Sledge Hammer Advice - CI Tub

Chefwong · May 24, 2013

So I'm buying a sledge hammer to break up a CI tub.

Playing around with the measuring tape like a Golf T....
Should I get the 30" handle or 24". I think the 24" might be more better suited - but the 30" will give me a larger swing....

Love to hear from some real world feedback. There is also a 36" handle as well...

hj · May 24, 2013

I take the tub outside, throw it on the truck or trailer, then take it to the junk yard. Too much work to break it up, and the broken porcelain is like shrapnel.

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Chefwong · May 24, 2013

I was considering that....
I suppose it will be just the same amount of work bringing one up as to bring one down......grrr. I just can't wait..

hj · May 25, 2013

One advantage to just "removing the tub" instead of breaking it is that you then know what has to be done to put the new one into the same space. Taking it down stairs is even easier because gravity helps you.

Terry · May 25, 2013

It will be an interesting story when you are done. What hj doesn't mention is how hard it is to lift a tub that has blocking around it. It's real hard to find a place to grab one, once it has been dropped into place. You're lifting 300 pounds up and out. Good luck on that one.

I use a sledge with a long handle, and cover the tub with plastic before I break it. And the dump doesn't care how many pieces you drop off. It's all garbage to them.

hj · May 25, 2013

quote; What hj doesn't mention is how hard it is to lift a tub that has blocking around it.

Lift it????? I have NEVER 'lifted' a cast iron, or any other type of tub. You "roll" them in, and out, then slide them where they have to go.

Chefwong · May 26, 2013

Heh. The last time I did one, it was 3 friends+1. There's only so many bodies that can fit the width of a stairwell

DougB · May 26, 2013

I had a hugh tub - they said it was a 'garden tub' - much more than 300 lbs. They must have installed the tub before the inside framing.

Used my 4" wet saw and made a slot big enough to get in a steel wedge. I got the tub out in about 8 pieces.

bob_cville · May 28, 2013

I had the joy of doing this recently. I had a small 3 lb sledge that was completely worthless, but I didn't feel like buying a new sledge for this one task, so I used the hammer end of a 8 lb splitting maul. I also used a heavy moving blanket in the tub to stop the broken porcelain shrapnel. I was wearing hearing protection, eye protection, and a heavy duty dust mask, and had to stop every 15 minutes or so to go outside and catch my breath. All told it was a couple of hours of fun. I left the pieces in a pile next to the dumpster, and a local junk man came by and picked it up.

-Bob

Sledge Hammer Advice - CI Tub

Chefwong

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hj

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Chefwong

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hj

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Terry

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hj

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DougB

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