Demolishing concrete culvert

herbenus · Mar 22, 2003

It's a bit late to be straining my brain like this, but I calculated 3600 pounds. I suspect this is low and doesn't account for steel. I had four 3-footers also. I nudged them around and managed to make a creek crossing. I definitely was beyond capacity of tractor. It took hours to move one, some of it was backing up, pulling culvert with fel over top, inching along, etc. Finally let roll into place down ramp I dug and then leveled as best I could. Not all rolled where I wanted them of course, but once they started downhill I didn't have much say-so. Had a lot of hairy moments.

Anonymous Poster · Mar 22, 2003

I'd rent a mini excavator with a hydraulic thumb of course, and have them include a hammer so that you can break it up, then you can use the thumb to get the junks and load them into a truck or whatever or like someone suggested, burry them. An excavator will get it done very quickly, no messing around with a FEL.

Blake
WA

RobertN · Mar 23, 2003

I see everyone elses point on how tough the concrete can be. But,I have busted a lot of concrete with a 40lb Makita electric hammer and a 20lb sledge. The biggest thing is to get a crack started, and then follow that crack.

Sounds like you already dealt with them though...

Anonymous Poster · Mar 23, 2003

Hi,

I once had to take down a cement block wall that I had put up with those steel "ladder type" reinforcement things on each course.

Having taken down walls that were not reinforced with steel, I was totally amazed how much harder it was to take down the reinforced wall...

I would guess that a steel reinforced culvert pipe would be the same...probaby a hundred times harder to break apart than a cast pipe with no steel inside it.

This is just opinion with respect to the culvert pipe...but is is backed up by some related experience... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hoeman00 · Mar 25, 2003

If want to go ahead and bust them I would pick up 20' in air w/ backhoe and drop onto the ground or some big stones.
They are big enough to stick 18" bucket inside to lift them that way no chains to catch when u release them.
I've lifted one side of 24'x30' concrete floor and drop it, ground shakes and concrete breaks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

JimD · Mar 25, 2003

Why not have some fun and try some Dynamite /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif That should brake it up.

herbenus · Mar 25, 2003

Too close to house. I'd be worried about fallout, and how to get a culvert out of my attic...

I bought an ad today. "$200 OBO, You pick up" I'll see if I get any responses. If not, it's either the jackhammer or the gasoline saw. By the way, after measuring for the ad: 4 foot is the inside measurement and the wall is 5 inches. New estimate is 6900 pounds.

tdenny · Mar 25, 2003

herbenus,

Just thought of the best way for you to get rid of this thing. If you live on a hill you could simply roll it down the hill to your neighbors yard - you think he'd notice? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Just kidding.

RJohnson · Mar 25, 2003

I think I would get a high capacity hydraulic jack and cut a piece of pipe. Fit between the top of the jack and the inside of the pipe and jack til the concrete breaks. This put the concrete in tension and it will break easier than hitting with a sledge hammer. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck.

Randy

herbenus · Mar 26, 2003

That's a very good idea. I wonder how much force it would take? I have two bottle jacks at 6 ton each but I'm guessing I'll need much more. But I couldn't imagine how much more? Of course I might wind up with two halves that I also couldn't move... Hopefully someone will come get them and I might even make some money that I can buy some concrete mix with.