How best to remove fence from concrete, updated, job done

[dedee]

Advice sought on how best to remove these galvanised fence panels from the concrete they are embedded in.

This was built by previous house owner as a kennel and I want to remove it.

All four sides are embedded into the concrete base like this.

I am not bothered about leaving the base there, in fact I have plans for a wood store in that space later.

Should I be thinking about some kind of angle grinder to cut through the concrete and the wire? If so recommendations of a suitable tool would be welcome.

Thanks

Andy

 

[Woody Alan]

9" angle grinder Andy something like this one
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Hita ... -22136.htm
good value not too heavy but qualty. If you have never used one of these before then you need a serious talk about safety. Absolutely wear eyeshields ear defenders. Strong footwear prefer steel toe cap boots. Clothing over the body. Make sure no-one is going to come and interupt you whilst using it and that they are not to approach you for their safety. Remove all trip hazards and check your footing is secure.
I say all this because when you fire it up for the first time you'll know what I mean, the torque reaction is quite fierce, you'll get used to it
Also only turn on the grinder when you've decided exactly how you are going to make the cut and are standing in position. When you switch it off do nothing until it stops. When starting it keep well away from your body.

I am not trying to scare you or over egg these things just don't want you to have an accident these things take no prisoners. I wouldn't muck about with a small grinder disks don't last long and all noise and no performance, others experience may differ.

Cheers Alan

 

[Woody Alan]

Forgot to mention the perform diamond disk at about a tenner will cut the steel and concrete, other than that buy a selection of both types and use appropriate for job e.g nipping those bits of wire of use metal disk and don't worry about grazing concrete. If cutting a reenfored concrete post use the stone disk it'll still go throught the small amount of steel within.

Hope that helps Alan

 

[dedee]

Alan,
thanks, I've used a smaller one before, 5" I think, when fitting some flashing into mortar.I've got all the safety gear with exception of the toe caps - will have to be careful.

An alternative, that just occurred to me, is to use bolt cutters to cut the wire but it seems a decent pair can cost as much as the angle grinder :shock: but this would possibly leave protruding wire which could be a bit of a hazard.

Andy

 

[Jake]

Looks to me as if a 4.5 or 5 inch grinder would work on that (and they are lot more wieldy) - use a depressed centre metal cutting disk to get a cut at surface level.

 

[dedee]

Jake,
thanks. From experience I find that whenever I buy a tool that is just adequate for the initial job that within no time I find a job that pushes the tool to it's limits and beyond. So I will take a look around and see what else I might need an angle grinder for before I buy.


Andy

 

[devonwoody]

Hire an angle grinder.

A neighbour told me our local tool hire company will not hire out chain saws to individuals so possibly angle grinders might be a problem?

 

[Adam]

Make sure you cut them off flush, and then I'd be tempted to get a piece of metal and a club hammer, and pound down on the "remaining" bit. It's bound to have some lethal razor blade sharpness "bits" left sticking out and you should pound them into the concrete to stop them sticking up. Its not just you / family to think about - cats, wildlife etc.

If left exposed they will soon rust away if thin but in the meantime....

By the way what did he keep? Big cats? :shock:

Adam

 

[dedee]

Adam,
yep, I've been thinking about what to do with any exposed bits
It was one very lean, mean hunting dog. I only saw it once about the size of a labrador but short hair.

Andy

 

[Woody Alan]

A neighbour told me our local tool hire company will not hire out chain saws to individuals

Do you have to go in a gang then and all stand in the shop threateningly until he hires it out to you?

Dedee if you get the big grinder and you want to cut the metal flush, trust me they'll be flush since I've had my 9" grinder the old 41/2" hasn't seen the light of day. last job was to cut a big old fashioned wall tie out where I am going to fit a fire, also used it to cut through a 4 inch wall to fit a window in the garage and two lintels one over the fire and one over a doorway I have just put in, that's just recently.

Cheers Alan

 

[Jake]

I use all three, but the smaller two each get used about twice as much as the big one, and it took ages to get around to a job which justified buying one. I still use the others far more often, they are a much more useful tool IMHO, despite the lesser ultimate cutting capacity.

 

[dedee]

I settled for one of the smaller ones. 125mm. When handling the 9" grinders in the shop they seemed just a might to heavy for this first time user. This cost me 69 euros complete with extra disc.

I am pleased with the results. With a diamond disc I was able to remove the concrete and wire to leave a safe flush cut. It was also easy to manoeuvre into the corners which would have been harder with the larger version.

Andy