Cutting concrete paving blocks

Cutting concrete paving blocks

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clockworks

Original Poster:

5,478 posts

147 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
Currently doing a corner patio, quarter circle, against 2 walls in the back garden.

We are using 200x100x50 concrete pavers, in a 2x2 alternating pattern.
Obviously there will be a fair number of cut blocks required.

I've got a fairly tatty Evolution Rage mitre saw. Would this be capable of doing angled cuts on this type of block, with a suitable blade? Looks like it would be safer than trying to use a hand-held angle grinder, and easier for a beginner than the traditional bolster chisel and lump hammer.

If it'll work, what type of blade should I get?

119

7,211 posts

38 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
I would just hire a petrol disc cutter for the weekend.

Hot knife through butter.

And a chance to annoy the neighbours should you need to.

Andeh1

7,127 posts

208 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
Team who did ours used a brick press with a dull blade type thing to split the bricks.

pidsy

8,066 posts

159 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
119 said:
I would just hire a petrol disc cutter for the weekend.

Hot knife through butter.

And a chance to annoy the neighbours should you need to.
Stihl with water system.

Don’t want to annoy them with dust AND noise.

Cow Corner

224 posts

32 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
As others have said, buy or hire the correct cutting tool. A Mitre saw is simply not designed for that, particularly as you have lots of cuts to make.

Just as importantly - ensure you have adequate dust suppression (ideally water suppression) and PPE to avoid breathing in silica dust.

119

7,211 posts

38 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
All of the petrol versions come with a standard hose attachment so that one can be attached.

The only drawbacks to that is you lose your pencil line if you use one and you get feckin wet along with your surroundings!

clockworks

Original Poster:

5,478 posts

147 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
Weekend hire of a wet table saw from HSS is nearly £140, and you have to buy your own blade on top of that. Hydraulic splitter is about £75 to hire.

Looking at the wet table saws, they don't look that much different to a mitre saw, although they are obviously waterproof.

I'd read about the dangers from concrete dust, so some form of water damping seems to be a very good idea, as well as a decent mask and eye protection.

I've watched a few videos of people using hose attachments on mitre saws, and some recommendations to just dunk the pavers in a bucket of water.

119

7,211 posts

38 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
One of these.

And yes, some you have to buy the blade and some will just charge wear.

https://www.hireorbuy.co.uk/products/12-petrol-cut...

Baldchap

7,817 posts

94 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
I'm sure I read that for cutting concrete, dust suppression was a legal requirement.

clockworks

Original Poster:

5,478 posts

147 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
119 said:
One of these.

And yes, some you have to buy the blade and some will just charge wear.

https://www.hireorbuy.co.uk/products/12-petrol-cut...
Using one of those to cut "brick" pavers seems a bit sketchy?

119

7,211 posts

38 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
clockworks said:
119 said:
One of these.

And yes, some you have to buy the blade and some will just charge wear.

https://www.hireorbuy.co.uk/products/12-petrol-cut...
Using one of those to cut "brick" pavers seems a bit sketchy?
Not once you get the hang of it. Once you are set up you hit the throttle and the weight of it does the cut.

And nice straight cuts as well.

Trouble with block splitters is they can leave a rough face on the cut side, which may not bother you.

ferret50

1,096 posts

11 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
You will need this type of blade....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185807408248?itmmeta=01...

...with a fitting to suit your weapon of choice.

I used an angry grinder when I cut block pavoirs for my drive, but I did wear steel toecapped boots when cutting the little buggers!

richhead

1,070 posts

13 months

Friday 24th May
quotequote all
ive always just used an angle grinder with a diamond blade, may take a little longer but small and easy to use, easy for small cuts if needed too.
just get a cheep one from screwfix or similar and treat it as disposable.

clockworks

Original Poster:

5,478 posts

147 months

Sunday 26th May
quotequote all
Aluminati said:
My friend hired something similar. Even with 2 of them leaning on the handle, they found it almost impossible to use. They gave up and used an angle grinder.

gfreeman

1,747 posts

252 months

Sunday 26th May
quotequote all
richhead said:
ive always just used an angle grinder with a diamond blade, may take a little longer but small and easy to use, easy for small cuts if needed too.
just get a cheep one from screwfix or similar and treat it as disposable.
Agreed.

Aluminati

2,594 posts

60 months

Sunday 26th May
quotequote all
clockworks said:
My friend hired something similar. Even with 2 of them leaning on the handle, they found it almost impossible to use. They gave up and used an angle grinder.
The Mickey Mouse ones are like that. They’re currently doing about 5000 m2 of block on one of our sites, and 2 fellas are flying through it with one of these.