Is there a trick or technique to breaking up concrete?

Red Squirrel

I want to put a drain near my furnace so I can run the condensate to it, humidifier dump line (to be added later) and potentially hot water tank drip pan. Right now my sump pit is in the middle of the room so I just want the drain to lead to it. I've been at it for over an hour and barely put a dent into the floor.



I'm about ready to just contract this out, but wondering if maybe I just have the wrong technique? Do I need to push harder maybe? Is there a specific way of doing this? They make it look so easy on TV.

This is the breaker I'm using:

funfool

That is a awesome tool, a little small for the job.
I suspect the concrete is thicker around the drain with how they formed it an poured it.
You may have a vertical wall + horizontal floor to break.
Once you get past this point, it will go faster.

I would probably go to a rental store and rent a bigger chipping hammer, will be about 3 times the size of the one you have and zip right through it.
But the tool you have will work, will just be slow.

Also smashing it with a sledge hammer will weaken it and make it easier for the bulldog to break it up.

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joecaption

I make two cuts with a diamond blade in a ciruler saw, then drill holes between the lines, then use the chisle.

Red Squirrel

Hmm never thought of trying a blade that goes in my circular saw. I'll have to try that. Oddly I was actually going to rent the bulldog, but then I asked how much it would be to buy and it was only a few hundred bucks so figured may as well buy it. I always like to buy my own tools where I can.

joecaption

It's a great tool for things like removing tile, drilling holes, but not so much for demo work.

ddawg16

Rbfh......

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Red Squirrel

Yeah that's what I've been thinking. I have lot of future uses for it and most will involve drilling thankfully.

Just ended up calling someone to check this out tomorrow though. I figured for a small job like this it probably wont cost much and save me the aggravation. There are some parts of DIY demolition that can be fun. Breaking concrete aint one of them. haha.

funfool

I have that same drill, had a millwakee before that, I like the bull dog better.
You will not be sorry you bought it.

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SPS-1

I don't think that little breaker is going to do it. The bulldog will. You can skip going to the gym for a couple of days after finishing the job. Its a good work-out.

itsreallyconc

we break out 4" conc floors all the time using the bosch brute elec jackhammer & easily break 120' in a day,,, you just need a bigger hammer i've got a bulldog like yours & its great for what its designed to do - breaking a floor isn't 1 of them, tho experience sez 1" chisel bits usually work better than points

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if you hear it from a guy in the apron store, be VERY suspicious the mtl/method will work,,, when it time to build something together, they won't answer phones NOR help
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