Replies

1. 
   j_menz | Aug 17, 2000 03:43am | #10

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   On the line of your cut drill enough holes and connect the dots with chisel, hand or air powered. As you drill hold or have held a strong shop vac to pick up dust and trailings. Slicker, take a car carpet attachment or make a box with vacumn port and drill a slightly larger hole than the one you'll mark your perforations with. Drill your holes through either the attachment or the pick up box with the vac running.

2. 
   Guest_ | Aug 18, 2000 09:03pm | #11

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   They don't build 'em like they used to -- I'm sure the masons are glad -- here's the difference between modern lightweight block and the old stuff I broke out, which weighs 2-3x by volume but wasn't even loadbearing! Note the solidity of the concrete, the remnants of lime stucco on the front, the clean diamond saw cut on the left, and the neat-o Photoshop editing I'm learning....

   I can't imagine how someone could work day in and day out with this stuff and not be crippled within a year. blocks.gif

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 19, 2000 05:04am | #12

   *My masons were still cussing out the "lightweight" 12" block that was used in my wall. Thank goodness that's what it is, though. It could take forever to remove that older, denser block! To think, when my house was being built, all I had to do was ask the masons to build me a door opening!!!! (it was on the tip of my tongue several times.)...good editing of the picts. I bet it only took several hours.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 20, 2000 06:48am | #13

   *Andrew...great edit....time for a career change...near the streaam,aj

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 20, 2000 09:31am | #14

   *About 20 minutes from snap to post, mostly because of my inexperience and wasted time trying to smash the file a bit smaller. Faster than hacking blocks, and less dust!Slick software, really the biggest limitation is imagination. you'd be surprised how easy some of cool things the pros do are once you "know what you're doing" .. like carpentry?

3. 
   Guest_ | Aug 20, 2000 09:45am | #15

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   I want to break out a section of my basement wall to access the under-porch area for use as a storm shelter. I will in-fill the hole with a door frame, header, and 2' wide door.

   What is the neatest and most efficient way to accomplish this? I don't want to create a lot of dust or crack any of the wall beyond the area of interest. Sawing seems to dusty, so I thought about using an air chisel driven by my air compressor, or renting an electric jack hammer. Of course, there is always muscle power to drive hammers and masonry chisels.

   The wall section is composed of both 12" and 8" blocks, 11 courses high. I consider the area I wish to remove to be a "non-structural" area as it is located immediately under my 5' wide front door and the joists are parallel to the wall in question; so I have no concerns about weakening support of the house.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 15, 2000 10:02pm | #1

   *Asked this myself recently off the board... After considering the structural issues (!) ... I used a gas-powered masonry saw with a 14" diamond blade to neatly define the edges of a cutout -- from the OUTSIDE -- for a 4-0 french door installation. A fan off to the side helped blow away the copious dust so i could see what i was doing. I also used the saw to cut out a "V" section on each side so I could reach and cut away the inner surface of the blocks ... then cut vertical and horizontal channels in the area to be removed. Finishing up with a 10# sledge and a one of those digging tools as a pry bar was pretty easy.I have a medium-sized rotary chisel that I used for touch-up chipping. But the saw was easier and very fast. You can have a helper spray water to keep down the dust if you want, but its easier I think to sweep up dry. You could use a demo hammer to pop the mortar joints apart if you wanted, but it would be a lot more work.Wear proper safety equipment! Really! Respirator, glasses, boots, etc. Tons of dust, and blocks may try to fall on your head or feet.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 02:46am | #2

   *I rented an electric masonry saw (an industrial sized Bosch) and had to pay for the blade, which I could've kept but didn't bother after cutting out a section of a concrete sidewalk.A block wall would be a lot easier unless it is filled with cement.Can't emphasize enough the need for a good dual cartridge respirator and a fan to blow away the dust.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 04:29am | #3

   *Thanks for the advice guys. I am, however, working from the inside of the basement and copious dust is a BIG issue. I like the speed and accuracy of the saw method, but I think the dust will not be tolerable. Any other suggestions? Just go for the hammer and chisel method? Is it worth it to get an $18 air chisel set? It sounds like no matter what, I need to score the edges to prevent excessive block breakage.

1. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 04:40am | #4

   *Joe....you need chisel with lump hammer, and one big sledge... make your scores and start swinging the sledge. You could have been done twice in the time it's taking to get posting advice.....Get the job done now!near the stream ready to drive to your house a whack at it myself if I have ta...ajWho needs to pay gym fees!...Not laborers!

2. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 05:01am | #5

   *Like andrew said....Don't forget the mask, safety glasses, boots, a hard hat, gloves....Rich Beckman

3. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 05:43am | #6

   *Want less dust? Tooth out the block, mortar in half blocks. Takes longer, less mess. Jeff

4. 
   Ed_W | Aug 16, 2000 06:01pm | #7

   *Joe,the little air chisel works great. Home Depot for $20. I just took down a 40 foot brick wall with one. score the outline of the door opening with it first then start breaking it away. Ed

5. 
   Guest_ | Aug 16, 2000 06:49pm | #8

   *If dust is an issue, rent an chipping hammer.Really fast to cut block with one. I think it's easier than trying to hold one of those big concrete saws up over your head.Get a big heavy hammer, not because it will cut better but it will take some of the abuse instead of your arms. And wear gloves.

6. 
   Guest_ | Aug 17, 2000 12:25am | #9

   *I should have considered that the block i was breaking was not like the block today ... 80 years old and about 10 times the concrete content. Very dense, very tough; an hour with the chipping hammer left me feeling like my arms were going to fall off. Modern block you could probably get through with a claw hammer.A 4-lb. sledge and masonry chisel is also nice to have. Eye protection is mandatory.