Prototype for Trump's steel border-wall was destroyed with a metal-saw during test.

[DetlefK]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/test-steel-prototype-border-wall-showed-it-could-be-sawed-n956856

But Department of Homeland Security testing of a steel slat prototype proved it could be cut through with a saw, according to a report by DHS.

A photo exclusively obtained by NBC News shows the results of the test after military and Border Patrol personnel were instructed to attempt to destroy the barriers with common tools.

The Trump administration directed the construction of eight steel and concrete prototype walls that were built in Otay Mesa, California, just across the border from Tijuana, Mexico. Trump inspected the prototypes in March 2018. He has now settled on a steel slat, or steel bollard, design for the proposed border barrier additions. Steel bollard fencing has been used under previous administrations.

However, testing by DHS in late 2017 showed all eight prototypes, including the steel slats, were vulnerable to breaching, according to an internal February 2018 U.S. Customs and Border Protection report.

[Siwsan]

1. Hmmmm. Maybe he should consider a crocodile filled moat, in front of the wall.

[3_Limes]

2. I don't think this was cut by a saw.

Sure looks like a torch cut this steel. Which may just be picking nits, but there is a difference.

[DesertRat]

4. A bone saw would work. nt

[underpants]

6. Good point

That would be a hellava lot of sawing too.

[nolabear]

9. The report said they were testing "household tools."

Apparently what could be carried with immigrants.

[LakeSuperiorView]

11. They used a variety of portable tools.

I agree, there are indications of torch burned steel there.

Nothing is going to stop breeches in a 2000 mile fence.

[Mosby]

13. an angle grinder running on lithion batteries could do that

And they make portable torches.

A battery operated reciprocating saw could also work.

[Blue_true]

15. Good point, a torch would be quicker and more reliable. nt

[bdamomma]

3. fuck the wall

walls are meant to come down.

We got a shutdown going on which is crippling people.

[DesertRat]

5. Looks like Trump brand steel

Like everything else associated with the name... expensive and crappy.

[underpants]

7. He's got a genius testing this stuff

/revision/latest?cb=20140120221223

[demmiblue]

8. ...

[bluestarone]

10. Well to me the spacing between the slats should be no more than 1/4 inch

This would help BUT not stop this.

[Blue_true]

16. Would not matter one lick to a high BTU torch.

Maybe thickness would, but how much money is Trump going to spend on an idiotic idea?

[eppur_se_muova]

12. What brand tools ? Someone should try to get some advertising out of that.

Maybe SNL can take a whack at a commercial ....

[Blue_true]

14. Imagine what a dude or dudette that has a shielded, high BTU torch can do to it? nt

[MineralMan]

17. Of course. A portable reciprocating saw with a metal cutting

blade will cut through that stuff just fine. Now, there are steel alloys for which that isn't true, but they're way too expensive for such use. I remember buying a boat trailer a few years ago. I needed to shorten the tongue of the trailer by six inches. It was made of 4" steel square tubing, about the weight of the steel in that photo.

Making the cut took roughly 45 seconds with a cheap reciprocating saw from Harbor Freight. Mine was a corded model, but the rechargable portable ones work just as well. The saw cost $35. The six inch long metal cutting blade cost about $5. It went through that steel, which is similar in grade to what I see in that photo, with no problem at all. I was surprised, frankly.

A disk-type grinder would also work, and those grinders are also available at Harbor Freight for about the same price.

If that's the best they can come up with, they'll pose little real barrier effect to border crosssers.