how to break concrete with hand tools.

united4ever

Long story short - the rotary airer snapped and the base and sleeve were stuck in the concrete base. I tried getting the base out with wd40 and sticking screwdrivers down the side to try and prize it out. Just bent all the metal and results are in attached pic.

http://i.imgur.com/J5FoaAE.jpg

Now, I think I need so smash up all the concrete and dig out the base before putting in a new base. Lots of advice and youtube videos online about doing that part but not much on how to remove the old base.

Would a chisel and hammer be possible? Don't really want to go and hire heavy tools to do this. Alternatively, how much would it cost to get a handyman in to do this and put a new base in? In the north west if that matters.

Thanks

martinthebandit

If it was me I would keep going at the metal bits until it's either;

A) all out or,
below soil level

If it's B then I would put in a new one in a different place.

If you really want to remove the old concrete just dig it out in one piece.

London50

I agree with above unless you have a lot of long weekends and a large supply of plasters {or good thick gloves}. I would think that the base would be around 12" or more in the ground so digging out or a new position would be by far the easier/cheaper option.

united4ever

Right ok, glad I asked, yeah that makes sense. I'll get my spade out and try to dig it out in one piece. I can see a lot of swearing involved but maybe a lot less than if i tried to break the concrete up with chisel and hammer

tacpot12

If you have a long crowbar, after you have removed a certain amount of soil, you might stick it down the hole and wiggle the entire block around to loosen it.

Heedtheadvice

I am on to doing this shortly a fourth time for old fashioned clothes poles. The concrete in all is very thick (creating a stable base foundation for each pole) now down to a couple of hours using a diamond cutter, hammer and chisel to remove in bits! Too big for me to move in one lump and getting on for close on half a metre thick!!!

Would love a better way to do it! Citric acid will attack concrete if in sufficiently strong solution and left for long enough but I do not know the quantities of either of those!

tonyh66

get a big hammer drill (SDS) from screwfix drill deep holes into the block at regular invervals say 50mm apart then drill into holes at an angle, then use chisel bit to break block into pieces along drill lines.

Jackmydad

tonyh66 wrote: »

get a big hammer drill (SDS) from screwfix drill deep holes into the block at regular invervals say 50mm apart then drill into holes at an angle, then use chisel bit to break block into pieces along drill lines.

Yes they do quite a big "breaker" for about £65. Should make easy work out of the job.