Boom Pole Abuse, AKA Concrete Demolition

[DIYGuy]

After demolishing a concrete wall this week, I decided to see how much stress my boom pole could take.

Concrete wieghs 200 lbs. per cubic foot (per MA 780 CMR, the MA building code). The block pictured is 3' x 1' x 18", 900 lbs as close as I can figure. The larger block is 4' x 1' x 18", about 1200 lbs.

You may remember that the boom pole was my first welding project, despite commentary to the contrary, it has held up quite well to some serious abuse.

 

[DIYGuy]

Here's a different view.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Oh you're just showing off! And I'm glad you did. That was a great job you did on the pole. I doubt my store boughtn pole would have done that well. I would have lifted something that heavy much lower on my pole anyway, but I think it would bend way out there. Keep up the good work. John
EDIT: I sure hope you have that front end weighted down good!!! J

 

[DIYGuy]

Even with 250lbs of weight on the front I lifted the front wheels with the bigger one and had to reset it twice.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Probably looked like a 1963 Chevy Impala with hydraulics bumping up and down huh? That Jinma is doing a good job for you isn't it! LOL John

 

[DIYGuy]

It's been one of the best purchases I ever made and tomorrow it will have the world famous chinese chipper attached for spring cleanup.

 

[755inNY]

DIYGuy,

You didn't tell us how you busted up the block! That must have been some job.

On the concrete weight, I always found a weight number around 4,000lb/cubic yard. That equates to 148lbs/cubic foot.
Was the MA building codes number for a specialized or reinforced concrete?

Jeff

 

[texbaylea]

re: concrete weight. Early in my career I was working as a health physicist and did a lot of radiation shield design. Unless special additives were used we figured concrete at 150 lbs/sq.ft.. The range was usually 148 to 153 lbs/sq.ft. To reach 200 lbs/sq.ft. a lot of special aggregate would have to be used, maybe some depleted uranium.

 

[wvhillbilly]

That is impressive to say the least!! I built a similar boom pole so I hope mine holds up as well as yours. Fantastic!!
Dave

 

[GerardC]

I'd keep that for a wrecking ball /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.