In the process of laying bricks, the need for cutting inevitably arises. To avoid damage and waste of material, it is important to use the right tool and use it correctly. Let's take a closer look at the best way to cut any type of brick.
A specialized stone-cutting machine that can perform any brick cutting Source rubi.com
Features of cutting bricks
Brick is a durable wall material that can withstand multi-ton static loads. But it is also characterized by fragility and fragility. Therefore, a hammer drill or jackhammer is not suitable for cutting ceramic products. The thinner and sharper the cutting surface, the sharper the cut will be, and the less chance of chipping.
The key to a quality cut is reliable fixation of the brick. To do this, you can use both special devices and improvised means. Before work, you need to thoroughly moisten the product. This will help avoid a lot of dust during the cutting process.
A well-moistened brick is the key to a quality cut Source ytimg.com
The wide variety of tools for cutting wall products can be divided into two groups: manual and electric. They can be used both at construction sites and at home.
How to choose a diamond blade for concrete, brick and other materials
Diamond cutting discs or diamond wheels are a popular accessory for hand-held power tools (primarily angle grinders or grinders), as well as equipment for cutting asphalt, machine tools and other sawing and cutting machines working with non-metallic materials (concrete, granite, stone , tiles, bricks , etc.). The advantage of diamond blades is their high service life, productivity, cutting accuracy and cleanliness of processing, constant diameter and, accordingly, linear cutting speed.
But the maximum economic and operational effect is possible only with the correct selection of the disk, both in terms of geometric parameters and binder materials. Therefore, in this article we will look at how to choose a diamond blade for an angle grinder and other equipment, and what points should be given special attention.
Hand tool
Most often, hand tools are used for minor masonry work or repairs. The main equipment is a construction chisel or pick, a regular hammer (not a mallet). Hand protection is required.
Cutting bricks on sand Source blogspot.com
To cut a product, you need to scratch an even cutting line on all edges. Its depth should be up to 5 mm. After that, the chisel or pick needs to be placed in the groove and hit the tool well. Rigid fixation is not needed. The brick can be placed on a soft surface or picked up so that the part to be separated does not have support.
This method has disadvantages:
- It will be possible to cut normally only at a right angle.
- The side of the chip is uneven. It will need to be masked or more masonry mortar used.
Algorithm for cutting bricks Source infourok.ru
A hacksaw for metal will help you cut bricks at home more accurately. It should have a tungsten coating on the working surface. Regular hand saws and hacksaws will not work. They will only become dull or even “lose teeth” when the brick is separated into parts.
When working with a hacksaw, rigid fixation is desirable, but not required. Before work, it is recommended to core the brick and lay it so that the part to be sawn is unsupported. This will make it easier to make the cut.
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the construction of brick houses and related work
Electric tool
Depending on the type of cutting, you can choose the right power tool for the task.
Jigsaw or miter saw - for those who don’t need much
For small masonry work, you can use an electric jigsaw. It will cope well with simple cuts. But it does not have enough power to process large quantities of stone. You just need to choose the right working surface.
Grinder - “a lifesaver from the garage”
The most common of them is the grinder. If you take it only for processing ceramic products, then it is better to choose a model with a higher power, since a large load is expected with low power. The best option would be a tool with a power of at least 2 kW. You can choose something more powerful. But, as a rule, such instruments are heavy and massive. It will simply be difficult to work with them all the time.
The right grinder is the key to success Source yandex.net
It is worth considering that when using an angle grinder, the material will become very dusty, even if it is thoroughly moistened with water before starting work. Therefore, it is best to carry out all work outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. It would be useful to use personal protective equipment.
Cutting with a grinder is a dusty business Source bladesandbits.com
For such work, depending on the purpose, different disks are used:
- Abrasive . Cheaper and wears out quickly. By reducing the diameter, it is impossible to make deep cuts. Good for small volumes and simple cuts of bricks in wall masonry.
- Diamond . They have a longer service life. Cuts more accurately and safely. With them you don’t have to worry about how to cut a brick wall. Effectively make any holes in ceramics of any brand. Ideal for fitting products to face or Bulgarian masonry.
Note! You need to use discs with a diameter of 230 cm. If you take less, this will affect the quality of the cut. The width of the circle is also not enough for a complete cut. This means you have to turn the brick over. This may lead to inaccurate division. To process the cut you will need a circle with a diameter of 125 cm.
Circular saw operating mode
When using an angle grinder, do not forget about safety precautions. Be sure to wear safety glasses.
The circular saw is usually mounted on a special machine. It is intended for cutting wood, but you can also purchase an abrasive wheel for hard materials for it. In this case, the saw must provide a minimum cutting width of 70 mm (brick thickness - 65). It is not advisable to use larger circles, since during cutting they will bend, and the workpiece may shift due to vibration. This will lead to chipping or cutting to the wrong size.
The brick is cut with a circular saw in the same way as wooden blanks. In this case, you should constantly press the material against the limit rails during processing. Otherwise, the size and shape of the sawn parts will differ significantly from the required ones.
Some types of gas cutters use chains instead of discs. To use such devices, you must purchase a special diamond chain. The operating principle of such devices is similar to chainsaws. However, in cases of cutting through folded masonry, such a tool will be very convenient and effective. The large shoulder, which creates inconvenience during piece cutting, can significantly reduce the force effort during work.
When using a circular saw, take special care to protect your respiratory and vision organs.
Video description
How the Stihl GS 461 chain cutter works is shown in this video:
Specialized equipment not only for professional builders
Professional machines greatly simplify the work of cutting bricks. With their help, you can obtain artificial ceramic stone of even complex geometric shapes. Moreover, working on such machines is much safer than when using an angle grinder and a gas cutter. The productivity of masonry work increases by 20%. The level of quality and aesthetics of masonry will also increase.
The basis is a frame with a gripping and fixing system. Cutting is done using diamond discs. Depending on the machine model, large blades (up to 420 mm) and smaller ones with a diameter (230 mm) are installed. It is worth considering that large circles are expensive, and in many cases you can get by with a regular 230 mm circle.
Large machine for cutting stone Source generaltool.ru
Using an Angle Grinder
Sometimes, during the work process, minor damage and scratches occur on the brick. These shortcomings can be corrected without using a grinding machine - a grinder will do. It is recommended to use an angle grinder with a power of up to 1.5 kW, equipped with special attachments. Sanding is best done on a wet base.
How to choose a disc for grinding bricks
To carry out grinding work with a grinder, special attachments are used: cups, cleaning discs, and wire mesh of various shapes.
When choosing a suitable specimen, you should focus on the following characteristics:
- form;
- circle diameter (size);
- type of abrasive used;
- type of ligament;
- grain;
- hardness;
- structure.
The wheels can be made entirely of abrasive material or have abrasive pads on a plastic/steel base.
Video description
How professionals work with stone cutters can be seen in this video:
Laser cutting
The most expensive and effective method of processing wall products is laser cutting. Such equipment operates on gas-discharge lasers. Ideal for processing any complexity of stone, brick, concrete walls of different thicknesses and with the presence of reinforcing elements.
Laser equipment can be used to perform high-precision artistic stone cutting Source hanna76.ru
It is mainly used on large-scale projects, as it is powerful and expensive equipment. For small construction projects, and especially for home use, laser systems are unreasonably expensive.
Briefly about the main thing
Before carrying out masonry work, you need to clearly decide whether it is more profitable to cut bricks than to cut them. Such work can increase the estimated cost and lead to unnecessary expenses. When constructing an interior partition, you can use the simplest and oldest method of cutting brick - cutting stone. It will save time, effort and money. To cut out shaped elements, a miter saw with a diamond blade will come to the rescue.
For small construction, for example, a bathhouse or a garage, you can get by with a grinder with a diamond blade. It will significantly speed up the work and allow you to complete the laying more accurately. If you cut through a thin wall, it will also come to the rescue.
If you are planning a more full-scale project, such as building a house, then it is best to purchase a specialized machine.
If it is necessary to make an arch, through cuts in already erected wall structures, and even reinforced ones, then you cannot do without a gas cutter (for a small amount of work) and laser cutting (for large-scale projects).
How we are working
Application You leave an online application or order a call back
Consultation Our manager advises and clarifies the details of the service
Cost calculation Visit of a specialist and preliminary estimate of the cost of work
Agreement We place an order and conclude an agreement
Execution of work Prompt execution of work in accordance with the contract
Acceptance of work Acceptance of work and payment by the Customer for our services
Stages of work
To ensure that a door cut in a new location does not create problems in the further operation of the building, the wall should be correctly marked, accurately cut, perhaps even on both sides, and strengthened. Important! It is better not to make arched openings; they are extremely difficult to strengthen. It is more convenient to cut out a rectangle, and then create the required shape using drywall.
Marking
First you need to mark the surface of the wall, and if it is thick, then this will have to be done on both sides. A wall-cutting machine has a disk diameter of, for example, 1 meter, but when cutting a meter-long wall from both sides, it can go to a depth of less than 50 cm. For this, double-sided markings are made. It is very important here that the marks on both sides match perfectly, otherwise there will be problems with reinforcement later. For accuracy, it is convenient to use a laser level.
Grilling
It is better not to use chipping of bumpers in brickwork; this will lead to the mortar crumbling out of the seams and pieces falling out, as cracks may appear on them. Afterwards it will be difficult to attach metal structures. If the house is brick, it is better to use diamond drilling, and in other houses too, this speeds up the work, reduces the level of noise and dust.
