Poll: Best tool for breaking up a concrete driveway?

[Sniperexpert]

Hello all,
This is for anyone who has broken up concrete in the past.
What is the best tool for breaking up a cracked section of a non-reinforced concrete driveway? Because a section of my driveway has cracked and sunken when heavy vehicles such as furniture delivery vehicles have come to my place and i was wondering weither i should go to my nearest home improvement store and purchase a 50 lb sledgehammer or would it be quicker and easier to go and hire a heavy-duty electric jackhammer or a 2-stroke demolition saw with a diamond blade.

 

[SnowyGamester]

Having used both I can say the jackhammer will get the job done easier. I wouldn't recommend the saw simply because it would likely be faster to crack up the slab with the jackhammer than make a bunch of cuts. However the question remains - would you rather the job be easier, or would you rather have a sledge hammer? Cuz I got one.

 

[Sniperexpert]

Having used both I can say the jackhammer will get the job done easier. I wouldn't recommend the saw simply because it would likely be faster to crack up the slab with the jackhammer than make a bunch of cuts. However the question remains - would you rather the job be easier, or would you rather have a sledge hammer? Cuz I got one.

Yeah but unless i can hire a 2-stroke gasoline fueled jackhammer from my nearest hire shop i'm not too keen on a jackhammer because a heavy-duty electric one would like cause the Residual Current Device attached to my garage power socket to trip from heat build-up because i know my arc welder does that if i use it for an decent length of time.So i'll likely hire and use a 2-stroke demolition saw with a diamond blade with the big pry-bar sitting in my garage to remove the cut up section of concrete.

 

[SnowyGamester]

I can definitely understand having that issue with a welder simply because of the way it works but an electric jackhammer? It doesn't even compare.

 

[lechat]

right up my alley this one.
for starters you have to specify what sort of area you are talking bout. if it's a metre squared noone gives a fuck, i've broke up bigger areas than that with a hammer and a screwdriver.
if however we are talking bout a decent sized drive way i would just get in a professional, odds are they'll have a beast of a ride on and have the job done quick enough that the extra cost will offset the hassle
.
the most common tool for an average to medium stretch of a non-reinforced slab is what is called in australia a "kango"

you can hire them for practically nothing and the are light enough that you don't have to be he-man to use it.

FYI there are few tools that use the sort of current a welder uses.

 

[ardias014]

Or you can be a dwarf and break it apart with a mattock/pickax! I had to dig out a trench through rock soil and roots with one and it worked like a charm.

 

[Sniperexpert]

right up my alley this one.
for starters you have to specify what sort of area you are talking bout. if it's a metre squared noone gives a fuck, i've broke up bigger areas than that with a hammer and a screwdriver.
if however we are talking bout a decent sized drive way i would just get in a professional, odds are they'll have a beast of a ride on and have the job done quick enough that the extra cost will offset the hassle
.
the most common tool for an average to medium stretch of a non-reinforced slab is what is called in australia a "kango"

you can hire them for practically nothing and the are light enough that you don't have to be he-man to use it.

FYI there are few tools that use the sort of current a welder uses.

Thanks for the advice but i think i'll use a 2-stroke demolition saw with a diamond blade because the concrete has pebbles embedded in the concrete and i could use the sliced up concrete as part of a nice footpath.