wrote in message
...
On Jul 24, 2:51 pm, Bob Engelhardt
wrote:
We tried the sledge hammer route, scoring first with an
abrasive blade.
I wasn't surprised when we didn't get very far with too
much work.
The sections vary from 5/16 to 9/16 thick, with the
occasional rib. At
one spot I gave 4 mighty (!) blows with a 12 lb sledge &
it didn't even
crack.

But I did get the OK for the plasma cutter. I brought a
couple of
pieces home to try & it cuts pretty much the same as equal
thickness of
steel, as you would expect. My cutter is pretty much
entry-level, so it
will be pretty slow, but still faster & much easier than
the sledge.
With a 20% duty cycle, I figure that I can cut 6-1/2' of
5/16 thick per
hour.

Now I gotta go find a portable compressor, or more, that
will keep up
with the torch. Maybe the torch's 20% duty cycle will
help.

Bob

I have not read all of the replies, so someone may have
already
mentioned arcair.
The arcair torch is relatively cheap, but you also need an
air
compressor and a arc welder. You might check if you can
rent the
torch from a welding supply. That might be a way you could
have
another person working or allow you to use the arcair when
you can't
use the plasma cutter because of the duty cycle.

Dan

Also, keep it in mind that the politicians and the insurance
agents
say you are not allowed to smoke cigarettes in that
environment...
heh heh...
phil