looking for ideas

[bobg03]

When we built our house I purchased two large urns for each side of driveway, they were set out there but needed leveling and being wired to support lights..I was still working 800 miles away and the plan was to take care of it next time I came home for 3 weeks. My bride couldn't wait she hired a guy to put 4X4 poles imbedded in concrete still unleveled with solar lights (cheap ones no less).

two years later the idea still sucked and I had wiring and poles installed.

So these urns now weigh more than ever plus wouldn't sit level on a flat surface because of they guy just pouring the concrete in with the bottom open.

So I emptied the decorative rock hiding the concrete in them and flipped them over using a chisel they now sit flat.

The 4x4's are now crooked and the urn is level..anyone got an idea how to remove the posts imbedded in 10" of concrete?

I was gonna try and cut them off flush with the urn and put the small decorative stone back in to hide them, any better ideas?

The urns are beautiful and have patina so they really don't need plants or pole protruding.

 

[65ranchero]

How far down are the 4x?
I want to suggest a oscillating tool to at least cut them flush but that will take like forever.
Another thought would be to cut it as far down as you can and then take a chain saw (and carefully) eat away at the stub but that's looking for trouble!
How about cutting it down as far as possible and using a wood boring bit and a series of holes to chip away to below the top of the concrete and cover it with stone and call it done!
That's all I got !

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Put them someplace dry for a while to let the wood shrink and try to jack the posts out.

 

[510ebl]

Is there room to use a wire saw and a lot of patience?

 

[niget2002]

Cut off as far down as you can. Use drill bits to hollow out as much wood as possible. Then use a chisel to get the rest out.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

 

[510ebl]

Wait... it sounded like the urns have an open bottom that was filled with concrete? Can you hammer/jackhammer out the concrete through the the bottom, taking the wood with it?

 

[bczygan]

Photos?

 

[bobg03]

I am incapable of pictures..lol

The wood is PT and drenched, it has been raining for 40 days. I am thinking a recipricating saw to make them flush with the top lip and then a woodboring bit and hole cutters to slowly chip it away. The concrete is about 8" below the top lip and all the way thru to the bottom. The urns were open from top to bottom originally with an 18x18 square on top and narrowing down to a 12x12 square on bottom. I am disabled and would never have the physical strength to beat the concrete or jack them out. I am certainly not capable of jackhammering them out and this needs to be made do using what I have and what I am capable of.

Thanks for the ideas..it'll be awhile lol

 

[LeonardY]

I'm surprised no one else suggested this.

Try burning them out with a torch.

 

[Don1357]

I'm surprised no one else suggested this.

Try burning them out with a torch.

Hm... Vaporized arsenic... Sounds like fun.

If we had a picture to see what you are up to it would help.

 

[kaymccampbell]

A Lancelot tool and an angle grinder. Use the guard.

 

[toolmiser]

How about cutting them off flush drilling a couple large holes and using a "sawsall" to cut them into managable chunks. You could run a screw into them to use to pry them out.

 

[mobetta]

I've used a 2 1/2" boring bit to drill out the center of old rotten fence posts out of concrete footers. I used a hole hawg drill and an extension.(think Plumber)

I then broke out the rest of the posts, chipped the footer down where needed, Drove in new 4x4's and reset them with precision grout.

it sucked. I know you're just trying to remove the posts, and as such
I'd just cut them as low as possible with a sawzall and long blade(longer= more flexible) and pour some rocks on top....