0:00:04 > 0:00:09On Crash Course right now, the delicate art of demolition.
0:00:13 > 0:00:14I've driven just about
0:00:14 > 0:00:16every-high powered vehicle there is.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18But that was just for fun.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21The world's biggest, baddest vehicles are made to work.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24So, now I've decided to travel across the United States
0:00:24 > 0:00:27to see if I can conquer the monsters of the worksite.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31I'll have just three days to learn how to handle
0:00:31 > 0:00:33these complex and dangerous machines
0:00:33 > 0:00:36that normally take years of training to master.
0:00:36 > 0:00:37And in the end,
0:00:37 > 0:00:40we'll find out if I'm good enough to get the job done.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46This is a track hoe. You will have seen one.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48And there's a very good reason for that -
0:00:48 > 0:00:51they are the workhorse of the construction industry.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53They can push, pull, dig, lift, load.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Pretty much every building you've ever seen
0:00:56 > 0:00:58will have been worked on by one of these.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Every road you've ever seen, every bridge you've ever seen.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03Pretty much everything you've ever seen that has been built
0:01:03 > 0:01:05will have been worked on by one of these.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08And as this is a show about working vehicles,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10I really need to learn how to run one.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12To do that, I've hooked up with a team
0:01:12 > 0:01:14at Central Environmental Services, demolition experts,
0:01:14 > 0:01:18because they use these things in some pretty special, unique ways.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20They use a thumb and bucket attachment
0:01:20 > 0:01:24to grab and pull down walls, sifting out recyclable material.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Then they use a densifier attachment
0:01:27 > 0:01:29to crush the remaining slabs of concrete.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32They even use it to swing a wrecking ball.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35They're using it right now to pull down that building over there,
0:01:35 > 0:01:36and that's a hint,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40because at the end of my three days' training on that machine,
0:01:40 > 0:01:45I'm going to use it to tear down an entire house by myself.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48I'm going to pull a house down with that.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49Just me and that.
0:01:49 > 0:01:54And if I can do that, I'll be able to call myself a real demo man.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02Let's use this building as an example,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04- cos this is going to come down, isn't it?- Yes, sir.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Right. Now, to the likes of me, I look at what you're doing
0:02:07 > 0:02:09where you get some sort of big machine and go splat
0:02:09 > 0:02:12and that's that. What's involved in taking that down?
0:02:12 > 0:02:13We pull off the wire.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16All the electrical boxes, the air conditioning units,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19the heaters, the boilers, then we pull out all woods,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22kitchen equipment, whatever is in there.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Punch out all the aluminum, pull all the wire,
0:02:24 > 0:02:26get all the copper, all the brass.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30Even the steel and the concrete are all recycled.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Everything goes to recycling.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34And we got ourselves to the point where we're recycling
0:02:34 > 0:02:36about 85% of most commercial buildings.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38You love this, don't you?
0:02:38 > 0:02:39- I love it.- You really do.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Are you kidding? There ain't nothing like demo.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44It's wonderful. I love it. It's great.
0:02:44 > 0:02:45It's powerful.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48It...when you're wrecking something, you're like a Superman.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52You're going to take a day and knock it on its butt.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01OK. Let's knock a building on its butt.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05My teacher Danny is going to show me how it's done.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07- Cos he's going to punch a hole through the wall.- Yes.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Right there. Now be real careful when you punch that hole.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Now, he doesn't want to go all the way through,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17so he doesn't hit his boom or his cylinders.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19So, he's just going to punch a hole, push all the block in.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23He's quite neat, isn't he, for a man in a big track hoe?
0:03:23 > 0:03:26It is amazing. That's a 30-ton track hoe,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28but it's extremely accurate.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31And now he's using it like a fist to just punch through the wall.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34- Right.- So, now he's taking out the pillars.- Right.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36It really isn't just an all-out destructive process, is it?
0:03:36 > 0:03:39There is some finesse being demonstrated by the operator.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42These guys know what a building is about.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45They're pretty much destruction engineers.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49- That is a big powerful machine he's using.- Very powerful.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51Just because he's using finesse, that's got a lot...look at it.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54- Very powerful.- He's just flicking it out of the way.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56Why is he watering the ivy? You're pulling the building down.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- I don't get it.- There's another regulation in demolition.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03We've got to make sure that we do everything we can
0:04:03 > 0:04:05to keep the dust down.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08When we hose stuff down, the dust goes right down.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09Now, see what he's doing?
0:04:09 > 0:04:13He's picking up the air conditioners that have already been abated
0:04:13 > 0:04:15and getting them out of the way. This is all wire in there.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20We...we'll recycle all that stuff. This is the beginning of recycling.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Aaargh! He's not even...
0:04:22 > 0:04:25- He's just flicking it all to one side.- You're right.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Now watch, he's going to go after the first bar joints.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Now, see? He's got the outside bar joints. He's going to do
0:04:31 > 0:04:33a little bit more pushing and shoving.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Now he's going after that steel.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39So, he doesn't tear it up apart. He pulls it apart, piece by piece.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40That's it.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45'Danny just took down that building like a surgeon.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49'Now, I'm dying to learn how to use a 30-ton track hoe like a scalpel.'
0:04:49 > 0:04:53So, Danny, this bit of the end here is the track hoe itself.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- Right.- And this is kind of familiar to us all.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57- This bit here.- Right.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59These can be fitted with all sorts of heads.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01You've got a special one here. What does it do?
0:05:01 > 0:05:05This here is the standard hydraulic thumb built onto my bucket.
0:05:05 > 0:05:07So, essentially what you've got is bucket,
0:05:07 > 0:05:09- which we have, that can dig and stuff.- Yes.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- And then this thumb that does that?- Right.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14- Yeah, it will move in and out. - So you can pick stuff up.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17- Right.- So, you can pick up a car with that?- Right.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20But what about small stuff? How much finesse can you use?
0:05:20 > 0:05:21How small a thing can you pick up?
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- Small pieces of metal.- Really?
0:05:25 > 0:05:27- Yeah.- Hang on. Look, give me that. Thank you very much.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29You can see where this is going, can't you?
0:05:29 > 0:05:32- Yeah.- I should introduce you. This is our drinks cooler.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34I just wondered if, say, the crew said,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36"Can somebody pass us our drinks cooler?"
0:05:36 > 0:05:40and you were up there in that, could you pass us that with this?
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- Er...- Without breaking it? - I can give it a shot.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44Saddle up, I'll put it down here.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48That's our drinks box.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02If it gets broken, there'll be a very cross crew.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05There, look he's in. He's in. He's in.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Ooh! Ooh, ooh, that is millimetre-precise,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10cos it's not quite... oh, ho, ho!
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Gentlemen, your drinks.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Ah, there we go.
0:06:27 > 0:06:28There you are.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30That is pretty amazing, actually,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- and now you're going to teach me how to do it.- OK.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34- I want to do that.- OK.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36- I want to be that good. - I can teach you.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Yeah, right. I'm climbing up. Oh, oh.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42- This is about finessing my skills here.- Right.- So, what do I do?
0:06:42 > 0:06:46Well, I have a crazy way of remembering how to use the machine
0:06:46 > 0:06:49- and I teach a lot, you know.- Yeah. - some of the guys and stuff.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53I call it right-hand as BB and my left hand is SS.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57Which just stands for the right-hand runs
0:06:57 > 0:07:03- operates your bucket and your boom.- BB.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08And then your left hand operates your stick and your swing.
0:07:08 > 0:07:09All right.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Stick and swing. Boom and bucket.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12Right.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Boom and bucket, stick and swing.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16It's kind of cool, isn't it?
0:07:16 > 0:07:18- That's how I like it. - That's how I teach the guys.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19- I can do that.- You can do that?
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- I can do that.- All right. - I can do that.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25- We'll give it a shot, see what you can do.- OK. I'm good.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28This really is where it all starts
0:07:28 > 0:07:31for most building and demolition projects.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34This one machine is an extension of the builder's
0:07:34 > 0:07:37and the demo guy's hands and arms.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38It's that significant a machine.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41So, I have to learn how to move one of these
0:07:41 > 0:07:45if I'm going to appreciate what working machines are all about.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52Bucket and boom, bucket and boom, bucket and boom, swing and stick.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55And I have to say, his boom and bucket thing,
0:07:55 > 0:07:58way of remembering, it does work.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00I reckon if I get good enough with this,
0:08:00 > 0:08:01I'll be able to pet a mouse.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04Not my own mouse, somebody else's, obviously.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07OK, Danny, I've got that. I've got it.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09I'm ready to pull a building down. Where do I go? Come on.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14Actually, I got a smaller house you can practise on.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16OK. I'm willing. I'll start small.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18That's good, where do I go? Lead on.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19I'll take you to it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Oh, come on. I'm not going to wreck that.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25No, you're not going to wreck this.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27You're going to move this for me.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29- Pick it up- Pick it up and move it for me.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- The outside lavatory.- Right.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34- All right. I've got to be careful.- Yeah.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37- Oh, I can do that. You stand back and watch.- OK.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Here we go. I go right to the immortal words, "Watch this."
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Huh.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48OK then, boss, so what do you want?
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Gently pick it up. From the top.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53I need you to move that from there, I want to move it over there
0:08:53 > 0:08:56just out of the way for the... underneath my trees for me.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59OK. Pick it up, put it by the trees. Here I go.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01Ahhh.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Precision.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Precision.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11OK.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Down with your boom a little bit.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Down with the boom, OK.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21So, let's just line that up in there like that.
0:09:21 > 0:09:27That's the thumb, in goes the thumb. Nice and careful.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30Now, in comes the bucket.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43I got it. I got it. I got it.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Oh, slipping, slipping! Oh!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02OK. Got to put the thumb to the back carefully.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06In.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10There we go.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Oh!
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Oh.
0:10:21 > 0:10:22Yes. It's the whole precision.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24It's harder than it looks, isn't it?
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Isn't it harder than it looks? Oh.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Yeah, I'll maybe finesse that a bit. I think...
0:10:31 > 0:10:32I kind of had it, but it slipped,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and then I thought I caught it and it...I didn't in the end.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Its...oh, that's not nice either.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39That's a...oh!
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Yeah. We'll deal with that later.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Practice is everything, though, I can see now. I'm learning.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48I'm learn...I'm getting better.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Do you want me to tidy it up?
0:10:51 > 0:10:52I got other things for you to do.
0:10:57 > 0:10:58Day One ends in Orlando.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00And clearly, I've already mastered the fine art
0:11:00 > 0:11:04of using the track hoe with finesse and precision.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07Yeah, all right. Clearly, there is some practice needed.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09But hey, I've got two days left.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Day Two in Orlando. My second day with Central Environmental Services
0:11:13 > 0:11:18Demolition Company. I've set myself the goal of becoming a demo man.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21And today is the day when, finally,
0:11:21 > 0:11:24I get my first go at tearing a building down.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27You are mine, oh, yeah. Boom, gone.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29You're as good as gone already. You might want to stand back.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34'I just have one problem.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37'Before I have a good whack at this building,
0:11:37 > 0:11:40'I have to get Rich out of the track hoe.'
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- Yo, Richard. I'm going to show you how it's done.- Here we go.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47There, he's happy, look.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02- Not modern dance, but... - Incoming!
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Missed, but only just.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I don't think I've ever witnessed anyone so completely caught up
0:12:08 > 0:12:12- in what they're doing as he is right now.- Mm-mm. Mm-mm, no.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15I've never seen anything like this.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17Watching him, you can kind of see the...
0:12:17 > 0:12:19he goes after specifics, doesn't he?
0:12:19 > 0:12:21He's not just flailing about and smashing it to bits,
0:12:21 > 0:12:23he is going into particular...
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Yeah. He goes in...
0:12:25 > 0:12:28It's like a backwards puzzle to him.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30In the course of making these shows, I've met a lot of guys
0:12:30 > 0:12:34who are really good at what they do, whatever their role is.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I've never met anybody who just enjoys it as much
0:12:37 > 0:12:39as he clearly does it now.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41That was astonishing.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44It just shows the muscle that this thing's got,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46and the skill that an operator can develop.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48You must be the calmest man in the world up there.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- All I can say, have you any stress left in you?- Well,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- this is my good stress release. - You don't say(?)
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Other people go to a bar, I get down here, wreck a crack house,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- you know? Or a building. - I'm not surprised. What can I do?
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Get in there and see if you can pull down some bones.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06I might not show quite the same aggression. I'll try.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10I'm never going to match up to that display of...
0:13:10 > 0:13:13I don't want to say naked aggression, cos it wasn't.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16It was...it was controlled aggression, but it was aggression.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Little guy with a big job to do.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22HE LAUGHS
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Already this feels funny.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26I don't know why, it just does.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30I'm walking. This feels strange.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32I'm a bit nervous. It feels like I'm going to...
0:13:32 > 0:13:34well, I'm going to break something, obviously.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35Ah, you'll be all right.
0:13:35 > 0:13:36You'll be OK. You got it.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43Oh, I got one! I got one. Hold on.
0:13:43 > 0:13:44I have!
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I've got one. Blow me down if I haven't got one.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Now, just slowly bring that to you.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52That whole piece, bring it to you slowly.
0:13:52 > 0:13:54HE LAUGHS
0:13:54 > 0:13:55Look at that.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00All right. That's a loose piece. Bring it all around here.
0:14:02 > 0:14:03Free swing all around.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Oh, yes.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13All right, reach out and set it way out here.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Out of your way.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19Good job. Good job.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21That's one.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Only about 100 more to go.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Suddenly, I see what it's about.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30This is strangely and horribly,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33for all the wrong reasons, fantastic.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36You're mine, come with me.
0:14:41 > 0:14:42Come on. Come with me.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44Arrr, arrr. You're mine.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45Arrr.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Oh, it's breaking all those wires off it.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50Grrr!
0:14:51 > 0:14:54HE LAUGHS
0:14:56 > 0:14:58HE LAUGHS
0:14:58 > 0:14:59'There you go. All right.'
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Take it back around.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03CRASH
0:15:03 > 0:15:05That was alarming.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13I want more of that.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15I want to get some more of these bones.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18Is there any chance I can have that air-conditioning unit off?
0:15:18 > 0:15:20- Please.- 'Ah, go for it. Take it off.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- 'It's in your way.'- Yes! Yes! - 'Get rid of it.'
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Oh, I'm so having that. That's my prize.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29If you're watching and imagining, "I bet that's fun..."
0:15:29 > 0:15:30or worse still, imagining,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33"That can't be as much fun as it looks..." No, it is.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Butterfingers, butterfingers.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Just want to get it out from all those bits of wire and metal there.
0:15:48 > 0:15:49That's it.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51That's mine.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Not sure, but this could be about as much fun
0:16:04 > 0:16:06as I've ever had in any machine.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09It's just a humble track hoe, but now I'm learning just why it is.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Good job.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Oh, that is just...
0:16:13 > 0:16:15- You did really good. - ..too much fun.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17You giggled like a little schoolgirl in there.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19I don't know why I enjoyed that so much.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22It probably doesn't bear examining, but that is just...
0:16:22 > 0:16:23it's weirdly addictive, isn't it?
0:16:23 > 0:16:26- Yes, very.- Trying to find the right bit and pulling,
0:16:26 > 0:16:27and pulling and then, bam! Off it comes.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30And you realise the power of the machine, that it just..
0:16:30 > 0:16:31- Yeah.- Nothing can stop it.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Well, it really is up to you to make sure you don't make
0:16:34 > 0:16:37a horrible mistake. Everything is just... you put it on.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40- You don't drive it, you wear it. It becomes... like wearing a big robot suit.- Yup.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42I love that game!
0:16:42 > 0:16:45I'm surprised there's anything left standing around here.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49'Now that I've had and enjoyed my first taste of wrecking a building,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53'I think it might be nice to kick back and relax at Richard's house.'
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Right, I am keen to see what a guy who wrecks buildings
0:16:56 > 0:16:58does in his downtime.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00And I'm guessing it's going to be in here.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03It is. Some people call this thing a barn.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05I call it my kind of man cave.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10So, right now...
0:17:10 > 0:17:13every man across America watching is calling his wife and saying,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16"Look at what this guy's got. I want that at home."
0:17:16 > 0:17:18You don't think that's neat... Come on.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20I've got something else to show you.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23OK. So the...this is it. This is your hobby?
0:17:23 > 0:17:24Yes, it is.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26What is it?
0:17:26 > 0:17:28- Oh, these are bonsais.- Are they?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31It's an ancient art of the miniaturisation of trees.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35OK. This is just one of these weird leaps that you have to make
0:17:35 > 0:17:37when you meet somebody, because having met you,
0:17:37 > 0:17:40you talk about your job and what you do is big,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42knocking stuff down... and then, little tiny trees.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I know. It takes the stress out.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50You know, it wouldn't matter how long you gave me to think about it,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53I could not come up with something just more opposite
0:17:53 > 0:17:55to what you do for a job than this.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I mean, it's completely...
0:17:58 > 0:18:01it's...you're creating stuff, it's tiny.
0:18:01 > 0:18:04Requires patience. Well, let's get back to work.
0:18:04 > 0:18:05- That's enough.- You got it.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07- It's important we get on. - Let's go wreck something.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Just one...just...that one there.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Come on, we got a building to wreck.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Yeah, I just want to... you see, once you've started...
0:18:17 > 0:18:19that one, that was bothering me.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25This is a wrecking ball.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29Probably the iconic piece of demolition hardware.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33It's best part of two tons of lead encased in steel.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36It is effective and dangerous.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39So dangerous, it's actually illegal in the UK.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Nevertheless, if I'm going to learn how to be a demo man,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I'm going to have to learn how to swing one of these.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Before I actually swing it, I am going to need a lesson or two.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50It's making me nervous even when it's still.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Just going to back away from it slowly.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59OK, then, Danny, um...
0:18:59 > 0:19:01'Do you have everything you need?'
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Demonstrate the fine art of swinging a wrecking ball.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05I've never even see this done.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08- I...honestly, this is a first for me.- I'll show you.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15There we go.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18There we go.
0:19:18 > 0:19:19That's what I'm talking about.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23There we go.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Oh, you see there's a lot...
0:19:30 > 0:19:32there's more involved in this than I thought.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Oh, there's thinking to be done. It's really hard.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40And that ball weighs the better part of two tons.
0:19:40 > 0:19:41If that goes out of control,
0:19:41 > 0:19:44it weighs an equivalent of many times more.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50HE LAUGHS
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Simple as that.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54'OK.'
0:19:54 > 0:19:59I'm guessing if I get this wrong, I am, well, killed.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02Uh, yeah, basically.
0:20:02 > 0:20:03Oh, Lord.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07'Because the wrecking ball is so dangerous,
0:20:07 > 0:20:09'it won't be part of my final exam.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12but I'll never be able to call myself a real demo man
0:20:12 > 0:20:15'if I don't at least learn how to swing one.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:18I have one piece of advice for your crew, really
0:20:18 > 0:20:21and that is, seriously, go over there somewhere.
0:20:21 > 0:20:22Bye.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27I mean, how hard can this be?
0:20:27 > 0:20:28Danny, I guess this is one of those things
0:20:28 > 0:20:31I just need to sort of get a feel for, yeah?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Yes, it's just something you got to get a feel for and the only...
0:20:34 > 0:20:38the key thing to this is that you don't open your bucket.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40'Left hand, side to side,'
0:20:40 > 0:20:42not your right hand.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Yeah, so back and forth with my right hand,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49but not side to side, or the bucket will be opened?
0:20:49 > 0:20:50Correct.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53And if you feel like it's coming at you,
0:20:53 > 0:20:55just try and take your left hand,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58straight down, to bring the ball to the ground.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01Right. So, lifting it up.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07I'm suddenly scared of this thing. I mean, really scared.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09This thing is illegal in the UK.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Oh, that's a two-ton weight there.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14So, up...
0:21:16 > 0:21:20..and then swing down.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27Whoa!
0:21:27 > 0:21:30This is dangerous. Oh, God.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34You want that ball to chase that bucket.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40As it's coming up, you already want to get your motion
0:21:40 > 0:21:42to go the opposite way with that bucket.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Oh, man, that is so much harder than I expected.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52I mean, really a lot.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57I thought you just swing and then it's done.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59But no, there's timing,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01you've got to extend and depress the boom,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04and as soon as you get the swing wrong,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06what the ball does is come at you.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09That's why it's dangerous.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16Well, I'd say I've just about got the hang of the wrecking ball,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18but clearly I do need to practice.
0:22:18 > 0:22:19It's a big dangerous thing.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22I wish there was, like, a wall I could practise on.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23You know, something...
0:22:23 > 0:22:26well, look at that!
0:22:26 > 0:22:27How convenient.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'A wall constructed of such unforgivable hideousness
0:22:30 > 0:22:34'that it deserves to be pummelled by a two-ton ball of steel.'
0:22:34 > 0:22:37OK. Danny, in your own time, show me how it's done.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39No problem.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44Oh, that thing is just terrifying.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Oh, oh, oh!
0:22:51 > 0:22:53That's one.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Boo-yah!
0:22:57 > 0:22:58It works.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07My, but that's an effective piece of kit.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09Danny, that was truly some fine work.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Do you reckon I can give it a go on the second story of them?
0:23:12 > 0:23:14- Come on. No problem.- 'OK.'
0:23:14 > 0:23:16I'm just... it's old and childish
0:23:16 > 0:23:19but that looks like too much fun to miss out.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22'Danny was able to swing the wrecking ball with such force,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26'he was able to flick those minivans off the pile like ants off a twig.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29'Now, let's see if I can do the same.'
0:23:29 > 0:23:30OK.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33And with the ball of death, ohhh.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37All right. Activate hydraulics.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Keep it close to you and hit it.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Now draw her back the other way. Now go for it.
0:23:45 > 0:23:48Yo-ho!
0:23:48 > 0:23:49Give a little more swing to her.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Just bring her out a little more and then come back.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55Swing. Boom!
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Nearly...I nearly got it,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I nearly got it, I nearly got it.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03Yeah, nearly. And you are going off now, baby.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04You are going off.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09Boom, boom, bang!
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Oh, come on! It's stubborn, isn't it, that one?
0:24:14 > 0:24:15It's wedged on top of her.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Right. What I need to do is the other car.
0:24:19 > 0:24:20I might go slightly higher. What do you think?
0:24:20 > 0:24:22It's all yours.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28It's starting to suss...
0:24:28 > 0:24:30it's all these little movements that they do
0:24:30 > 0:24:34that is very much like complex surgery.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45I'm just beating it up. I don't mind that,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48but it's not going to fall off. This is tricky.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51I'm learning something really special and subtle.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54You know those people who paint miniature portraits on enamel?
0:24:54 > 0:24:55It's a bit like that.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00Exactly. Track forward about another three feet.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Both tracks. Straight forward, there you go.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04There's the sweet spot right there.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07OK. I'm going to start from there.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10I want to get the centre pillar where the doors meet.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11That's a strong bit.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Right. Let's give it a go, then.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20I think I missed the strong bit.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Sometimes you have a picture in your mind of what will happen
0:25:23 > 0:25:25and what something is going to be like,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and then the reality turns out to be really very different.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31That's what's happening here. I thought a wrecking ball is just,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34"Raar!" swing it and it just knocks everything down.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37It turns out, no. It's a fine and subtle art.
0:25:39 > 0:25:40No wonder that's illegal.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43It's not just dangerous, it's impossible. Really difficult.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45- Look what it's taken.- Yes.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49- It's wedged.- It's wedged up in there and you see the other one.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Well, clearly some idiot built the wall wrong.
0:25:51 > 0:25:53I mean, they all locked together.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- Yup.- I learned, though... I learned a lot doing that.- Yeah.
0:25:56 > 0:25:57- Do you know what?- Hmm?
0:25:57 > 0:26:01- Really enjoying being a demo man. I have to say.- Yeah.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03I love this.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06What you see before you is evidence of learning,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09training, and I like to think,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12an almost artful determination to see your job through.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14It's quite a moving thing.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16That is an art installation right there.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20We made that. It's quite beautiful.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25Day three for me at Central Environmental Services in Orlando.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27So far I've learned, I think, pretty quickly
0:26:27 > 0:26:30how to tear down a building using a track hoe.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33The thing is, though, the job doesn't end there,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36because right now, these guys can recycle 85% of a building
0:26:36 > 0:26:38after they've wrecked it.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41And that's what my lesson today is about, recycling.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43This is where we get to the finer details,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45finessing the whole process.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48It's why people talk of the fine art of demolition.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50They do talk about it. Well, I do.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52It is a fine art of demolition.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55And today that's what I'll learn.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57So what are we doing here?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Well, we're recycling metals.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02This here is called dirty aluminum.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04- This is dirty what?- Dirty aluminum.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06Aluminium. It's aluminium.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08- Dirty aluminium.- Yes, it is.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Aluminium.
0:27:10 > 0:27:12- And three small screws in there are steel.- Right.
0:27:12 > 0:27:16So if we took that to a scrap yard and put it in there,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18they'd give us a price for dirty aluminum,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21which would be about 30 or 40 cents per pound less.
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Now, this over here...
0:27:22 > 0:27:24- Yes.- ..is copper.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26These are the copper water pipes within a house,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29probably the most valuable non-ferrous metal
0:27:29 > 0:27:30- out there on the demo job.- Right.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33This is the stuff you really want.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34So my job is to go through that whole pile
0:27:34 > 0:27:38- and sort it out into these piles so it's ready to go?- There you go.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40What's really cool is that you're, like, on a treasure hunt.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43You never know if you're going to find a special prize
0:27:43 > 0:27:44in that pile. You never know.
0:27:46 > 0:27:47Oh, ho.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Oh, oh. Right. So that's... no, that's the boom.
0:27:52 > 0:27:53Oh, oh, Lord. Hold on.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55No, no, no, no, it's the other...
0:27:55 > 0:27:56HE LAUGHS
0:27:56 > 0:27:59I've just got the hang of this. Oh, no.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Oh, this is really difficult. No.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Look, this is harder than it looks. That's what you need to know.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Curl your bucket too.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- There you go.- That's sheet aluminium, yeah?- Yes, sir.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- I'll go the other way around. - All the way over here.
0:28:21 > 0:28:22Go around this way.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Oh, I'm really getting to grips with this now.
0:28:29 > 0:28:30Let's have a look. So...
0:28:30 > 0:28:33You see that piece of copper in there, Richard?
0:28:33 > 0:28:34Get that piece of copper pipe right there.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Oh, that's the treasure, isn't it? This...OK.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40This is what these guys are after. The copper is where the value is.
0:28:42 > 0:28:43Now, hopefully I can bring that in.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46Come on, come on, come on, little pipe.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- There it is.- There you go. Just swing her over here.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56I want to check that. It sure looks to me like it's fool's copper.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57What's wrong with that?
0:28:57 > 0:28:59It looks like copper but it's not.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02This here is the demo man's smallest tool.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04It's a magnet.
0:29:05 > 0:29:07It shouldn't be magnetic?
0:29:07 > 0:29:10If it's pure copper, the magnet would be on the ground.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- But it's steel.- Right. I'm going to find some copper.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Hang on, hang on, hang on, look.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19You know how you said sometimes you find treasure?
0:29:19 > 0:29:22If that's not treasure, what is?
0:29:22 > 0:29:23Oh, yeah, hold on.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Oh, my goodness, look at this.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36I may have bent it a little bit but not a lot.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37- Look at that!- See, I told you,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39you never know what you're going to find.
0:29:39 > 0:29:41There it is. I found it.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44All right. Look at that. You know what?
0:29:45 > 0:29:48This is your reward for such an unbelievable job.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50Oh, that is so... it's a proud moment.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53It matters a lot to me and to my family and my agent.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57And whoever hid this and didn't expect me to ruin it,
0:29:57 > 0:29:58I'm really sorry.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01But I am starting to get that this really is about precision,
0:30:01 > 0:30:02right from the moment you start.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04It's not just tearing the place down,
0:30:04 > 0:30:06it's about breaking all the way from being a building
0:30:06 > 0:30:09down to its constituent elements and sorting those out.
0:30:09 > 0:30:10Absolutely.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16Demo guys don't just recycle the metal
0:30:16 > 0:30:17out of the buildings they wreck.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20They recycle the bricks, the concrete, the very fabric,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23even the foundations of the buildings themselves.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26To do that, we need something pretty special.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28You need one of these.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32That is one angry looking machine. Oh, oh.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34I don't want to be recycled!
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Rich, I don't think I need to ask really what's happening here.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46Oh! I mean it's pretty clear what's going on.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49That's called a densifier.
0:30:49 > 0:30:50It's horrible.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53That is about 10,000 pounds of pressure
0:30:53 > 0:30:58cracking that, and gets it constantly broke up.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59Why has it got to do that?
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Well, he wants to make sure that
0:31:01 > 0:31:03when he crushes a piece of concrete,
0:31:03 > 0:31:05that he gets all the rebar out of it.
0:31:05 > 0:31:06Then they just mag that out.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08Oh, it's got it stuck in its teeth.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10I hate when that happens. That'll be...
0:31:10 > 0:31:12Oh, it's just angry, cross.
0:31:12 > 0:31:13It's just an animal.
0:31:13 > 0:31:15Grrr.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17I've got to have a go. Please, can I have a go, please?
0:31:17 > 0:31:21- Yeah. That's it. I think you ought to have a go on that.- Yeah. OK.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23All right, Richard.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25You learned from the best with Central Demolition right there.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27I'ma tell you, if you can't do it with this,
0:31:27 > 0:31:31I got a 80-pound hammer sitting waiting on you. Good luck.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33OK. I didn't understand most of that.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36But basically, get this right or we're going to use a hammer.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38That's what I took from that. OK.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40So, Rich, do I now begin?
0:31:40 > 0:31:41Ready to go, buddy.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Firing it up. Right. So, let's give it some revs.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I want to get a straight mouthful.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49I'm driving a dinosaur.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52- Now go ahead and crush. Try that right there. - Which way is close?
0:31:52 > 0:31:55There. Oh, that way. OK.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Grrr!
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Hungry. Arrr!
0:32:01 > 0:32:03There you go. That's it, man.
0:32:05 > 0:32:06It's hungry.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09It's like feeding a massive hungry dog. There you go.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Have a bone. Oh, my!
0:32:14 > 0:32:15Whoo! Whoo!
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Way to go, boy!
0:32:19 > 0:32:21You cannot tell me the guys don't enjoy this. They must.
0:32:23 > 0:32:24Big crunch coming up. Arrr!
0:32:24 > 0:32:26HE GROWLS
0:32:28 > 0:32:29Whoo!
0:32:32 > 0:32:34You know, that's bloody fantastic.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37That was great. You know what? I'm full.
0:32:37 > 0:32:41It's like... it's almost like indigestion. It is.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44- You're the man. Way to go. All right.- Oh, I got indigestion.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47You should make mint flavoured concrete for that thing.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49- I think it would like it. - I think it would too.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51I thought at first it was a dog with a bone, but it's more like
0:32:51 > 0:32:55- a dinosaur eating another dinosaur's leg bone.- Yes, it is.
0:32:55 > 0:32:57- All gone.- Now, you did good.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59I've got an idea for maybe another use for it.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02- Something that's pretty important. - Really?
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Just bear with me on this one. You'll be impressed.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06- Well this one I got to see. - Yeah. Here it comes.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Hey, Rich, are you a lover of the arts?
0:33:21 > 0:33:22Oh, yeah, absolutely.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26I want to get this just right. I'm sorry.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29I'm being precise. It's all about precision.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31HE LAUGHS
0:33:31 > 0:33:35This is a glorious, glorious thing that we are doing.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40Stupid garden statues, I can't stand them.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44Oh, that was... not at all gentle, was it?
0:33:47 > 0:33:49You know, I think that might have been better than a minivan.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51I think it was.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54I do hate those miserable little garden statues.
0:33:54 > 0:33:55Man, did you give him a whupping!
0:33:57 > 0:33:59I'll tell you what I've...
0:33:59 > 0:34:01What I've just seen in there.
0:34:01 > 0:34:03THEY LAUGH
0:34:03 > 0:34:04His butt made it. It's OK.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08- His butt made it through. That's all OK.- All right.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Well, there you go. Sorry, David.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13It's the end of Day Three. The only thing ahead of me now
0:34:13 > 0:34:15is my final exam, and this house is going to be it.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17Greg Harvey, you're the contractor.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21Greg is basically is my boss for the purposes of this exercise.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Before I actually do it, why are we tearing this house down?
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Well, the owners wanted a very energy efficient
0:34:27 > 0:34:29and eco-friendly home, and unfortunately,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33we weren't able to achieve that with the home that we have today,
0:34:33 > 0:34:35and they elected to go ahead
0:34:35 > 0:34:37and tear it down and start with a new one.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39- My conscience is entirely salved. - You should be good.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41- I'm doing the world a favour. - You are.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44There'll be, like, otters and birds and things that are pleased.
0:34:44 > 0:34:45That's right. That's right.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47- Because of what I'm about to do. - That's right.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50So if I appear at any point to be enjoying it wildly,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53- I'm enjoying the sense of doing something good.- That's correct.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57And also most of this is going to be salvaged and recycled anyways.
0:34:57 > 0:34:59So this is...it's kind of for the children,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01for their future, that I'm...
0:35:01 > 0:35:02You know what, you got it exactly right.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05That's the nicest thing anybody's ever done for me, Greg.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06All right. Good luck.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11I've spent the last three days training with
0:35:11 > 0:35:14Central Environmental Services in Orlando
0:35:14 > 0:35:16to learn how to use the heavy machinery
0:35:16 > 0:35:18they use in their work as demolition experts,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21and that is my final exam.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22I've got to use the track hoe
0:35:22 > 0:35:26to tear that house down piece by piece.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28But I am going to have to draw on all of my several days
0:35:28 > 0:35:30of experience as a demo man to do that
0:35:30 > 0:35:33with care and absolute precision.
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Because here's the thing -
0:35:35 > 0:35:38I have to demolish the entire house leaving this room,
0:35:38 > 0:35:41and my friend Nigel here, undisturbed.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Though he's not my real friend. Obviously.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46I mean, the dummy doesn't travel everywhere with me.
0:35:46 > 0:35:49It's just...a dummy representing a friend of mine.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52The point is I have to demolish the whole house
0:35:52 > 0:35:54leaving this room and the dummy in the bed
0:35:54 > 0:35:55intact and undisturbed.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58You see. Precision.
0:35:58 > 0:35:59Here you go, Nigel.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01Here you go, fella. Just in case.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03You'll be fine. Don't worry.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09Suddenly, not nervous.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11What's the word? Really excited.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13That's what I am.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15Going to knock a house down, going to knock a house down.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17- Richard, are you ready? - Oh, it's the boss.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20I am so ready. I'm firing up. Here I go.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Now, to make things even tougher,
0:36:22 > 0:36:26Nigel's room is located in the centre of the house.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28I'm going to have to attack the building
0:36:28 > 0:36:31from two different sides if I'm going to save Nigel.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33I'll be starting with the master bedroom,
0:36:33 > 0:36:37which is directly attached to Nigel's room.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39Here I go.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Pull that thumb all the way back to the stick,
0:36:48 > 0:36:51and just start going through the... right through the roof.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53Terribly sorry. Hope you had a lovely time in the house.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55I don't doubt it holds many happy memories
0:36:55 > 0:36:57for a lot of people, but...
0:36:59 > 0:37:01Oh, I've spoiled it.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Rather bad, let me just put that back.
0:37:06 > 0:37:07Oh!
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Oh. Just knock it down...
0:37:14 > 0:37:16In fact, backwards a little bit, for a little bit.
0:37:16 > 0:37:18Let's take some of them walls down.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Oops, sorry.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43All right, go ahead and push her in right there.
0:37:43 > 0:37:44There you go.
0:37:53 > 0:37:57There you go, Madam. See, there's daylight flooding in.
0:37:57 > 0:38:01Oh, now the room is far... it feels more open, doesn't it?
0:38:01 > 0:38:02Yes, it does. Yes, it does.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Right. What I'm doing now is just going for...
0:38:06 > 0:38:08I'm trying to just flatten the roof.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12What he said was bring it all into one sort of big, central pile.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16It might look like I'm simply flailing around.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18So this is where it gets really tricky.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20I'll put this lot over here.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Nigel, my dummy, is very precious to me.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27I don't want to disturb his sleep.
0:38:27 > 0:38:28He's in there.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33Can I walk on this stuff now?
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Am I all right to walk it further in or will I be killed?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38It's all yours. Go ahead and walk her in. Take a risk.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50I've now come round to the side of the house, into the garage.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53I'm going find the strength inside myself
0:38:53 > 0:38:56to use this track hoe to smash the roof in
0:38:56 > 0:38:57and then push the walls in.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04Oh, boom!
0:39:04 > 0:39:05Boom!
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- Hello? Come in. - HE LAUGHS
0:39:08 > 0:39:09Bang!
0:39:09 > 0:39:15This is the most destructive thing, obviously, that I have ever done.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18Honey, I'm home. Here I am. Yeah.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20I'll be in the garage, that's where I am.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25Oh, that's going to need a new garage door.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28The good thing about this is I'm nowhere near Nigel.
0:39:28 > 0:39:29I know I'm safe.
0:39:29 > 0:39:30Boom!
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Oh, that was a good one. Now I'm going to do it again.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Now that did... that really went.
0:39:39 > 0:39:40Tell you what...
0:39:40 > 0:39:43after a big party, this thing would be really useful.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46One of those teenage ones when you're a kid
0:39:46 > 0:39:47that got a bit out of hand.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51Before your mum and dad came back, have a sort out with this and...
0:39:51 > 0:39:52Boom!
0:39:54 > 0:39:56..and bang.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Yeah. Oh, that's effective.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02You have to understand, for a small guy, this is amazing.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05I'm a giant! See, I am mighty.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08I've never been mighty before, and now I am.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14Now it's, pardon the pun, crunch time.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16The only parts of the house that still remain
0:40:16 > 0:40:19are directly attached to Nigel's room.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21I have to surgically remove those bits
0:40:21 > 0:40:25without disturbing either the roof of Nigel's room or its walls,
0:40:25 > 0:40:29and I have to use a 30-ton track hoe to do it.
0:40:29 > 0:40:32'Danny, I'm getting very close to the bit of roof'
0:40:32 > 0:40:33that has Nigel under it.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36How do I not smash that bit of roof off
0:40:36 > 0:40:37when I'm punching this roof in?
0:40:37 > 0:40:39Just keep poking through like you're doing
0:40:39 > 0:40:42'on the opposite side of that header beam.'
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Once you try and get out and poke a hole through it,
0:40:44 > 0:40:47and weaken it up, then just bring down that header beam,
0:40:47 > 0:40:48it should keep it away...
0:40:48 > 0:40:52should be able to keep your roof intact over Nigel.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55Yeah, it's about to be spoiled.
0:40:55 > 0:40:57Oh, yeah.
0:40:58 > 0:40:59Yeah, there it is.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03Just swinging along, punching holes in the roof
0:41:03 > 0:41:06either side of that big central beam.
0:41:10 > 0:41:13Now just push her straight down. Let them go straight down.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18OK. I'm getting very close to Nigel now.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21I'm going to be very delicate and grab this lot and the remainder
0:41:21 > 0:41:24of that beam, see if I can't lift it off the roof without waking him.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27So.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42Ah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44Yes!
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Yes!
0:41:47 > 0:41:49The other side of Nigel's wall is intact.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53Oh, there's a hole in it, but it'll be all right. He's asleep deeply.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Good job. Good job, Richard.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58He's going to be so amazed when he wakes up and the house is gone.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00All right, Richard. We got two walls left.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Don't disturb Nigel.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Yeah. I'm going to be super careful.
0:42:04 > 0:42:05I'm creeping in now.
0:42:06 > 0:42:09This next bit is going to be especially tricky.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13I have to take down a huge brick fireplace next to Nigel's wall.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16If it falls in the wrong direction,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19Nigel is going to be buried in rubble.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Hey, Danny, what I've got in front of me now
0:42:22 > 0:42:24appears to be a big brick chimney.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Leave your bucket...leave your thumb folded back towards the stick.
0:42:27 > 0:42:31Lift up, put the bucket over the top of that chimney.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Set her down on top of it and retract her backwards.
0:42:34 > 0:42:35Bring her to you.
0:42:35 > 0:42:36Come on. There you go.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38All right.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40What I'm hoping to do is pull the chimney...oh, God, I'm going.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Back her fast... back her up quick.
0:42:45 > 0:42:46Back her up quick.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49That's what I was talking about. Good job.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53'All right. This is it.
0:42:53 > 0:42:54'I'm down to my last two walls.
0:42:54 > 0:42:59'I'm just hoping that these walls aren't what's keeping up
0:42:59 > 0:43:01'the walls of Nigel's room.'
0:43:10 > 0:43:11You're almost there.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13You're almost there. Good job.
0:43:13 > 0:43:16All right. You're almost there.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19All the skill I've learnt...
0:43:20 > 0:43:22..all that talk of finesse.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25There's going to be some finesse.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27Oh! Look at that pirouette!
0:43:32 > 0:43:34There you go. Last one.
0:43:34 > 0:43:36Last one.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39Bring her in. Bring her in.
0:43:41 > 0:43:42Can you move back a little bit?
0:43:44 > 0:43:46I make that done. Is it done? Is it done?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50In demo world, that is done.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52Good. That's good. The house is down,
0:43:52 > 0:43:53but I've got to know... how's Nigel?
0:43:53 > 0:43:55We've got to go and have a look, yeah?
0:43:55 > 0:44:00That was incredible.
0:44:00 > 0:44:01I can't tell you.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04That was just the most amazing thing.
0:44:04 > 0:44:05All I did was knock down a house.
0:44:05 > 0:44:09Well, all I did. But the point is I'm walking around it now and well,
0:44:09 > 0:44:10- there was a house there.- Was.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12And it's gone. Oh, and there is a bit of a mess.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14- I did that.- You made the mess.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16- Yeah. But there was a house there.- Yeah.
0:44:16 > 0:44:17And me and that machine... poof, gone.
0:44:17 > 0:44:19Had to go.
0:44:19 > 0:44:20It just felt...
0:44:20 > 0:44:22mighty.
0:44:22 > 0:44:26So, Nigel was asleep in his bed, in this bedroom here.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30Oh, come on. Look! Ha!
0:44:30 > 0:44:32Do you see?
0:44:33 > 0:44:36- Come on. The ceiling's there. - He's still asleep?
0:44:36 > 0:44:37Don't wake him. Honestly.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40- He's still intact. - You'd have been fine.- Yup.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42- Could have stayed in there yourself.- Yeah. Could have.
0:44:42 > 0:44:44- I did it.- You did it. Congratulations.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46- Yes, I did. I got to... - You did a great job.
0:44:46 > 0:44:49It has been...it has been an amazing few days,
0:44:49 > 0:44:52and I have to say as well that at the very beginning,
0:44:52 > 0:44:54when I met you and Richie, I just thought,
0:44:54 > 0:44:57"Those guys are a bit odd with their passion for wrecking."
0:44:57 > 0:45:00- Yeah.- Now I've done it.- Yeah.
0:45:00 > 0:45:02And I totally, totally get it.
0:45:02 > 0:45:04Yeah.
0:45:04 > 0:45:06- You're doing a puzzle in reverse. - In reverse.
0:45:06 > 0:45:08Looking at something, thinking, "Just how is that put together?
0:45:08 > 0:45:10"How can I take it apart?"
0:45:10 > 0:45:12And I guess how you take it apart can be just as important
0:45:12 > 0:45:15- as how it's assembled in the first place- Exactly.
0:45:15 > 0:45:17It has been a real eye-opener. I've learned a lot.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19And I knocked a house down and I didn't wake Nigel.
0:45:22 > 0:45:23Greg.
0:45:23 > 0:45:25House is gone.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28It's not there and Nigel is fine.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31Brilliant. Brilliant job. You did an outstanding job.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33It's going to be pretty easy to take from here.
0:45:33 > 0:45:36- Yeah. It's not bad. So that's praise from my boss.- Yeah.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Can I just say, you've got the best job in the world.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40- It's astonishing.- Yeah.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43I get to destroy things for a living and get paid for it.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45And that was tremendous. I thank you very much for my lesson.
0:45:45 > 0:45:47- Thank you. Congratulations. - I did that.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd