Use Cut Off Saw for Cutting Bricks??

lhfarm · Apr 18, 2012

CHDinCT said:
OK, we have a consensus here - masonry blade it is. I do have a 4.5" grinder so I'll probably just try to get a masonry blade for that assuming it's cheaper than a 14" one. I only need to make about 12-15 cuts. Might try just scoring them good and then using a cold chisel to break them the rest of the way. Thanks again.

That doesn't sound like many cuts, but I found the chop saw with a masonry blade a whole lot easier on me. I started with a circular saw, but after a couple of dozen cuts changed to the chop saw. I'll never use the smaller saw again. The standard 14" blades are pretty cheap.

polo1665 · Apr 18, 2012

Please don't forget to pick up a couple of respirators when you buy that blade. That dust is bad stuff.

CHDinCT · Apr 18, 2012

polo1665 said:
Please don't forget to pick up a couple of respirators when you buy that blade. That dust is bad stuff.

Absolutely. I have one of those dust masks with the double carbon/particulate filters so I'll wear that.

If the 14" blades are cheap enough, I get one of those as I agree the chop saw would be much easier. Some of the cuts are lengthwise so the larger saw would be better.

polo1665 · Apr 18, 2012

CHDinCT said:
Absolutely. I have one of those dust masks with the double carbon/particulate filters so I'll wear that.

If the 14" blades are cheap enough, I get one of those as I agree the chop saw would be much easier. Some of the cuts are lengthwise so the larger saw would be better.

Probably not advised as far as safety goes, but I put a 7 1/4" masonry blade on an angle grinder and use it for odd cuts. If you are only cutting a dozen bricks or so, it's not so bad. I think I bought 7 1/4" for about $20, not sure what 14" would cost.

slowzuki · Apr 18, 2012

I use a 7" diamond blade in a cheap 7" grinder, aim the guard so the dust doesn't get sucked into the motor. I have some 4" wheels too but use the big one more. I've used the masonry wheels before too but they are pretty poor.

schmism · Apr 18, 2012

Ive got a 4.5" diamond blade for my hand held grinder. I use that to make a score about a half inch deep and then a brick chisel to break it on the score.

its one handed, can be done at the location your putting bricks in (dont have to get up and or hand off to a second person) and you can always use the diamond blade to touch up the fractured edge if you need to.

Its quicker than cutting the entire brick with it (although it can be done) and is much less expensive than buying a 14" diamond blade

EddieWalker · Apr 18, 2012

For long, or some angled cuts, I prefer to score the bricks with my 4 1/2 inch grinder instead of trying to fight the 14 inch blade in a chop saw. Once you have one brick get away from you while cutting it, you'll understand why I don't like cutting them that way. If you are doing anything round, the grinder works really good for that too.

Eddie

s219 · Apr 18, 2012

EddieWalker said:
For long, or some angled cuts, I prefer to score the bricks with my 4 1/2 inch grinder instead of trying to fight the 14 inch blade in a chop saw. Once you have one brick get away from you while cutting it, you'll understand why I don't like cutting them that way. If you are doing anything round, the grinder works really good for that too.

Eddie

Agree 100%. I only started using an angle grinder for masonry recently, but boy is it nice. More nimble, and less hassle than a saw. You can get real good at judging how to score and whack stuff with a little practice.

The grinder is especially handy with cinder blocks. I've used it both for extracting old blocks from a wall and for fitting new ones.

BeezFun · Apr 18, 2012

I use water with my junk circular saw and a masonry blade. Makes a big slurry mess but works fine and no dust. If I'm by myself I setup the garden hose to run on the brick, if someone's there they can do a little better regulating the flow.