Getting concrete out of a hole?

[AgentZap]

So last year I put in a new mailbox so I dug a circular hole about 2-3 feet deep and put up the sign post and filled it with concrete. It looked really good.

A few days ago my idiot neighbors backed out of their driveway and over the top of my mailbox (senile old people). This is the 3rd mailbox they have killed, first one I've caught them in the act of. Usually they just deny it was them.

Well today I am going to try to put in a new mailbox, but I did such a good job with the deepness of the hole and quality of my concrete pour that instead of just knocking the entire mailbox over it cracked the wooden sign post at the base.

So I am left with a hole filled with concrete and a splintered signpost base stuck into it.

Now, the question is... How do I get this concrete out of the hole? I tried a pickaxe, but all I did was make it angry and chip off some of it and I would be there all day. Do I HAVE to go rent a jackhammer or is there another solution?

 

[mrrman]

I would say get a jackhammer...thats the fastest way

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

jackhammer or dig the entire thing out. Also, make sure your neighbors pay 100% of the costs.

 

[necine]

Dig it out?

Edit: Yes, you should definitely get your neighbors to pay for it. They should be willing to if you confront them about it. Civility with your neighbors is worth paying for a mailbox YOU broke in the first place. Having a pissed off neighbor can be a huge pain in the ass. Although you couldn't win in court, you should at least ask for like $100 bucks.

 

[Jpark]

Use a BFH, also known as a big fvcking hammer. A sledgehammer would do the trick as well, make sure you use eye protection though.

 

[DaTT]

Have fun. Concrete removal is never fun, no matter how its done.

 

[Caminetto]

I would chip out the top of the concrete throw some top soil and grass seed on it then dig a new hole.

 

[olds]

The easiest way is to just dig the whole chunk out.

 

[LASTGUY2GETPS2]

Yep eye protection, even a pair of earplugs/noise cancellers will do you well

 

[AgentZap]

Ya I ran out of my house all crazy at the time and made them cut me a check on the spot. I think since I don't want to end up spending more than the $100 they paid me that I'll try the suggestion of digging around it enough to pull it out. Going to be such a pain in the ass. I hate these people. I should make the next one out of bricks

 

[Modeps]

Impact drill a few holes in there, get some metal wedges and ram them into the holes... then hit the wedges with a sledge to break apart the concrete and pull it out...

or just dig it out.

 

[Anubis]

either go the BFH (big fing hammer method) of set up a small winch and lift it outta there


now when you put the new one in mount the mail box on a good sized Metal Pole, or a I beam of sorts, and dement that in,

next time your moronic neighbors back into it itll fvck up there car pretty good

 

[AgentZap]

Originally posted by: Anubis
either go the BFH (big fing hammer method) of set up a small winch and lift it outta there


now when you put the new one in mount the mail box on a good sized Metal Pole, or a I beam of sorts, and dement that in,

next time your moronic neighbors back into it itll fvck up there car pretty good

I think I'll get one of those big hollow metal poles they fill in with concrete that they put in front of supermarkets etc so people dont drive their cars through the front doors right in front of it hehe. I just need to make it decorative somehow

...maybe I'll paint the next mailbox neon orange

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: AgentZap
Ya I ran out of my house all crazy at the time and made them cut me a check on the spot. I think since I don't want to end up spending more than the $100 they paid me that I'll try the suggestion of digging around it enough to pull it out. Going to be such a pain in the ass. I hate these people. I should make the next one out of bricks

Actually, that is exactly what you should do. Make it something that will do serious damage to their vehicle. You can get a thick steel metal post from a local metal supply place for about $20. Fill it with concrete (as much to stop bugs as anything) and viola!

 

[mcvickj]

Blood, sweat and tears. Breaking up concrete is a PITA. The sledge is probably your best bet.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Caminetto
I would chip out the top of the concrete throw some top soil and grass seed on it then dig a new hole.

QFT, the wise option.
surely you can move it over just enough to get out of that hole?
When you go back to replace it, go to metal surplus store. purchase a 4"+ piece of heavywall tubing about 2' long, and a slightly smaller one 5' long that fits inside. it does not have to be a tight fit.
cast the larger diameter into your concrete. tape it over to keep the concrete out of it. Set it just above the existing grade to keep water out of tube, and grade concrete with a slight slope in all directions away from tube.

Now fit your mailbox to the longer tube, slip it inside, and wedge if necessary with wooden wedges.

Now is some tard backs into it, you can dig those wedges out with a screwdriver and replace the bent tube.

 

[cavemanmoron]

dig concrete all up.

go buy an 8foot long piece of 8 inch I beam

put 3 foot in the ground with concrete.

put mailbox on top.

next time the car will stop.

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: AgentZap
I think I'll get one of those big hollow metal poles they fill in with concrete that they put in front of supermarkets etc so people dont drive their cars through the front doors right in front of it hehe. I just need to make it decorative somehow

...maybe I'll paint the next mailbox neon orange

paint the pole black and plant some cheap shrubs/flowers around it.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Have a friend with an engine hoist? Get some lag bolts for concrete, drill them into the big chunk of concrete, then use them as attachement points for a chain, then use the engine hoist to lift it up and out of the hole.

 

[nakedfrog]

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T.N.T. I'm a power load (Oi, Oi, Oi)
T.N.T. Watch me explode!!!

 

[skyking]

an engine hoist will not even touch that lump of concrete unless you almost dig it out entirely, due to the friction in the soil. You'll have to dig around it on all sides to get it out, regardless of method. I hope you can just relocate the post to one side or another.

 

[olds]

Some of these suggestions seem WAY over the top. How much concrete did you use? I bag?

 

[Ornery]

You've already got a of wood inside the concrete. I assume it's 4"x4". Drill that with a big auger bit, and replace the wood post with a pipe of the same diameter of the drilled hole. Wrap that with wood, if you want it to look like a 4"x4" again.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Ornery
You've already got a of wood inside the concrete. I assume it's 4"x4". Drill that with a big auger bit, and replace the wood post with a pipe of the same diameter of the drilled hole. Wrap that with wood, if you want it to look like a 4"x4" again.

That's also a nice solution. you can simply get another 4x4, drill that to accept the pipe, and drill the one in the ground. Old fashioned dowel carpentry

 

[mobobuff]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
Have a friend with an engine hoist? Get some lag bolts for concrete, drill them into the big chunk of concrete, then use them as attachement points for a chain, then use the engine hoist to lift it up and out of the hole.

This is what I was thinking as well. But I also thought you should drill a hole for a good size iron rod, and rock the sement in the hole back and forth for a while to listen it up first. If he has any concrete auger bits.