Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a concrete
lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually enlarge it
and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner did the
concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I would like to
cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow continuous to
add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will cut concrete
without destroying the pool? If the only option is to cut straight "V",
it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone with experience
cutting concrete?

On Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:04:24 -0500, Norminn
wrote:


Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a concrete
lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually enlarge it
and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner did the
concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I would like to
cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow continuous to
add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will cut concrete
without destroying the pool? If the only option is to cut straight "V",
it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone with experience
cutting concrete?

*IF* he didn't use any iron, the diamond impregnated blade in an old
skilsaw will make quick work of it. IME- the first re-rod you hit
makes them a nice metal disk with a smooth edge. [good for cutting
vinyl siding-- but not much else.]

I think if I was to do that in my climate, I'd use wire-lathe & I've
never tried to cut that with one of those blades. If it *is*
wire-lathed, I think a hammer might be your best bet. Just go at it,
not worrying about neatness-- let the mason cover up all the sins.
[even if you are the mason].

Jim

On Thursday 03 January 2013 16:04 Norminn wrote in alt.home.repair:


Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a concrete
lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually enlarge it
and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner did the
concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I would like to
cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow continuous to
add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will cut concrete
without destroying the pool? If the only option is to cut straight "V",
it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone with experience
cutting concrete?

Suitably sized angle grinder with a diamond blade - if you can do it with a
series of straight cuts. With care it will give you nice clean edges.

How thick is the concrete?

If you are running new concrete onto it, you will probably want to grout (ie
with a vinylester resin or similar) in some rebar studs so there is a
postive lock between old and new concrete around the joint.


--
Tim Watts Personal Blog: http://www.dionic.net/tim/

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a concrete
lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually enlarge it
and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner did the
concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I would like to
cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow continuous to
add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will cut concrete
without destroying the pool? If the only option is to cut straight "V",
it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone with experience
cutting concrete?

I have found it advantageous to call local contractors for free estimates,
and ideas. Sometimes, they can do the job for a very reasonable price, do
it right, and provide all the spendy equipment. Or, the job is so small
that they will tell you how to do it. Or at least give you some hints if
you know how to ask the right questions.

Sounds like a quickie saw and a couple of hours ought to do it. A quickie
saw is a chainsaw with a round blade on it, used by block guys to cut block
and rebar. For cash, I bet you could get it done very reasonably by someone
wanting to fill in a couple of hours here or there.

Steve

On Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:04:24 -0500, Norminn
wrote:


Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a concrete
lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually enlarge it
and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner did the
concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I would like to
cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow continuous to
add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will cut concrete
without destroying the pool? If the only option is to cut straight "V",
it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone with experience
cutting concrete?

You don't mention how deep you want this "U" shape cut. It is 3', 2',
18 inches or 4 inches?

Even a photo link would help. Some completing reason it has to be
shaped as a "U" or "V"?

Norminn wrote:
Our new house has a "pond", with koi fish, which is actually a
concrete lined oval "tub" about 3' deep. I would like to eventually
enlarge it and landscape to make it look more natural. Previous owner
did the concrete work and lined that with epoxy grout. Ideally, I
would like to cut a "U' in the narrower end to make the water flow
continuous to add-on. Is their a tool, DIY or contractor, that will
cut concrete without destroying the pool? If the only option is to
cut straight "V", it might be disguised with stone or plants. Anyone
with experience cutting concrete?

Let me see if I have this right...

You have a tub - plastic I presume - that has been lined with concrete; you
want to remove some of the concrete without damaging the tub, right?

The first thought is a diamond blade in whatever as others suggested.
However, you would have to control the depth of cut carefully so as to not
damage the tub. Safest way would be to cut almost all the way through the
concrete and carefully break out the remainder. The problem with that is
that you don't know how thick the concrete is and it may well vary in
thickness.

I think if I were doing it I would use a chisel (SDS) drill since the area
isn't all that big. Harbor Freight used to have one for about $100, I don't
see it now. Others are from $200, I'm sure they can be rented. They work
like a rotary drill, which can hammer or rotate or both except there is a
third setting for hammer only. They really do chop up concrete in a hurry.

You could also do it by hand using a mason's chisel and a hammer. I
recently did some that way, used a chisel about 1 1/2" wide plus another
about 5/8 to get an area started. I doubt the concrete is very adhered to
the tub, assuming it is plastic, so all you really need to do is chisel
through the outline of what you want gone, then start prying (carefully).

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

Norminn wrote:

We aren't going to spend a fortune to keep the koi
alive, but it would be real nice if we can.

Other than the humane consideration, consider the value. Some koi can be
worth thousands.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

On Fri, 4 Jan 2013 08:39:59 -0500, "dadiOH"
wrote:

Norminn wrote:

We aren't going to spend a fortune to keep the koi
alive, but it would be real nice if we can.

Other than the humane consideration, consider the value. Some koi can be
worth thousands.

Amazing. The last ones I caught were terrible. Too bony.

On 1/4/2013 8:39 AM, dadiOH wrote:
Norminn wrote:

We aren't going to spend a fortune to keep the koi
alive, but it would be real nice if we can.

Other than the humane consideration, consider the value. Some koi can be
worth thousands.


I doubt that they were high-cost when small, but they are good size now.
The previous owner is available for help and info, so I will find out
more. The pond was "winterized" when we moved, which is essentially
shutting off the pump/filter. I added a heater, to keep the ice open,
per p.o. advice and have put my time an attention into getting settled
and ready for holidays - we love our home, and the kids and grands are
over often. There is also a pond gardening center about 30 mi. away, so
will do my best to keep the koi going. My husband would be perfectly
happy with a couple of small bluegill. The yard is fenced, but there is
a healthy raccoon population around...I know they like cherry trees )
The pond is over 8 yrs old, but not sure if koi have been here that long.

Thanks to all who offered info....I won't be busting concrete myself,
but it's good to know it won't take a major demo team )

Norminn wrote:

My husband would be perfectly happy with a couple of small bluegill. The
yard is fenced, but there is a healthy raccoon population
around...I know they like cherry trees )

I suspect they like koi too. I *know* that snakes do

--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Taxes out of hand? Maybe just ready for a change?
Check it out... http://www.floridaloghouse.net

On Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:36:44 -0500, wrote:

On Fri, 4 Jan 2013 08:39:59 -0500, "dadiOH"
wrote:

Norminn wrote:

We aren't going to spend a fortune to keep the koi
alive, but it would be real nice if we can.

Other than the humane consideration, consider the value. Some koi can be
worth thousands.

Amazing. The last ones I caught were terrible. Too bony.

They make better fertilizer in the garden.