[TowerTalk] Jackhammer removal of tower base difficulty?

[Bryan Swadener]

Jim Lux wrote: 

On 11/2/11 7:55 PM, Bryan WA7PRC wrote:
>> Hi Rob,
>>
>> In the trades, the tool is referred to as a 
>> "demolition hammer".  They are offered in 
>> various weights... 45#, 60#, 90#.  Years ago, 
>> I had a 6'x9' concrete slab I needed to 
>> replace.  It was around 8" thick, and I rented 
>> a 60# electric demo hammer.  It took a few one 
>> hour sessions to get it done (it vibrated the 
>> bejesus out of your wrists and forearms).  
>> It won't make much difference what the mix was.
>> I'm guessing you should have it done in a half 
>> hour or so.

> Demo'ing a slab and a big block are VERY different.
> With a slab, once you get it cracking, it's easy 
> to propagate the cracks and keep chunks coming off.
> But breaking up something like a 3 foot diameter 
> lump is a LOT harder.
> 
> Zapping out an old patio is the work of less than 
> a day (at least for the breaking it up part.. 
> hauling away the residue in a wheel barrow, etc. 
> takes almost as long, if not longer).

I previously busted up a concrete block (about 1/2 cu yd) also using a 60# demolition hammer.  Doing so was no more difficult than breaking up the 8" thick slab.  The slab wasn't a patio and wasn't hauled away in a wheel barrow.  The chunks needed to be moved UP a couple of stairs; I hired a couple of neighborhood kids to do that.  They had it moved in less than half the time it took to break up the slab.

vy 73,
Bryan WA7PRC