Looking for best guesses. Patio is 10'x15'x4" 45 years old no rienforcement. I have trenched around 2 of the four sides. Can I fracture it in less then 40lb pieces with a rental electric air hammer in 4 hours or less or should I rent it for 8 hours? I have used this type of tool 35 years ago. I figure on facturing it first then using a maul and pry bar to remove it. What would a guess be on the demensions for facturing pieces that are less then 40Lbs? I have a disposal site for the concrete. Any other suggestions? thanks tom
I've done this in JUST under 4 hours - it was similar in area only it was 6" thick with some large (some larger than 8" diameter) stones in it. Take a few solid swings at it with a sledge as others have suggested, if it doesn't work THEN spend the money on the rental. Also note: using the big electric hammer (not the little Hilti drill that many places rent out) will be at least as tiring as the sledgehammer, though it will probably do the job faster.
I rented a electric jack hammer from HD and it my have taken me about 2 hours to break a 10 X 15 patio. Rent is on a Sunday afternoon for half a day. I should be due back by next morning around 9:00 am. I also have a United Rentals near me thats closed on Sunday. So picking something up on Saturday afternoon will give me a 1 and a half at 1/2 day rate. They require return on Monday by 8:00 am I believe.
I'm maybe a little older than you, 58 at the time, and I used one of these for the first time this year. Just tried it while a contractor was ripping up the neighbor's sidewalk. He said I could.
It was easy to use. The hard part was lifting it up each time to move it a few inches. I"m 5'8". I was worn out in 5 minutes after about 4 successful plunges. If something like this might happen to you, maybe you can get all your neighbors and friends who've always wanted to use one of these things to come over and try it. each can work 5 or 10 minutes until he's tired. 6 people at 10 minutes will give you almost an hour to rest before it is your turn again, although by then
4 of the 6 will have left.
I had another plan. In addition to Hershey Park and Great Adventure Park and 6 Flags Park, I wanted to build Industrial Park. Men could get to use jack hammers and forklifts and lathes and all the things they want to use for about 15 minutes, but really don't want to own. They could drive a semi, run a cherry picker, and dig a hole with a back-hoe, push dirt around with a bulldozer, climb a telephone pole with the strap on teeth that plunge into the wood, wearing a leather belt. They would get to try soldering, and acetylene welding and cutting. They could hammer dents out of sheet metal with a dent hammer or a dolly, apply bondo, and come back an hour later to see how it looks when dry. They could use a gas auger to drill a post hole (is that done?). If they were willing to stay 3 hours, they could drill an oil-well style hole including removing the drill and adding another section of pipe.
They could brand cattle, or if they were squeamish, the could brand leather. String wire for a fence, erect a telephone pole, mine coal, lots of things.
I figure tickets would be 15 dollars, with one dollar going for interest on the investment, 1 dollar for salaries, 1 dollar for materials, 1 dollar for profit, and 11 dollars for insurance. I think that is considered 2/15ths on investment, and is adquate.
BTW, I forgot to mention that I'm quite out of shape, and never much to brag about, and someone else, even someone not praciticed in jackhammmering, just generally fit, might last 3 times as long as my 5 minutes. No amount of hours hiking or on a bicycle would help his arms, and I don't know what level of fitness would be necessary to last 4 hours with 10 minute breaks.
The idea of renting 3 hours before they close, maybe on Saturday, is a very good one.
I'm glad you like the idea below, hallerb. I'll never do it. I hope someone will.
(Might be necessary to put some sort of clear cover around and limit on travel of the acetylene torch. I'd rather fall off a roller coaster than get burnt straight on by one of those. The designers and the insurance company can work something out. I'd keep a spare cover always available, so as to not disappoint "Industrialists", "Crafts men" or "Apprentices" when one of them manages to ruin the first one.)
Actually one could have an apprenticeship program, similar to boy scouts and merit badges. This will get people to come back more than once, and be fun too.
take Bamboo's advice and just dig a bit under it as you smash it with a sledge hammer. Don't try to break off too much at a time. If it IS 4" thick, this won't take more than an hour to break up. Use a long pry bar as well, to loosen the cracked pieces away from the unbroken slab. It'll go much faster that way.
Good luck and don't forget the safety glasses and gloves.
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.