anyone ever torn down/scrapped a silo?

[decjr2006]

i have a freind who did some clean up work on an abandoned farm a few months ago and was told he could also tear down the metal silo. he hasnt touched it and i was considering taking over the job for him. Has anyone ever attempted this? Any advice?

[KzScrapper]

Without some pics and dimensions it would be tough to say. Never have done one but moved plenty of things with a hired crane.

[miked]

Also make sure you have it in writting from the legal owner before you start. Need to cover youself, Mike.

[ozzy214]

Depending on the silo....all it takes is a nice long chain and truck. Make sure the chain is longer than height of the silo, so it dont whack ya truck. Give it a couple tugs and its down where you can safely cut it up. I have even take down telephone poles like this without cutting. Cant find a pic, but I have one to take down. Its a steel mesh, like #1 iron all the way to the top. Almost like chain link fence. Then the typical round disc for a roof. Couldn't find no pics on google, but think its for corn not grain. Almost reminds me of the thunder dome from Mad Max beyond the Thunderdome..lol.

[PistoneScrapProcessing]

Should be sheet iron aka 1 and half bundle material unless it is riveted then you can get plate for it at most yards. Bundles is more then plate don't get f'ed on the deal though.

[decjr2006]

That's what I was thinking about trying I guess there are different types and styles that they were built... was there somekind of steel support for it or was it wood? Any idea what the total weight was?

[ozzy214]

I havnt taken mine down yet, so cant answer the question. All I can say its like 16-20 ft tall and like 10 feet wide. Need to get some cars out of the way before I work on it.

[c4f5]

Bidding my first one now....top 1/3 is tornado damaged.

80 tall...36 wide. Very little in the way. I think we'll get explosive with it.

10-12 feet of water in the bottom. Still working out details and what all it it going to take for the bid. This one will take a lil more than a pickup & chain...lol. Will probably end up bidding between 2500 & 3000 to cover my expenses, plus I get the iron.

Bear in mind when figuring your iron value, many of the big blue silos are glass lined inside.

[decjr2006]

This one is very old doubt it is glass-lined

[c4f5]

That would be a good thing for you and probably worth cutting into #1 pieces. Mine is from the early 70's and is lined.

[Mechanic688]

I know a man with one of these in the back farmyard and a tornado close by tilted it a little bit but he can't give it away. Looking for this pic I did find a schematic for one of them.

[c4f5]

My guy has the same problem. The biggest damage is about 25 feet from the top. It has been like that since 2001, and I believe I'll be the first to come at him under the 5000 mark. Obviously, the smaller one won't be near as costly to bring down. I'll have nearly a grand tied up in just the fireworks. My bid will be close to my actual cost. Half the iron sale will be my profit, as 2 of us are going 50/50 in, 50/50 out on this job.

[CRThomas]

Take a bucket fill it half full of water the rest carbid be sure the silo is closed tight drill a hole in the side get a piece of fuse light it and run after the noise pick up the pieces and haul them of very little cutting. It will implode.

[c4f5]

Mine is no loger air tight due to the damage. We'll be blowing the anchors.

[826ih]

When we tore our harvestores down had a crane brought in picked it up lowered it down and unbolted section by section. Was not docked any for the glass lining.

[c4f5]

That lining is pretty thin, isn't it?

[taterjuice]

I was wondering the same thing. . . Probadly 18 Ga at the thickest ?