Breaking down a cement wall

[DJG]

So, not a rover question, but figured a good place to ask!

I'm breaking down a cement wall.....I've tried using a cement saw, cutting slots and then breaking down the area with a sledge hammer which works but takes for ever! Someone said drilling numerous holes in the wall and then breaking it down with a sledge hammer will do the same and require less effort.

How about one of the jackhammers you can rent from an equipment rental place? Anyone have any experience doing this? The wall is about 18" thick, 8 feet in length.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[dirty]

grenades

 

[p m]

I'm pretty sure a few from the hotly-debated 11-million army can help you.

 

[BaldEagle]

how high is it? it is likely reinforced. jackhammer away at it, it will crumble slowly exposing the rebar/wire wesh. use a grinder or a torch to cut the rebar. but yeah, the jackhammer is almost the only way to go (in your case).

 

[Steve]

Is it a cement block wall or a reinforced poured cement wall?

 

[apg]

Well, the *least* labor-intensive way would be to use one of the new(er), expansive compounds like Bristar or Dexpan. You drill a hole, then pump/pour in a slurry you mix up on the spot. The stuff expands enough to break rock or concrete...like very slo-mo explosives. But you still have to drill the holes, and a rented rotary hammer or hammer-drill does that quite nicely.

Cheers

 

[jim-00-4.6]

use your head.
:banghead:

 

[ptschram]

Dynamite

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

If you rent a jackhammer, you'll need a big (4 cyl diesel) air compressor or a hydraulic PTO attachment.

Rent a backhoe. One of these

http://www.casece.com/files/tbl_s85ProductDescription/Image469/2782/580M_360.jpg

Tear it down and then scoop it into a dumpster or truck.
Quick, not cheap, but hell, less $$$ than a brake job at the stealership.

Or better yet, there are people out there who do this for really cheap, like 50-100 dollars an hour, and will haul it all away. Hire it out, crack a beer, sit in a lawnchair, keep 'em out of the begonias and learn a little Spanish.

Soakers, too old for that shit.

 

[antichrist]

If you go the jack hammer route and use a torch to cut the rebar, be careful, concrete dust is explosive. Just make sure you have a good area around the rebar clear. And were a face shield. Little bits of concrete adhered to the rebar can be propelled with great force when the rebar is heated.
I've done this a number of times, so I'm speaking from personal experience.

 

[agbuckle98]

C4. You can shape the charges so that all the rubble is directed straight into the dumpster you're going to rent. One boom, no cleanup, done.

 

[DJG]

Thanks everyone. C4 was very tempting, but not wise... so I went with the jackhammer and it worked well. Thanks for all the advice! Dweb rocks.

 

[bri]

Bobcat

 

[BaldEagle]

If you rent a jackhammer, you'll need a big (4 cyl diesel) air compressor or a hydraulic PTO attachment.

Rent a backhoe. One of these

http://www.casece.com/files/tbl_s85ProductDescription/Image469/2782/580M_360.jpg

Tear it down and then scoop it into a dumpster or truck.
Quick, not cheap, but hell, less $$$ than a brake job at the stealership.

Or better yet, there are people out there who do this for really cheap, like 50-100 dollars an hour, and will haul it all away. Hire it out, crack a beer, sit in a lawnchair, keep 'em out of the begonias and learn a little Spanish.

Soakers, too old for that shit.

or a 120v BOSCH BRUT jackhammer for $45 a day