What is the best way to dig up concrete when a post has rotted off? I hear forcing H2O near it is good.?
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Do you plan on putting a new fence post in the same hole? If so you can re use the hole, but will require some labor but not the back breaking kind. You can with a drill and 16inch long 1 inch wide spade bit and dig and drill out the rotted wood till you hit concrete or gravel then insert new post and mix up a little bit of concrete to put a new inch or so cap on top.
Now easy to getting the concrete out way to depends on how good of shape the old post is in, if it is good shape, still pretty solid wood. You will need a really big eye bolt, as long as possible the lag bolt kind (has a pointy end to screw into wood) an old rim of a car or truck, try craigslist for free section. About 2-3 feet of chain strong enough to hold close to a ton, and a breaker bar its about 6 feet long can be found at home depot for about 20 bucks. Now drill lag eye into wood, attach chain to bolt, set up rim next to old fence post base, run chain over top of rim, attach chain low on breaker bar with bar close the base of the rim. Now if you grab the top of the bar you should be able to generate probably close to a ton of pulling power from the leverage and pull the concrete right up.
I got both of these methods from my uncles friend who is in his 70's and still works as a handy man and uses both of these methods today. If he has a post that is completely rotted and isnt re-using the hole and wants it gone, he calls my uncles son who is 16 and has a really strong back. LOL. Good luck.
If you're looking to break up concrete such as a patio where a post was, i would say go to home depot and rent a Hilti TE 45 with a jackhammer bit and chip it away.
If you're talking about a pole surronded in dirt, water would soften the ground but when you try to get it out, it may have a quicksand effect. It may actually create a vacuum when you go to pull it out so it will work against you.
The only certain way is to dig around it with old-fashioned elbow grease. When i had to get one out, i had a lot of digging to do and i wrapped a chain around the concrete bulb. I then used a wrecker to hoist it out of the hole.
Know anyone who drives a wrecker?
I did the same thing but I just cut a down notch at the bottom of the post, threw a chain around it and tore it out with a Jeep 4x4. If the post is so rotted you can't do this, roll up your sleeves and dig it out.
I have no idea what H20 (water) would have to do with getting rid of a post with a concrete base.
I would say get out the five pound mauls and start pounding, If it's big enough rent a electric jack-hammer.
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