Removing/reducing concrete block in garden

[davemar]

While I was digging over the back garden after removing the old lawn I hit a large concrete block. It was obviously for a sticking a clothes hanger in as there's a hole in the middle. The trouble is, it's about 40x40cm across and over 50cm deep, so a little over-engineered. I would like to remove it, or a least knock some off the top so I can overlay my new lawn.

It's going to need to brute force of some sort, what sort of violence would you recommend to deal with it?

 

[Burnerman]

A big sledge hammer...of if you have a largish capacity SDS drill, pop a hole in and then bash on in with a cold chisel.
John

 

[leeco]

TNT

 

[scbk]

I removed one of a simmilar size a few weeks ago, my brother had already tried attacking it with a large sledge hammer and pinch bar but barely made a mark in it.
I broke it up with a hydraulic jack hammer, but that's not much use if you don't own one!

 

[leeco]

Best thing to do realy is dig it out.

 

[davemar]

I like the TNT idea (not the incompetent postal service after watching last night's Dispatches programme)! Actually something that could fracture the block into a couple of lumps would be quite helpful, but I wouldn't want to split my whole house in two!

I've dug down a bit further and still haven't got to anything less solid underneath. This block will probably weigh a 1/4 of a tonne, so being able to break it would help a lot in getting it out.

It's a pity I live in a quiet cul-de-sac a not one of the main roads which seem to be permanently getting dug up, as I could ask one of the workmen to pop in with his jack hammer.

 

[john4703]

I agree with the previous suggestion. I have removed two by drilling a small hole, getting a cold chisel firmly stuck with a lump hammer then hitting the cold chisel with a sledge hammer, it does eventually break a piece off.