20080426 Patio Paver Preparation with electric breaker
I rented an electric jack hammer to remove the old concrete step and caliche. The caliche layer looks like leftover cement that was poured on the ground and left to harden. It is actually a calcium carbonate layer from either sea bed sediment or calcuim leached from the surrounding rock by rain and deposited in the lower (desert) areas. The calcium settles and hardens around existing rocks such as granite rubble with varying degrees of hardness.
This is the third stinkin time we rented a jack hammer to cut some stone. I hope it's the last time, for a while. Breaking up the caliche.
I have now rented four different Electric Demolition Breakers - jack hammers and
here is my opinion of each:
THE BEST
Bosch Brute 60-lb 11304 Electric Demolition Breaker / Hammer
This thing is only 60 pounds and it cracks through all my caliche with
ease and speed. I would say it is about three times faster than the
poorest performing Hitachi.
SECOND BEST
Low noise but not as fast as the Bosch.
It's also 6 pounds heavier than my number
one choice.
THIRD PLACE
Wacker 60-lb Electric Demolition Breaker
Almost the same breaking rate as the Makita but noisier.
Size does matter. The lighter the tool, for equal destructive
power, the better.
LAST PLACE
Hitachi H90SE 70lb. Demolition Breaker Hammer
It's heavy, it's loud and it's slow.
I spent a whole day on a three hour job.
Caveat Emptor:
These machines are all rentals with unknown
wear and maintenance records.
If any of these are wrongly rated then
shame on the rental company for not maintaining
their machines and skewing my appraisal.
If you have any opinions please leave a comment
below.
20080426 Patio Paver Preparation with electric breaker
I rented an electric jack hammer to remove the old concrete step and caliche. The caliche layer looks like leftover cement that was poured on the ground and left to harden. It is actually a calcium carbonate layer from either sea bed sediment or calcuim leached from the surrounding rock by rain and deposited in the lower (desert) areas. The calcium settles and hardens around existing rocks such as granite rubble with varying degrees of hardness.
This is the third stinkin time we rented a jack hammer to cut some stone. I hope it's the last time, for a while. Breaking up the caliche.
I have now rented four different Electric Demolition Breakers - jack hammers and
here is my opinion of each:
THE BEST
Bosch Brute 60-lb 11304 Electric Demolition Breaker / Hammer
This thing is only 60 pounds and it cracks through all my caliche with
ease and speed. I would say it is about three times faster than the
poorest performing Hitachi.
SECOND BEST
Low noise but not as fast as the Bosch.
It's also 6 pounds heavier than my number
one choice.
THIRD PLACE
Wacker 60-lb Electric Demolition Breaker
Almost the same breaking rate as the Makita but noisier.
Size does matter. The lighter the tool, for equal destructive
power, the better.
LAST PLACE
Hitachi H90SE 70lb. Demolition Breaker Hammer
It's heavy, it's loud and it's slow.
I spent a whole day on a three hour job.
Caveat Emptor:
These machines are all rentals with unknown
wear and maintenance records.
If any of these are wrongly rated then
shame on the rental company for not maintaining
their machines and skewing my appraisal.
If you have any opinions please leave a comment
below.