SDS drill for breaking concrete

[InertialTooth45]

Afternoon,

I have a section of your finest council green fencing in my garden which I'd like rid of. God knows what the previous owner was thinking but it's there now and I'd rather it wasn't.

It's metal posts are concreted about 2 foot deep in the ground, and have a bit of a base plate so even when it's loose from the concrete they're still a pain to remove since the hole needs to be a fair bit bigger than the post for the base plate to fit through.

So far I've removed 2 of the 9 and it's taken me a good two hours of hammering and chiseling to get that far. The third one is a lot more awkward to get to so isn't going any better.

So I've concluded as a man I need to buy some more tools. The obvious thought being an SDS drill with a chisel attachment. I've looked at hiring one but then I found this which isn't much more than the cost of hiring one for the weekend.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb278sds-5kg-sds-...

Anyone know if this would be suitable for breaking up concrete or do I need to be looking at something more substantial, or am I looking at the wrong type of tool completely?

Thanks

[Pferdestarke]

I have a similar tool and have enjoyed using it as a baby pneumatic on concrete a fair few times.

Give it chance to do the work under its own weight rather than forcing it through and you'll save your back and the bits.

[Pferdestarke]

I have a similar tool and have enjoyed using it as a baby pneumatic on concrete a fair few times.

Give it chance to do the work under its own weight rather than forcing it through and you'll save your back and the bits.

[boyse7en]

I've got an old version of that drill and have used it to break up loads of concrete over the 8 years or so I've had it.

VEry useful and much easier than a cold chisel and lump hammer

[InertialTooth45]

Just found this one at £40!! Ordinarily I wouldn't even consider anything at that price but there's not a single bad review for it!

http://www.screwfix.com/p/energer-enb465drh-4-8kg-...

[roofer]

Go and get a medium breaker for the day. The Mickey Mouse ones will take forever.One of these

Edited by roofer on Tuesday 26th May 14:27

[colinjy]

agreed with above,

get a breaker on hire for the day and you'll have the concrete broken up in no time.

using an SDS with hammer function can take a lot longer there not designed to split concrete more than a few inches thick as there still designed as a drill.

get a breaker that's designed to do the job

[Rickyy]

I have that Titan drill from Screwfix, it's a good drill, but may struggle on the concrete.

Good thing is though, if you break it, you can do an over the counter swap. I'm on my 4th one in nearly two years as I keep killing them! Best £60 I've ever spent!

[InertialTooth45]

That is my main thought too. Whilst I know the hiring a medium breaker would be the best tool for the job that would also leave me with nothing after the job, not the end of the world but if I can get something that will still manage the job but slower and leave me with a tool afterwards then I'd rather do that.

[DBSV8]

InertialTooth45 said:

That is my main thought too. Whilst I know the hiring a medium breaker would be the best tool for the job that would also leave me with nothing after the job, not the end of the world but if I can get something that will still manage the job but slower and leave me with a tool afterwards then I'd rather do that.

as above buy from screwfix and if it breaks ......your covered

and on the plus side you get a decent drill that will last you for other diy jobs around the house excellent for drilling through walls etc

ive had one for two years used every weekend , lots of use and still going strong

[wolfracesonic]

How the hell can Screwfix sell that Energer thing for £40.00!!!! I know it's probably made in China by virtual slave labour but.........£40.00!!!! WTF!!! Would go with Roofer's idea BTW.

[jon-]

Having done exactly this yesterday, I'd still be there if we didn't have this

http://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb280drh-15-5kg-b...

Worthwhile investment, couldn't have done it with something smaller.

[Busa mav]

Can you not just use the leverage from the post length and rock the post and base out of the ground in one ?

Even if you have to dig down the side a tad just to get it moving.

[jon-]

Busa mav said:

Can you not just use the leverage from the post length and rock the post and base out of the ground in one ?

Even if you have to dig down the side a tad just to get it moving.

Old wood + a liberal use of concrete almost always equals snapped posts

[Busa mav]

jon- said:

Old wood + a liberal use of concrete almost always equals snapped posts

OP has metal posts

[InertialTooth45]

Busa mav said:

jon- said:

Old wood + a liberal use of concrete almost always equals snapped posts

OP has metal posts

It was a combination of this and hammering and chiseling that did eventually get the first one out. I also used some really long lengths of wood for extra leverage and it did loosen things up eventually, but still took a lot of hammering and chiseling to get it to this stage. They been put in far deeper than is necessary.

[magooagain]

Cut the metal off with a disc cutter then nibble some concrete off the top and leave the rest in?

[dazwalsh]

I would drill a number of deep 15mm hholes in the concrete and just give the concrete base a few belts of a sledge hammer so it just breaks up.

[MattCharlton91]

I'm a full time fencer, 95% of the time digging down the edge of the concrete (just as wide as the width of your graft blade) and 3/4 good hard swipes of the graft down the side of the post into the concrete and it should break away into the void you've just created. Saves buying/hiring a breaker!

But even in the 5% chance this doesn't work! using the same technique but with the breaker ( breaking concrete into the void etc) tends to be the most efficient way of doing such things!

Hope this helps!

[Timsta]

I have an SDS from LIDL, paid about £40 as well. I used it for exactly the task you have. Did the job just fine.