in 2010. Where others failed, the Mincon hammer succeeded at the first pass.

The President of Chile was reluctant to let Mincon have that particular hammer back and insisted that it should take pride of place in a glass case in the Presidential Palace, which is exactly how Blasting Services driller Barry Carson feels about his Mincon 4HDS hammer.

Most hammers have a life expectancy of between 20,000 and 40,000 metres, depending on ground conditions and good drilling and maintenance practices, but Mr Carson’s hammer managed a total of 96,500 metres over its lifetime, drilling in challenging conditions in North Wales and maintaining top performance throughout.

‘It’s no surprise to me,’ said Mr Carson. ‘We’ve been using Mincon hammers from Rock Drill Engineering for more than seven years, and they’re all impressive performers. Although we have used other products, we know from experience that these offer better levels of performance and reliability.’

Rock Drill Engineering are not surprised by the performance of the Mincon unit either, although they say they have not seen one before with a documented history to prove its achievement.

‘Many of the hammers we supply reach totals well beyond those normally expected within the industry,’ said managing director Steven Beasley. ‘We supply a well designed, professionally built product that we know will perform consistently beyond the norm, but it is also down to the skill and experience of the driller and the care taken to keep the hammer in top condition.

‘Simple maintenance and proper lubrication with selective rebuilds will ensure top performance and extend the projected life span to provide very acceptable overall operating costs,’ he said.