Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so I
got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is the
pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thanks for any advice.

R Rockwell writes:

Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91223

Cut through the metal all around the base. The concrete will snap like a
cookie. Hammer with a sledge to chip out and bang down the stump, if
needed.

"R Rockwell" wrote in message
...
Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so
I got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is
the pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to
do this? Thanks for any advice.
Buy or rent an angle grinder, and a stack of cutoff wheels? Still probably
won't be flush, though.

I'd clip the top off and mount a bird feeder or bird house on it.

aem sends...

"R Rockwell" wrote in message
...
Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so
I got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is
the pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to
do this? Thanks for any advice.


Take a chisel that's about half an inch wide. Chisel the concrete around
where it meets the steel down at a 45 degree angle, but not too deep.

You want to be able to get down there with a torch or a grinder and cut it
off slightly under the surface of the concrete. Fill with Pour Stone or
equivalent. A cutting torch would be the best thing to use over a grinder.

Steve

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:14:24 -0400, "R Rockwell"
wrote:

Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so I
got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is the
pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thanks for any advice.

Convince the police that there are diamonds in the pole. They'll do
it for you.

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:14:24 -0400, R Rockwell wrote:

Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so I
got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is the
pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thanks for any advice.
Hire a 9 1/4 inch angle grinder. Buy two or three metal cutting disks.
About two or three inches up, cut almost all around the base leaving a
couple of inches or so on, at the side where you want the pole to fall.
Shift your grinder, lead and kids out of the way and push the pole over.
The bit left on, may or may not break when it falls, but at least you get
it down without it jamming on your blade or falling on you or the dog. I
say a few inches up, cos you will probably get through without there being
any concrete there. After chip around as Steve says, inside and out and
cut again just below the surface. Patch hole with 4 to 1 sand / cement.
If you get water ****ing out when you make your first cut(old pipe not
sealed at top) pull away, let it drain then cut off the pipe a bit higher
than water. Mop it out and carry on. Oxy torch is good for a lot of
cutting like this, but a bit of a pain for a one off.

--
Bill
http://www.builderbill-diy-help.com/

In article ,
mm wrote:

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:14:24 -0400, "R Rockwell"
wrote:

Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so I
got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is the
pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thanks for any advice.

Convince the police that there are diamonds in the pole. They'll do
it for you.


Easier to convince them thaT drugs are hidden there

"Richard J Kinch" wrote in message
. ..
R Rockwell writes:

Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91223

Cut through the metal all around the base. The concrete will snap like a
cookie. Hammer with a sledge to chip out and bang down the stump, if
needed.

I picked up a VERY similar angle grinder from Sears at about TWICE the
price.

The abrasive wheel is quite up to grinding down both steel and CONCRETE.

R Rockwell wrote:
Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so I
got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is the
pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to do
this? Thanks for any advice.

If you want to get the whole mess out clean, here's what any farm boy
would do:
get a post jack like the $37 Harbor Freight model, and a short stout
chain with a slip hook. Attach chain to post and jack. Block the jack
with an 8 x 8 or similar so it doesn't sink in the ground. Operate
handle and watch how 3 tons of pressure will motate the post and
cement plug upward. Move chain as necessary and continue until post
assembly becomes horizontal.
Odds are you can find something like this rig at a tool rental place
if you'd rather not buy one. Works every time. HTH

Joe

A pipe cutter could probably get it to within an inch of the concrete at the
ground. Cut through the pipe, then bend it over to break the concrete
inside. A sledge hammer on the remaining part may break it up/bend the pipe
down some. A cutting torch could get it flush. A skid loader could
probably work it all out of the ground in a half hour or so.

--
Steve Barker




"R Rockwell" wrote in message
...
Technically this isn't home repair, but I'm looking for some advice on
cutting down a basketball hoop pole. The backboard broke off years ago so
I got a nine foot steel pole in three feet of cement. The main problem is
the pole is filled with cement too. Short of digging it out, I'd like to
somehow just cut it off flush at ground level. Any suggestions on how to
do this? Thanks for any advice.

replying to R Rockwell, Tiffany Brown wrote:
I have the same problem. Have you came up with any solutions?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...nt-212945-.htm

On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 11:14:06 AM UTC-4, Tiffany Brown wrote:
replying to R Rockwell, Tiffany Brown wrote:
I have the same problem. Have you came up with any solutions?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...nt-212945-.htm

Are you sure the pole is actually filled with cement, as opposed to just
being set in cement? It would be rather odd for it to be filled with
cement, unless they used a lally column. If it's just a pipe, it can
be cut with a reciprocating saw. I had one of those, I wound up just
leaving it there for 20 years, it eventually rusted out at ground level
and fell down on it's own.

On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1:27:42 PM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 11:14:06 AM UTC-4, Tiffany Brown wrote:
replying to R Rockwell, Tiffany Brown wrote:
I have the same problem. Have you came up with any solutions?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...nt-212945-.htm

Are you sure the pole is actually filled with cement, as opposed to just
being set in cement? It would be rather odd for it to be filled with
cement, unless they used a lally column. If it's just a pipe, it can
be cut with a reciprocating saw. I had one of those, I wound up just
leaving it there for 20 years, it eventually rusted out at ground level
and fell down on it's own.

Is the concrete pad exposed? If so, mound dirt around it and plant grass.

The electronegativity of steel is different if it's in contact with dirt as opposed to concrete. That will create a potential difference that will quickly rust through the steel and it will fall.

That's why those old clothesline posts all fail the same way.

Of course you're going to wait a couple of years, but that's easy.

On Monday, April 23, 2018 at 10:18:53 AM UTC-4, TimR wrote:
On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1:27:42 PM UTC-4, trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 11:14:06 AM UTC-4, Tiffany Brown wrote:
replying to R Rockwell, Tiffany Brown wrote:
I have the same problem. Have you came up with any solutions?

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...nt-212945-.htm

Are you sure the pole is actually filled with cement, as opposed to just
being set in cement? It would be rather odd for it to be filled with
cement, unless they used a lally column. If it's just a pipe, it can
be cut with a reciprocating saw. I had one of those, I wound up just
leaving it there for 20 years, it eventually rusted out at ground level
and fell down on it's own.

Is the concrete pad exposed? If so, mound dirt around it and plant grass.

The electronegativity of steel is different if it's in contact with dirt as opposed to concrete. That will create a potential difference that will quickly rust through the steel and it will fall.

That's why those old clothesline posts all fail the same way.

Of course you're going to wait a couple of years, but that's easy.

As I posted earlier, that's what happened with mine, but it took 20 years
for the steel to rust away even though it was in the ground.