Buying junk tools

[Shaun @ Tru6]

When making nearly any purchase, from a spatula to a welder, I research the hell out of it and then pretty much buy the best one.

I have to break up 12 x 25 feet of asphalt that's about 4 inches thick.

I can buy a proper barely used Hitachin on CL for $400 or something like this for $165. The Hitachi I'd have to sell which would be oh so much fun while the Mophorn would just sit in the corner. Rental is $90 per day and between going to get it, use it and return it, I've spent $200.

Mophorn 3600W Electric Demolition Hammer Heavy Duty Concrete Breaker

Which would you get?

[dad911]

Asphalt? None of the above. Find a guy with a backhoe or skid steer and have him peel it up.

[Evans, Marv]

The Hitachi on CL would probably be best. It wouldn't be too much trouble to sell it. If you need it hauled away, getting a guy like dad 911 suggests would probably be best but cost more than $400.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by dad911

Asphalt? None of the above. Find a guy with a backhoe or skid steer and have him peel it up.

He already told us that he won't let a backhoe or similar in the yard. If and when I had to remove paving or concrete I would get under the edge and use the biggest pry bar I could find, usually 5 feet. With various pieces of rock and lumber to use as a fulcrum, I'd lift large sections up until they collapsed. If too heavy to move I'd break them down with a sledge. Minimum amount of pieces is the key to speed and keeping things clean. That means not ending up with a bunch of rubble to have to rake and shovel.

Breaking concrete is only used when there is rebar and then you can lift up some big sections and cut the exposed rebar. Asphalt never needs to be demo'd with a jackhammer.

[A930Rocket]

Hitachi? Yes, but with a wide blade, or you’ll spend all day chipping it up. Of course, then you have to pick it up, load it and take it somewhere.

Go with Dad911’s idea.

[Bugsinrugs]

I think you need something bigger then that Morphon. You will be doing the demo on your knees. Try and get a stand up jack hammer. I recommend renting.

[tabs]

Why not get a tiny little rock hammer and chip away at it over the next 20 years..then when finished head off to Zihuatanejo

[beran earms]

Best method I think, from experience would be to use a gas powered demo saw and cut 2' wide strips then pry them up flipping them over.

[billybek]

I can't make it on the outside, Andy. I've been institutionalized...

Few big blocks of wood and a 6 foot prybar and a sledge hammer will be faster than using that little breaker.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Zeke

He already told us that he won't let a backhoe or similar in the yard. If and when I had to remove paving or concrete I would get under the edge and use the biggest pry bar I could find, usually 5 feet. With various pieces of rock and lumber to use as a fulcrum, I'd lift large sections up until they collapsed. If too heavy to move I'd break them down with a sledge. Minimum amount of pieces is the key to speed and keeping things clean. That means not ending up with a bunch of rubble to have to rake and shovel.

Breaking concrete is only used when there is rebar and then you can lift up some big sections and cut the exposed rebar. Asphalt never needs to be demo'd with a jackhammer.

Missed the 'no backhoe'. Then I concur, peel it up by hand. Not a job I'd want to do. Perhaps saw-cut it with a demo saw if it doesn't break up easily by hand.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Good replies. The asphalt is soft, a big chisel with a 2.5# sledge goes right through it. There is an open edge that has already California'd and easy to get under so I'll try a 6 foot pry bar first.

Couple of places on CL that will take it away.

60 in. Pinch Point Bar

[john70t]

I agree a backhoe would probably be overkill for such a small area of repair.

What is the intended final result?
To put in a lift outside? Repave a section buckling from roots?
Does it have to be a clean edge result or just done?

[911boost]

Can you rent and get one of those Toro Dingo's back there? I bet that would peel that up in no time.

Something like this:
https://arapahoerental.com/equipment-rentals-product/walk-behind-loader-diesel-toro-dingo--mt55-bobcat/3428

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Yes but I don't think it will be necessary. Going to HF today for the pry bar to see how easy it will be to lift up. I almost think my 4X rivet gun would break it up.

[cabmandone]

I'd use this with a set of forks. Weighs about 3800 lbs. Setup with wide tracks, it barely leaves a mark in grass provided you don't take any sharp turns. Has an 850Lb R.O.C. and would make short work of the job. Half day rental wouldn't cost much more than the tools you're looking at buying and would save you a LOT of grief. Plus if you rent a dump trailer to haul it in, you can load the asphalt into the dump trailer and dispose of it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'd use this with a set of forks. Weighs about 3800 lbs. Setup with wide tracks, it barely leaves a mark in grass provided you don't take any sharp turns. Has an 850Lb R.O.C. and would make short work of the job. Half day rental wouldn't cost much more than the tools you're looking at buying and would save you a LOT of grief. Plus if you rent a dump trailer to haul it in, you can load the asphalt into the dump trailer and dispose of it.

This. And maybe find a real professional driver for it. Machines are wonderful at making a very difficult and hard physical labor a snap. One of the "friends of a friend" talked about his neighbor trying to break up a large concrete pad that was left over oil well remains. He had spent days hammering and drilling and pounding. Someone mentioned OERB will come out and remove old oil production sites and restore the land like before for free. He finally called them and they brought the right equipment and had it done in a day.

[cabmandone]

Nice thing about the MT85, a Vermeer S925TX or the Toro models is that they use Joystick control so you use one hand for steering and the other for bucket and boom controls. The smaller MT55 has sort of a strange control for steering so it's harder for a novice to operate than the joystick machines. Plus I like the larger models that you stand on rather than walking behind or riding on a roller platform.

I like "work smarter not harder" so the mini track loader would be my choice for the job in this thread.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Posting may have been unnecessary. Talking with asphalt disposal guys, 2 say they will dispose for $500-600 but both will do the entire job: rip it up and dispose for under $900. Seems like a no-brainer. Both coming to look at it.

Asphalt is very soft. Hitting the edge with a sledge hammer crumbles it. A pick would work very well too.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Posting may have been unnecessary. Talking with asphalt disposal guys, 2 say they will dispose for $500-600 but both will do the entire job: rip it up and dispose for under $900. Seems like a no-brainer. Both coming to look at it.

Definitely a no brainer! At that price I wouldn't do it and I own most of the tools to do the job.

[stevej37]

That's always the problem that I have here...where to dispose of dirt, concrete, asphalt or anything similar? We have no landfills open to the public.
I had a similar sized section of my asphalt drive replaced last year. I remember watching them scoop up the old with a bucket loader on a tractor. There weren't very many pieces that stayed large...they all crumbled.