Demolishing concrete culvert

[herbenus]

I have three 4-foot diameter by about 6 or 8 feet long cement culverts that were on my place when I bought it. Any suggestions on how to demolish? I can't move them except maybe to just nudge. I tried a masonry blade on a circular saw to slit into pieces, but first cut was only 1/4 inch deep (to scribe) and it took some time. My thinking was to cut culverts into 3 segments and use to line the bottom of creek where it's eroding. Maybe rent a bigger saw? I tried ramming down with a heavy pipe tied to fel. It just laughed and shook me a new one. If I broke it up I could use pieces for erosion in creek. I thought I might make a battering ram or ball, but even if it worked, fel is not really good for swinging heavy weights around. I could rent a jack hammer. I'm in the market for a compressor but I'm not sure a small compressor would suffice. It would have to be 110V to plug in near culvert, or get 300 feet of hose with the inherent pressure drop. Wall thickness is about 4 inches with two pieces of wire reinforcement. And must be made of some high strength concrete.

 

[CTyler]

My first thought was a jackhammer. You can cut it into the size chunks you want.

 

[RobS]

Rent a jackhammer. If you've got 110v nearby you can rent a full sized electric jackhammer. Skip the handheld models for that job. If you go air you'll have to rent a large engine driven compressor as well. The homeowner/hobbyist compressors don't put out the flow for a jackhammer.

Sounds like a fun project... not /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Do they make these things with re-bar in them?
Might be hard to bust it up if they do.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

Mabye you could sell them on ebay...

 

[beenthere]

I would think you could sell them to someone who wants to put in a culvert or make a bridge.

Otherwise, I would use my FEL and dig a hole and bury them. Good tractor time and they will be there if you ever want them later. Underground storage at no cost, and no "breakerage "fees. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[boustany]

Try this:
Find a promissing, round rock that is as big as you feel comfortable lifting with the FEL. Position the FEL/Rock as high up as you feel ok with, and let the rock roll out of the FEL and hit the pipe. Repeat till all broke up.

I don't know for sure if it'll work, but I can tell you from experience that it works 'accidentally' /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[beenthere]

And I'd be careful that when raising the FEL that the big rock rolls out the front of, and not the back of, the bucket. It will make a disturbing mess out of the nice finish on the hood of your tractor.

 

[Inspector507]

So would the ricochet when the rock bounced off to the rear of the culvert towards the hood

 

[chrisjbell]

Sorry - I just posted a really dumb idea /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...

Jackhammer sounds like the best route. The 110 plug in types work pretty well and should to it for you, without the danger of dropping large objects.