Need Help, how does one cut off a culvert thats all under water?

[burntside bob]

Hello
Need to cut off a 30 inch diameter wide culvert (it's too long) thats all under water; two feet of water covers it.
I can not use a battery powdered sawall under water.
I do not want to dig up the whole culvert and distroying the road bed to cut off 12 feet.
Any suggestions?
Reply to posts:
the 24 inches is above the galvanized culvert so 54 inches above the invert of the culvert.
Black top on road surface.
Culvert was placed in ground too long when constructed, do not know why it was not shorten when installed, many years ago.
Beavers always plug the end of it, the people want it fixed.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Why is it underwater?

 

[Redneck in training]

Use air tool.

 

[Deere Dude]

Hello
Need to cut off a 30 inch wide culvert (it's too long) thats all under water; two feet of water covers it.
I can not use a battery powdered sawall under water.
I do not want to dig up the whole culvert and distroying the road bed to cut off 12 feet.
Any suggestions?

Is it an aluminum, galvanized or plastic culvert? Is 2 feet of water above the very top of the culvert? Or is the 30" diameter correct and water is 24" from the bottom of the culvert. Is the culvert diameter 30" and also, what is the total length of the culvert and how long must it end up being? How much gravel is over the top of the culvert? I hate to be dense but unless we know this stuff or see a picture it might be hard to give advice.

 

[JB4310]

Why do you even need to cut it now ?

.

 

[boggen]

Use air tool.

+1

i am guessing there is no near by power, so generator, plus air compressor, plus an air tool.

such as a reciprocating saw ran off of compressed air.

 

[mdelmarcelle]

Could you get a pump to temporarily pump the water out or lower the level enough to use power tools on at least a portion of the culvert?

If you can't do that, you'll have to hire one of those scuba guys with one of those torches that work under water. He'll look kind funny scuba-ing in two feet a water, but he'll get the job done. And you'll have to find room for his little scuba boat to dive off of.

 

[BeezFun]

Whatever you do, take pictures before the tractor falls in the water, and before you cut your scuba line with the air tool, so we can see what this looks like.

I think the poster's air tool idea is good, assuming being underwater won't destroy the tool before you can finish. I'm also not sure how fast the wheel would turn with the drag of the water. But unless you can hold your breath a really long time you're going to need a scuba tank.

You can torch cut/weld underwater, but if you knew how to do that you probably wouldn't need to ask.

 

[BeezFun]

He'll look kind funny scuba-ing in two feet a water, .

He says the water is 54" above top of invert, so the 2' of water is above the top of the culvert.

 

[dusty3030]

Get a 30 30, a lawn chair, cooler full of beer and a spot light. Shoot the beavers, problem solved.

 

[HunterWare]

Your local water rescue team should have the equipment to cut underwater and may well be willing (even excited) to do some "training" on it. Especially with a donation helping the cause.

 

[jdtractor]

hi you said the pipe is steel etc but if the piece that needs to be cut is plastic you can cut it with a chain saw, with long enough bar etc.... i worked construction for several yrs and we cut all the plastic culverts we put in road crossings to the length we needed with a chain saw it works good and is quick and easy.if that wont do you mite try a gas power chop saw thats designed to cut steel , concrete etc just use the the right saw wheel , the saw looks like a chainsaw with a saw wheel designed to cut steel etc... depending on the type of wheel you install. i hope this is of some help to you

 

[Treemonkey1000]

If it is under water and is too long why do you need to worry about it? Will the area dry up at all? I like the suggestions of seeing if a local rescue team wants to train. Or contact a Fire department with rescue jaws want to play. They could cut up the center of it and then peel it back..

 

[Deere Dude]

Even if the culver was 12 ' shorter, the beavers will just plug up a shorter pipe. You have to find a way to discourage those beavers. Center mass.
If the water goes way down because the beavers are out of there and you just don't like the looks of the culvert, that's different. But then it would be easy to get at with a sawzall or a portable torch. Sounds like an interesting project.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Get a 30 30, a lawn chair, cooler full of beer and a spot light. Shoot the beavers, problem solved.

A man after my own heart.

 

[Western]

Can you weld up a cage?? like maybe a re-bar welded "box" ,say 3'-4' square with maybe 12" grid, or something similar.

Or maybe a "hinged" or spring loaded trap door?? enough load and it allows debris through??


Cutting it off may possibly change the water cavitation enough to cause you a bigger problem.

 

[boggen]

any chance for pictures? of area?

 

[MillWeld]

Would a diamond or carbide wire saw work?