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Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 6:26 pm
by barnsley boy
In preparation for the construction of a conservatory I'm lifting the existing patio, primarily as they're Yorkshire stone and a bit pricey.
The developer that built the house used the 5 dot method directly onto made up soil base. When lifting the flags, some are relatively clean, some are caked with concrete. Today I have been using a lump hammer and cold chisel, which on some flags is taking an age. I was wondering if buying a cheap SDS drill (<GBP 150) would speed to job along. I say cheap as if I'm going to pay £200 or more I might as well put that money toward new flags. I've also thought that I could use an angle grinder; Any advice would be appreciated.
thanks, BB
Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 8:20 pm
by Stuarty
i like using a scutch hammer, seems to remove concrete a little faster, bearing in mind you hit down, not along.
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 11:14 am
by barnsley boy
Thanks Stuarty, I've never used a scutch hammer before. You're advice on hitting down and not across would make me fear breaking the flag (although this comment might seem odd, as it depends the orinetation of the flag in the first place!). Also the concrete is very well bonded to the flag, making removal using a cold chisel a long process, would this hammer be quicker?
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 3:38 pm
by Stuarty
when i said hitting down, only do that on the concrete that you want to remove, and only with a scutch, a scutch blade has little teeth on it, which gets into the concrete and breaks it, rather than chipping away tiny bits with bolsters and cold chisels. Ive personally found it to be quicker and because theres not alot of weight behind them, they dont break the flags like a lump hammer would 
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 9:00 pm
by barnsley boy
I'm tmepted Stuarty to have a go, but the concrete isn't just fixed onto the slabs, it seems chemically bonded; using a cold chisel I can chisel off some concrete but in many cases the bottom of the slab is raised with bits of concrete that I didn't remove (it would have taken extra time for a few millimietres. Is this normal?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:32 pm
by Stuarty
like i say, i prefer the scutch, it just seems to break it off more efficiently than the chisel and lump hammer, thats in my personal experience anyway, the old concrete will stick to the bottom of the slab because its fairly rough, it gives it somewhere to cling to, but once you get started it shouldnt take you long
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 9:40 pm
by Tony McC
What about a little Kangol hammer?
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 9:51 pm
by barnsley boy
I actually purchased a low cost (cheap?) SDS drill from Screwfix. It worked really well, even my wife who hates power tools got to love it, much easier than a lump hammer and cold chisel!!
Many thanks for your assistance.
BB