Use Cut Off Saw for Cutting Bricks??

CHDinCT · Apr 17, 2012

OK, this might be a stupid question but I don't know the answer and need to know by tomorrow. So I have a 14" cut-off or chop saw for cutting metal. Bought it used and it came with a metal cut-off blade. Tomorrow, I need to cut down some brick pavers. Can I use the cut-off saw with the metal blade to cut the bricks or do I need a masonry blade to cut bricks? Hope somebody knows. Thanks in advance

MarkV · Apr 17, 2012

You need a masonry blade in my opinion. The other problem is that the cut off saw really isn't designed to take the dust you are going to create. Masonry saws normally will run a water flow to cool and control dust.

MarkV

polo1665 · Apr 17, 2012

CHDinCT said:
OK, this might be a stupid question but I don't know the answer and need to know by tomorrow. So I have a 14" cut-off or chop saw for cutting metal. Bought it used and it came with a metal cut-off blade. Tomorrow, I need to cut down some brick pavers. Can I use the cut-off saw with the metal blade to cut the bricks or do I need a masonry blade to cut bricks? Hope somebody knows. Thanks in advance

As far as I know, you need a masonry blade. I've cut many a brick and never used a cut off blade. It doesn't have to be a real expensive blade ($20 or so) and it will make a lot of dust.
I've done it with a circular saw and a right angle grinder. Make sure to wear a dust mask.

TRR · Apr 17, 2012

Ditto on the masonry blade. If they are real brick you can score them then they'll break at the score. I'd use the cutoff saw with the masonry blade, but I'd also not expect it to last long (with long being relative to a cleaner environment) with all the grit from the brick.

Also, angle grinders have masonry blades. You can use them for scoring or touchup.

Short Game · Apr 17, 2012

Yup, you need that correct blade.

When I was a mason, when I still had a fifth lumbar disc, I cut a lot of bricks and blocks. I used garage sale circular saws and would get a year or so out of most of them before the brushes, bushings, and bearings went out.

EddieWalker · Apr 17, 2012

I use my Milwakee 14 inch metal chop saw all the time for cutting pavers and cultured stone. I put a diamond masonary blade in it and it workds great. I like the blades with the cuts in them. I'm told they help with cooling. I've tried both and find the ones with the cuts just do a better job.

If it's a small job, I use my 7 1/4 circular saw.

As for dust, it might be an issue, but then how long do you think it will last anyway? I run my tools until the die, and then buy new ones. Better to get the job done and on to the next then not get it done or spend time looking for something else to do it when you already have something that will do it.

Eddie

RyGuy24 · Apr 17, 2012

I would get the proper blade, even a cheap one that looks like a metal blade but labeled for masonry, you won't need a diamond blade for a small job, and if you're just doing a small job I wouldn't worry about it hurting your chop saw. We had an old makita and used it for cutting everything for years before getting a proper brick saw, and it's still going strong. (although yes I agree the fine masonry dust doesn't do the motor any good) After you're done just take a blow gun and blow out around the commutator end (around the brushes) of the motor to clean it up when you're done.

CHDinCT · Apr 17, 2012

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.

bearcreek paul · Apr 17, 2012

The dust will screw up your saw if you cut a number of bricks.Use the oldest or cheapest saw you have and go with the diamond blade.I cut a couple hundred pavers with my good circular saw now it has developed a slight wobble.It will be my new paver saw from now on.

magicheater · Apr 18, 2012

EddieWalker said:
I use my Milwakee 14 inch metal chop saw all the time for cutting pavers and cultured stone. I put a diamond masonary blade in it and it workds great. I like the blades with the cuts in them. I'm told they help with cooling. I've tried both and find the ones with the cuts just do a better job.

If it's a small job, I use my 7 1/4 circular saw.

As for dust, it might be an issue, but then how long do you think it will last anyway? I run my tools until the die, and then buy new ones. Better to get the job done and on to the next then not get it done or spend time looking for something else to do it when you already have something that will do it.

Eddie

I bought a Harbor Freight saw 20 years ago, did the same thing with the diamond blade. Wore the blade out, saw is still going. Masonry fiber blades work too but don't last nearly as long.

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.