Let's bring down a huge-ss silo, with a sledge hammer...

[BigBlockMopar]

Darwin Awards Contestant...

[dieselgeek]

man that came down quick. I figured it would go slower than that, like a tree falling over, haha. Meanwhile, it didn't fall on the buildings, and didn't kill anyone (barely) so... mission accomplished?

[DanStokes]

Wish he'd kept the camera on the subject. Cool that no one was hurt but I'm guessing neither of these dudes understood structure.

Dan

[JOES66FURY]

Freaking crazy Canuks...

I assume he thought it would fall like a tree....it did not lol....wonder how much poo was in his drawers when that was over

[dieselgeek]

in the grand scheme of things, I fail to see how that could have gone any better. Looks to me like it went right where he wanted it to regardless of his understanding :-)

I'd sure be happy with the results if it were my project. Other than the fact that there's quite a bit of heavy duty cleanup that needs to happen.

[DanStokes]

I agree that the outcome was excellent. Mom always said that the Lord looks after drunks and idiots. They seemed to be sober......

Dan

[squirrel]

A lesson in potential energy.

[dieselgeek]

this begs the question: what is the correct way to bring down a silo of concrete block construction?

[Bamfster]

WOW .... sledgehammer dude has all of his teeth!

Drain the (gene) pool .... I'm jumping in!

[squirrel]

this begs the question: what is the correct way to bring down a silo of concrete block construction?

Either take it apart from the top, or get a remote control sledgehammer

[BigBlockMopar]

this begs the question: what is the correct way to bring down a silo of concrete block construction?

The ol' American Way maybe... SHOOT IT!

[DanStokes]

I'd have taken out a few of those uprights that he was pounding on including one at the start and end of the opening he was creating. Then pass a big honking chain or cable around the ones you want to take out and hook it to the tractor (they were on a farm so there MUST be a tractor). Put tractor in gear and drive AWAY from the expected carnage. The force would be sideways on the concrete and it has little strength in that direction. KABOOM - and safely.

Dan

[dieselgeek]

Either take it apart from the top, or get a remote control sledgehammer

Top down is likely a lot more dangerous. As a farm kid, I took one down just like this guy did. not sure if you've seen how that particular type of silo is built, but there are no ladders involved, they start with the roof on the ground and use 3 or 4 jacks to hoist up one section at a time, sorta like drilling a well in reverse. I've seen guys try yanking them down with chains/cables and fail miserably. I also saw one taken down by explosives which was expensive... the concrete silos are older, 1950s and 1960s era, in the 70s they started using steel construction similar to a ship's hull. Those are even harder to take down.

[DanStokes]

Interesting that the chain or cable doesn't work. Seems easy.

I'll bet the Smith-style silos ARE a stinker. Those suckers are tough.

Dan

[squirrel]

Perhaps the safest way to do it is to get it so it's about ready to collapse, then drive an old truck with a non-working clutch (and a bed full of old tires) into the base of the silo. Be sure to jump out of the truck once it starts moving!