Never a pleasant job, only makes it more difficult when frozen. What are some methods used to make this job easier? I Might try using fire to soften it up, how about a chimney charcoal starter used for BBQ, what do you all think?
Frozen in NE Ohio.
A client of mine once
used a cordless circular saw w/ a cut off blade in it to uncover a corner in his parking lot for me.
He cut a very neat square with the saw by plunge cutting around the area I had pin pointed. We popped the square out and then dug down to the corner. When all was done, we were able to place the square of asphalt back in fairly neatly.
Not sure that would be very safe on frozen asphalt though!
> .....What are some methods used to make this job easier?
- Get somebody else to do it for you...:snarky:
- Go to your local rental agent and rent a jack hammer
- Go to the municipality responsible for the road and tell them they need to expose the monument for you.
Although I have no experience with frozen conditions, I load up a generator and a 30-lb. demolition hammer whenever I think I'll have to dig into pavement. It makes the job soooooo much easier.
Strike the spot on the asphalt very hard with the biggest hammer you have to break the connectivity of the atoms. I call it tenderizing the spot.
[sarcasm]Repeat as necessary, use a bigger power tool or wait for spring[/sarcasm]
A client of mine once
:good:
I like that idea. Never thought of it.
Spud bar & gloves is my usual tools for this task. You can also use a RR Spike and a 4# mall to cut the asphalt into about an 8" square or circle. But when it is this cold outside, the asphalt just breaks up and the Road Commission has another hole to fill come spring time. I just did this New Years eve. I am only a few hours away from you to the North. Have fun in the snow & stay warm!
I have used a propane torch usually used for weed burning to heat up the asphalt first then use a garden shovel and a spud bar if needed.
I know you are all going to be jealous.:-P I work for an asphalt company so I just call in the labor crew with jackhammer and hot mix.
Two coffee cans, one with both ends cut out, the other just one.
Place the one with both ends cut out over the marker to be exposed. Dowse with lighter fluid and ignite, press can down, repeat. Remove softened asphalt and place in 2nd can. Repeat as needed.
Return softened asphalt to hole and compact after storing observation.
Probably can't buy it anymore..
but trichlor works wonders. We always cabbaged some from the asphalt lab for "field use".
It's a real "Frankenstein" solvent..but it will wash 100% of the asphaltic cement from the aggregate in a heartbeat. All you have to do is whisk broom the rocks out.
Thanks Surveysam, that sounds like it would work better than my chimney. I'll give it a try. And I won't have to buger up my BBQ chimney.
Probably can't buy it anymore..
That looks like some pretty nasty stuff. What sort of precautions do you take when using it?
Probably can't buy it anymore..
> ...What sort of precautions do you take when using it?
Have state funded health care coverage in place at all times.
One time I tried the small handheld canister of propane torch approach. That did not work well at all. Went back to chisel and sledge method.
Probably can't buy it anymore..
Nasty MDSS on it. Now I know why you called it a "Frankenstein" solvent.
Generally, chlorinated hydrocarbons are bad news. DDT, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, mirex, chlordecone, and chlordane; all banned.
Lunch time!
I have used the same method as surveysam except with gasoline instead of lighter fluid. Works wonders in the cold.