Breaking Concrete

[bigtiller]

How would you recommend breaking about 8" off the top of this 5' wide concrete tile so i can plant some grass? Part of it is 2" and other parts are 6" thick. Would a breaker on a skid-steer work horizontally? An electric jack hammer sounds like a lot of work, especially doing it sideways.

 

[4570Man]

What is the ID of the circle? It looks like there is room to saw it off. Is there any reason why you can't remove the whole thing. Me being as cheap as I am, would probably opt for the sledgehammer route.

 

[bigtiller]

It is about 5' round and it is 5' deep and partially buried. It was an old well pit.

 

[bigtiller]

What is the ID of the circle? It looks like there is room to saw it off. Is there any reason why you can't remove the whole thing. Me being as cheap as I am, would probably opt for the sledgehammer route.

There has been too many cigarettes and cheese burgers consumed over the years, so a sledge hammer won't work in these hands.

 

[4570Man]

You might be able to take a bottle jack ( the crank will have to be at the bottom or it won't work), and a proper length board and break it up.

 

[LD1]

Rent an excavator or backhoe, pull the whole thing out.

 

[k0ua]

You could hire someone with the 13 to 20 lb sledge. I would tackle that one myself with the sledge.. I am getting pretty soggy in the middle, but I think I could still do that. I think hiring an 18 year old for 40 bucks and an hours work would be the most cost effective.

 

[CurlyDave]

I bet you could heat a section with a weed burner and crack it with cold water. Slower than the sledgehammer route, but a lot less exhausting.

The Romans used to dig some pretty big pits and tunnels in rock by building a fire, getting the rock hot and then pouring water on it. Of course they had slaves to fan the fires, carry the wood, pour the water and haul off the fractured rock.

If I wanted to remove the whole thing, I would be very tempted to fill it with firewood and use an electric leaf blower to force air into the bottom of the fire. I have done this in my burn barrel, and can get the whole thing cherry red if I want. Use a piece of 3" stove pipe to extend the plastic nozzle on the leaf blower to keep it away from the heat.

 

[stuckmotor]

What you really need to hire is an old Roman.:laughing:

 

[Egon]

Is there any reason to keep the old well? What will you cover it with?

You would probably be better filling in the hole and removing the top ring. Future safety. Considerations.

If you just want to remove an eight inch ring use a rotary SDS hammer drill to chip out a grove with a few verticals every two foot or so. Then dig out around the concrete ring and use the sledge. Only hit it on the inside.