30, 60, or 90 lb? Sizing a Pavement Breaker to the Work

Pavement breaker class is a genuine trade-off, not a ladder where more is better. A 90 lb tool on a job that calls for a 30 will cost you time, not save it - and a 30 on a job that needs a 90 will cost you a whole day.

We build the KT-PB30 (30 lb class), KT-PB40, KT-PB60 (60 lb class) and KT-PB90 (90 lb class). Here is how to choose.

30 lb class - the KT-PB30

Best for: sidewalks, thin slabs, curb and gutter, patch work, interior demolition, and anywhere you need to break concrete without destroying what is underneath.

The 30 lb class is also the tool you want for vertical and overhead work, and for anything where the operator has to carry it around all day. Fatigue is real and it shows up as slower work in the afternoon.

Air consumption is the lowest of the range, which matters if your compressor is shared or marginal.

60 lb class - the KT-PB60

Best for: the broad middle. Driveways, standard slabs, footings, light foundation work, most road patching. If your work varies and you can only own one breaker, this is usually the class to buy.

It hits hard enough for genuine structural concrete and is still manageable for a full shift. Most rental fleets carry more 60 lb tools than anything else, and that is not an accident.

90 lb class - the KT-PB90

Best for: thick reinforced slabs, heavy foundations, bridge decks, and hard rock. When the concrete is genuinely heavy, the 90 finishes in a fraction of the time and the higher air consumption pays for itself.

Watch for: operator fatigue and compressor capacity. A 90 lb breaker is a serious air consumer, and running one on an undersized compressor gives you a tool that performs like a 60. Plan rotation on long jobs.

Do not forget the steel

The working end matters as much as the class:

• Moil point - general breaking, penetrates and cracks. The default.
• Chisel / flat - cutting lines, trimming edges, removing surface material.
• Asphalt cutter - wide blade for asphalt, where a moil point just punches holes.
• Clay spade - soil and clay, not concrete. See our demolition tools and clay diggers for that work.

A worn moil point is a slow moil point. Keep sharp steel in rotation - it is the cheapest productivity you can buy.

Air supply

Check the CFM requirement of the class you are buying and compare it against what your compressor actually delivers at working pressure - not its peak rating. Also check hose inner diameter and coupler size. A 90 lb breaker fed through undersized hose is a very expensive way to own a 60.

For rental fleets

The 60 lb class is the workhorse and should be the largest part of the fleet. Carry 30s for finish and interior work and 90s for the heavy jobs, but let the 60 carry the utilization.

Standardize on one manufacturer where you can. It simplifies the parts inventory dramatically - we stock 60 lb and 90 lb breaker parts along with the rest of the range.

Not sure?

Tell us the thickness, the reinforcement, and whether the work is horizontal or vertical. That is usually enough to answer it. Browse pavement breakers or call us.