Cutting granite with a circular saw

[993AL]

Muncher said:

Wozy68 said:

I'm a wood machinist by trade and have used many many woodworking machines, some are exceptionally dangerous to use and I've used them all.

However I would be scared stless using a portable circular saw to cut granite, whatever blade was installed. I have no idea if it works or not. (I build and install quite a few kitchens and never seen a granite installer use one on site) But I'd hate to think how many fingers/hands/arms I could lose if it doesn't. I would NOT try it.

Personally I'd take it to a granite company and play safe.

Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 19th October 21:59

This x10000. It's just a recipe for disaster.

Sorry but this is nonsense. it does work and is so much less dangerous than using a circular saw to cut wood

[Muncher]

Whilst keeping the blade wet?

[Muncher]

Having googled it a bit I stand corrected, with the right blade it looks ok.

[Gtom]

Muncher said:

Wozy68 said:

I'm a wood machinist by trade and have used many many woodworking machines, some are exceptionally dangerous to use and I've used them all.

However I would be scared stless using a portable circular saw to cut granite, whatever blade was installed. I have no idea if it works or not. (I build and install quite a few kitchens and never seen a granite installer use one on site) But I'd hate to think how many fingers/hands/arms I could lose if it doesn't. I would NOT try it.

Personally I'd take it to a granite company and play safe.

Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 19th October 21:59

This x10000. It's just a recipe for disaster.

Ahem

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003Y3SIUY?pc_redi...

FWIW I have cut granite work tops a few times. Always with a angle grinder and always with a very good quality diamond tipped blade. A good cut can be had with a steady hand.

[Griff Boy]

Gtom said:

Muncher said:

Wozy68 said:

I'm a wood machinist by trade and have used many many woodworking machines, some are exceptionally dangerous to use and I've used them all.

However I would be scared stless using a portable circular saw to cut granite, whatever blade was installed. I have no idea if it works or not. (I build and install quite a few kitchens and never seen a granite installer use one on site) But I'd hate to think how many fingers/hands/arms I could lose if it doesn't. I would NOT try it.

Personally I'd take it to a granite company and play safe.

Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 19th October 21:59

This x10000. It's just a recipe for disaster.

Ahem

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003Y3SIUY?pc_redi...

FWIW I have cut granite work tops a few times. Always with a angle grinder and always with a very good quality diamond tipped blade. A good cut can be had with a steady hand.

Yes, but he's only got to make two cuts, surely it would better to take it to a local specialist rather than paying £240 for a very specific power tool that he will probably only use once?

[Wozy68]

Gtom said:

Muncher said:

Wozy68 said:

I'm a wood machinist by trade and have used many many woodworking machines, some are exceptionally dangerous to use and I've used them all.

However I would be scared stless using a portable circular saw to cut granite, whatever blade was installed. I have no idea if it works or not. (I build and install quite a few kitchens and never seen a granite installer use one on site) But I'd hate to think how many fingers/hands/arms I could lose if it doesn't. I would NOT try it.

Personally I'd take it to a granite company and play safe.

Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 19th October 21:59

This x10000. It's just a recipe for disaster.

Ahem

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003Y3SIUY?pc_redi...

FWIW I have cut granite work tops a few times. Always with a angle grinder and always with a very good quality diamond tipped blade. A good cut can be had with a steady hand.

That's a wet saw, someone said portable circular saw as a reply which was taken as a woodworking saw, hence why I thought it a bad idea.
I still have never seen one of our granite fitters use anything other than an angle grinder.

[Neil - YVM]

Griff Boy said:

Yes, but he's only got to make two cuts, surely it would better to take it to a local specialist rather than paying £240 for a very specific power tool that he will probably only use once?

Fully agree. Would probably still be cheaper getting a cut done, than even buying a 9" diamond blade for an angle grinder.

[CedGTV]

As an old chippy who has witnessed the aftermath of a dhead on site trying to cut out joists ends form a re-fit job we were undertaking in East Ham. I would say the blades are not interchangeable between tools and trades.

This individual had tried to remove the residual floor joists by standing up a step ladder and had put a 9" circular saw blade in a 9" angle grinder after removing the guard and using the kit above his head.

I sacked him on the spot.

I'm told he rather enjoyed the daytime telly for the rest of the week until he got himself another job with an equally cowboyish outfit.

[CedGTV]

And in order to answer the question above. I would still go down the angle grinder / wet saw blade route. It can't be more that a 600-800mm cut anyway.

Clamp a straight edge against the stone the distance away from the cut the same as the distance between the blade and the top back of the nose of the grinder. Have the stone elevated off the ground to about waist height and gently and carefully cut away from yourself running the back of the head of the grinder along the straight edge with a dribble of water from a slow flowing hose keeping the cutting area flushed.

I hope that makes sense, if that can't be done then off to a local stone mason and bite the bullet to pay them. or bung the mason to do it in his lunchtime.

[paulrockliffe]

I'm struggling to see exactly what the danger is with a circular saw, other than keeping water out of the motor? I'd think the shrouding would do an adequate job of keeping the motor dry enough.

It's just a motor spinning a blade, fundamentally it's safer than an angle grinder because the blade would be shrouded and the machine better restrained, so less side-ways loading on the blade.

The stone is harder than wood, but that can be countered by doing the cut along a straight-edge and starting with a cut of maybe 5mm, and then working up in stages.

[Wozy68]

paulrockliffe said:

I'm struggling to see exactly what the danger is with a circular saw, other than keeping water out of the motor? I'd think the shrouding would do an adequate job of keeping the motor dry enough.

It's just a motor spinning a blade, fundamentally it's safer than an angle grinder because the blade would be shrouded and the machine better restrained, so less side-ways loading on the blade.

The stone is harder than wood, but that can be countered by doing the cut along a straight-edge and starting with a cut of maybe 5mm, and then working up in stages.

I hope your not suggesting using the saw blade supplied with the saw?

Its getting a cutting disc to fit and then how to cool it. Finally I'd asume (but I'm the first to admit its only an assumption) that RPM of a woodworking circular saw might be a problem.

[Wozy68]

993AL said:

Muncher said:

Wozy68 said:

I'm a wood machinist by trade and have used many many woodworking machines, some are exceptionally dangerous to use and I've used them all.

However I would be scared stless using a portable circular saw to cut granite, whatever blade was installed. I have no idea if it works or not. (I build and install quite a few kitchens and never seen a granite installer use one on site) But I'd hate to think how many fingers/hands/arms I could lose if it doesn't. I would NOT try it.

Personally I'd take it to a granite company and play safe.

Edited by Wozy68 on Sunday 19th October 21:59

This x10000. It's just a recipe for disaster.

Sorry but this is nonsense. it does work and is so much less dangerous than using a circular saw to cut wood

Don't be sorry. But I have never heard of a wood cutting circular saw being used to cut granite. If it can be done, then hey you learn something new everyday, but in 27 years I've never come across it.

[CedGTV]

Wozy68 said:

I hope your not suggesting using the saw blade supplied with the saw?

Its getting a cutting disc to fit and then how to cool it. Finally I'd asume (but I'm the first to admit its only an assumption) that RPM of a woodworking circular saw might be a problem.

Correct there would be a clash of possible bore size (central hole in disk)

Also a typical 4" grinder would spin at 10,000 RPM a 9" grinder would spin at a more matched speed of 5,000 - 6,000 RPM to say a 7" circular saw.

[dmiller]

I've done it in the past with granite and marble with a grinder and diamond blade. I wouldnt use a circular saw as the probably dont have the power.

I used a cheap b and q grinder and a blade that cost the same as the grinder. Wear a face mask and googles and run a hose over it as you cut to keep things cool.

Practice a cut once before you do to get used to the grinder.

Good luck!

David.