Careful cutting of bricks
When masonry work is that a whole brick is not suitable, and the surfaces of chipped bricks are not sufficiently flat and smooth. In this case, cutting bricks is the best option. When making window or door apertures in existing walls, it is necessary to cut bricks.
In order for masonry bricks to turn out even, sometimes bricks will need to be cut.
Necessary tools
Brick cutting is done with an angle grinder, stonecutter or gasoline cutter. In addition, you will need an angle and a pencil.
Making blanks
Cutting bricks with an angle grinder is necessary for small-scale production. It is not cost-effective for single builders or construction crews to buy specialized equipment and have to use more general-purpose.
For cutting bricks with an angle grinder need a power tool under the wheel diameter of 230 mm.
For cutting bricks with an angle grinder it is better to use diamond discs.
When using an angle grinder under the 180th circle to cut the brick to its full thickness will not work, you have to turn it upside down, which significantly reduces productivity and convenience of work, and an even cut in two passes will not get.
angle grinder for cutting bricks should choose a fairly powerful. For long life of the tool and a comfortable rate of work needed angle grinder power of about 2 kW or more. Overpowered machines are not advisable, because. к. they, as a rule, have a sufficiently large mass and dimensions, which contributes to rapid fatigue when working with angle grinder and reduces the overall comfort of operation. Finishing work on surfaces is easy with a 125 mm angle grinder.
When using an angle grinder, do not forget about safety. Always wear safety glasses.
There are two basic types of stone grinding wheels: abrasive and diamond. Perhaps the only advantage of the standard abrasive wheel is its relative cheapness. Cheapness is relative, i.e. к. conventional abrasive wheels are subject to rapid wear and must be replaced often. They are also inconvenient to use, because when they are worn down, the wheel diameter constantly decreases, and it is only at the beginning of use that it cuts to its full depth. Abrasive wheels from different manufacturers can vary greatly in quality and service life. As a general rule, a good stone grinding wheel is double reinforced and 2.5 to 3 mm thick. It is dangerous to work with a grinding wheel because. к. It is more vulnerable to distortion and breakage.
The diamond wheel is preferable, because it maintains a constant diameter while working. One good quality diamond wheel can outlast dozens of ordinary grinding wheels. The diamond disk has a strong steel base, so the likelihood of its destruction is negligible.
Brick chopping and cutting: a. correct chopping across; b. incorrect chopping across; c. chopping lengthwise; d. working position for chopping; e. working position for chopping.
There are several types of these wheels. The simplest wheels with a solid edge are cheaper than the others, but have significant drawbacks. They become very hot when in operation, which can lead to disc failure. To avoid this, it is necessary to arrange breaks in the work. They have the shortest service life. The advantage of the continuous disc edge is the high quality of the cutting surface without burrs and pitting.
The most common diamond discs are segment grinding discs. Their cutting edge is divided into separate radial cuts. This design allows efficient sludge removal and venting of the cutting zone. It is a good choice for cutting bricks with an angle grinder. They are usually used for dry cutting. When water is applied, the segment grooves become blocked with wet cutting products, which impairs the performance of the disc.
The best choice is still the disc with a turbine edge. It has a toothed surface that gives the disc greater strength and rigidity. The spiral arrangement of the teeth on the disc edge creates a centrifugal pump effect, which is the best way to remove wet or dry sludge. These discs are the most durable and cut all types of bricks and masonry stones.
Before you can cut the brick with an angle grinder, you must first make a marking. This is done with a building pencil and an angle piece. The thickness of the disc and the play on the spindle of the angle grinder must be taken into account. If you just run the line to the right size, you’re probably not going to get anywhere. The cut brick will be 1.5-2 mm shorter than the required size.
The best way to cut bricks is to use diamond blades with a touring edge. They are well suited for work with particularly tough materials.
Quite recently, masons and craftsmen at home did not think about how to cut a brick for masonry. For many of them, the issue was solved unambiguously. by chopping. At first glance, the operation is not very complicated.
Here’s how professionals describe the order of operations performed when cutting with a combined trowel or pick :
- Take a brick in the left hand;
- by easily striking the tool, apply a line of chipping to all edges;
- To strike sharply with the trowel or pick, placing the tool so that it is perpendicular to the face of the brick.
The main disadvantages of this method of shaping bricks lie on the surface:
- the machining accuracy leaves much to be desired;
- The newly formed edge is often uneven and it is desirable to hide it inside the masonry, which is not always possible;
- the inability to chop at a certain angle.
Fortunately, over time, the construction industry has been enriched with a variety of tools. They not only make work easier, but also bring convenience and a certain amount of aesthetics. Emerging brick cutting tools provide a high accuracy of its processing and high quality of the machined faces.
What tools can be used nowadays when deciding how and what to saw bricks at home? Home masons and professional bricklayers can take advantage of
Overview of tools for cutting bricks:
Features and problems of work
In the construction of a garage, a fence, a furnace, you have to manually cut small parts of a brick product. To prevent an increase in material consumption, it is cut with a special tool to obtain flat pieces for further use. Since bricks are brittle, the use of a jackhammer or a torch is undesirable. So the accuracy and regularity of the form will be broken. To get an even sample, cutting bricks is carried out with special tools and auxiliary tools, such as an angle (ruler), pencil. The builder will need protective goggles and gloves for his own protection.
Working with an angle grinder
Cutting blanks
Cutting bricks with an angle grinder is necessary in small-scale production. For individuals or teams of builders it is unprofitable to buy specialized equipment and have to use a more universal.
For cutting bricks with an angle grinder need a power tool under the wheel diameter of 230 mm.
To cut bricks with an angle grinder is better to use diamond discs.
When using an angle grinder under the 180th circle to cut the brick to its full thickness will not work, you will have to turn it upside down, which significantly reduces productivity and convenience of work, and an even cut for two passes will not get.
choose a heavy-duty angle grinder to cut bricks. For long tool life and comfortable speed of work, an angle grinder of about 2 kW or more is needed. over-powered machines are not desirable, t. к. they tend to have a fairly large mass and dimensions, which contributes to rapid fatigue when working with an angle grinder and reduces the overall comfort of operation. It is convenient to work on surfaces with a 125 mm angle grinder.
During the use of the angle grinder, do not forget about safety. Wear safety glasses under all circumstances.
There are two basic types of stone grinding wheels: abrasive and diamond. Perhaps the only advantage of a standard grinding wheel is its relative cheapness. Cheapness is relative, t. к. Conventional abrasive wheels are subject to rapid wear and must be replaced frequently. They also do not feel comfortable in the work, because the grinding of such a wheel is constantly decreasing its diameter, and to its full depth it cuts only at the beginning of use. Abrasive wheels can vary greatly in quality and service life from one manufacturer to the next. As a rule, a good abrasive stone wheel is double reinforced and 2,5-3mm thick. It is dangerous to work with an abrasive wheel, because it is not suitable for use with abrasive discs. к. it is more subject to deformation and breakage.
Diamond grinding wheels are preferred because they maintain a consistent diameter while working. A single diamond wheel of good quality can outlast dozens of ordinary grinding wheels. The diamond disc has a strong steel base, making it negligible to break.
Brick chopping and cutting: a. correct chopping across; b. incorrect chopping across; c. chopping lengthwise; d. working position for chopping; e. working position for cutting.
There are several types of these wheels. The simplest solid-edged wheels are cheaper than the others, but have significant drawbacks. In the process of work, they are very hot, which can cause emergency wear of the blade. To avoid this, breaks in work must be taken. Their service life is the shortest. The benefit of the solid disc edge is a high quality cut surface with no burrs or pitting.
The most common diamond wheels are segmented. Their cutting edge is divided into individual radial cuts. This design allows efficient sludge removal and ventilation of the cutting zone. It is a good choice for cutting brick with an angle grinder. They are typically used for dry cutting. When water is applied, the segment grooves become blocked by wet cutting products, which impairs the properties of the blade.
A disc with a turbocharged edge is still the best choice. It has a serrated surface that gives the disc greater strength and rigidity. The spiral arrangement of the teeth on the disc edge creates a centrifugal pump effect, which is the best way to remove wet or dry sludge. The discs of this design are the most durable and cut bricks and masonry stones of all types.
Before you cut bricks with an angle grinder, you must first make a marking. This is done with a building pencil and a square. The thickness of the disc and the play on the spindle of the angle grinder must be taken into account. If you just run the line along the right size, you will most likely fail. The brick cut will be 1.5-2 mm shorter than the required size.
Turbid edge diamond discs are best for cutting bricks. They are well suited for particularly tough materials.
It is not easy to cut bricks with an angle grinder, and it requires a certain skill, t. к. The disc should be held strictly vertically and not deflected until the process is complete. the tool will “walk” in the hand when inexperienced. If you have to cut bricks for the first time with an angle grinder, it is better to try and practice first. Suitable inexpensive bricks for rough masonry, or find a few used ones. You can also make a pre-cut to a depth of a few mm. It helps slightly to center the circle during basic cutting and is better visible in conditions where the pencil line is quickly covered with sludge. Place another brick underneath the brick you are cutting. This way you will save the disk, and it will be easier to hold the tool.
If it so happens that you do not have a large angle grinder at the moment, and you need to cut the brick, you can make a bar on the perimeter with a small angle grinder. Then it will only be necessary to carefully beat off the excess and grind the cut with the same machine.
Sometimes, to prevent displacement of the workpiece during cutting, the brick is clamped in special devices, where the brick is fixed from vertical and lateral displacement.
Arrange the openings
Cutting bricks with an angle grinder is necessary when making apertures in the walls. If the brick is not placed on the edge, the diameter of the wheel is probably not enough to do the job in one pass. In this case, we mark the opening on the wall on one side and make through holes in the corners with a pen, which will allow you to move the marking without shifting to the opposite side.
We cut the brick according to the marks on both sides of the opening. To avoid jamming the disk the bottom of the opening is cut first. If there is not enough depth of cut even with a double-sided kerf, we have to hollow out the rest. Even so, the opening will be flatter and more accurate than if you make a squeegee without cutting at all. The labor costs are many times less.
Standard electrical equipment
I was puzzled when I asked what he wanted to do with it, because we were doing masonry work. He said that it was necessary to cut off a small piece. I was shocked, but to all my objections I heard only that I was still young and did not understand anything in this life.
In the end, as soon as he touched the disc on the clay brick at high speed, the cutter began to break, and the teeth one by one stuck into the board on which the work was carried out. For this imaginary builder it was all a fright, for me a smirk, but the good thing is that everyone was unharmed.
How To Cut A Brick Wall Opening. DIY At Bunnings
An ordinary hacksaw or saw for bricks is not suitable. It will blunt quickly, and it will take too much time for each stone. Therefore, if you just need to reduce the size of the brick in a straight line mowing line, use the method of piercing.
A pencil, a construction angle, and a small construction pick are needed for this.
Choose bricks without cracks or other visible defects for splitting. On them, using a square, mark out all the faces, and using a sharp tool, make a groove on one of them.
Then turn the brick with the groove downward, take it in the left hand, so that the larger half is in it, and with a sharp and strong blow of the pick on the marking split it.
The tool should be kept strictly perpendicular to the brick surface. When struck at an angle, the cut is uneven. The same happens when the brickmaker holds the brick by the smaller half or at the point of splitting.
The pictures show the sequence of work. The last picture is an example of a wrong grip and strike
Please note. This method is suitable for well fired bricks. If it is not of the best quality, grooves 5 mm deep have to be made on all sides.
Experienced craftsmen make do with one pick and do not make grooves. But if this is the first time you are trying to split bricks with your own hands, it is better to do everything according to the rules.
Tip. If it cannot be left in the masonry, the protruding parts can be carefully knocked off and the cut can be rubbed against another brick.
Varieties of discs for the power tool
There are 2 types of stone tooling: diamond and abrasive cutting discs. Abrasive discs for cutting are inexpensive, but quickly worn down, prone to deformation and destruction in the process.
Diamond discs (circles that have a diamond coating) are safer and last longer. According to the type of edges are divided into 3 varieties:
- Continuous. Overheating of the working surface is possible, resulting in a short service life.
- Segmented. The edges are separated into individual radial cuts. Ventilates cut area, but may cause sticking of material between segments if wet cutting.
- Turbine. The teeth in the edges are arranged in a spiral pattern, so that wet and dry waste can be carried away. Best in performance and durability.
Some effort is needed to produce a brick in a certain shape. To begin with, the necessary safety precautions must be taken. Safety glasses must be worn. They are needed to prevent brick chips from getting into the eyes. Gloves and a respirator are also needed.
There are the following methods of cutting bricks:
Brick cutting consists of several process steps. In order to make the cut even, a marking should be made beforehand. Pre-calibrated dimensions are drawn on the surface of the brick with a ruler and chalk. Do not start the cut solely on the scythe line of the marking. In this way you can get a part of the brick that does not match the size and shape. The cuts should be made with an accuracy of 1, 2 cm.
Cleaving irregularly shaped bricks by hand
The easiest way to obtain bricks with non-standard shapes is manual cutting. Brick splitting is easy to do. To work the craftsman will need a medium-sized hammer and an ordinary chisel. The following procedure should be followed in the work.
To ensure stability, the brick should be placed on a flat surface. A chalk line is used to mark out the brick with a ruler. Then the chisel is applied perpendicular to the brick surface with the point point pointing down. Then a sharp blow should be made on the tool. If everything was done correctly, the brick should split into two equal halves.
Unfortunately, this method has many disadvantages. In particular, it is impossible to determine in advance how evenly the brick will split, even if everything has been done correctly. over, a newly formed face of a brick is never perfectly flat. Its uneven edges have to be hidden inside the masonry.
A much higher quality can be achieved if special tools are used for cutting. There is no need to cut perfectly rectangular bricks in a masonry. It is enough that the faces of bricks are smooth. Unfortunately, due to the non-uniformity of the structure, bricks may not split along the scythe line of the marking, or they may crumble completely.
Cutting bricks with a circular saw
For a straight cut of bricks the circular saw is perfect. The tool is originally designed for logging work. To prepare the saw for cutting hard bricks, you need to replace the blade on it. The disc for cutting hard materials should be a fiberglass-reinforced cutting wheel, designed for cutting steel. The K480STZB is perfect for working with bricks.
Make sure that the cutting edge of the circular saw blade protrudes over the table by 7 cm. then use a ruler to set the size required. When starting the circular saw it is necessary to bring the brick smoothly close to the cutting edge of the saw. The material to be cut should be smoothly, without pressure on the tool, avoiding sudden jerks.
Brick cutting with an angle grinder
In small series production, bricks are cut with an angle grinder, popularly called an angle grinder. To work with bricks, the tool with a power of 2 kW is suitable. Choose the saw blade correctly just before starting work. To work with bricks use diamond or abrasive discs.
Cutting bricks with an angle grinder is easy. In order to obtain the best quality of cut, the tool must be equipped with a special clamping base. With this attachment, the angle grinder can be firmly mounted on a lever. The brick workpiece is placed in a special recess. This ensures complete immobility of the building material, which allows you to make not only straight cuts, but also cuts at an angle.
Cutting with a chain saw
The petrol cutter is a self-contained, compact-sized circular saw designed for cutting metal, stone, concrete and other hard objects. Unlike a conventional circular saw, the chainsaw is equipped with a powerful electric motor. The motor drives the cutting blades, which are very large, so that the brick can be cut almost instantly. The device of bulky design has a rather large size, it is inconvenient to transport.
The cutting disc in a petrol cutter resembles an angle grinder. The tool has enough power to cut large amounts of brick. A byproduct of using a chain saw is the accumulation of brick dust particles in the air, so a respirator is recommended when working.
Cutting on the machine
In production, where large amounts of work need to be done, special machines are used to cut bricks. Brick cutting machines are versatile equipment designed for large-scale tasks in the production cycle. High-precision cutting is possible with the machine. The following components are included in a brick cutting machine:
The high degree of precision at the cutting machine and the low amount of brick dust in the air. The sprinkler system prevents the working parts of the machine from rising into the air. Cutting bricks on a special machine is not difficult; the work does not require any special skills. Always follow a pre-determined sequence of operation.
At first the brick is marked out. Then the brick blank is fixed on the machine at a certain angle. The rotating disc, when switched on, smoothly cuts the brick on the scythe line of the marking.
The operator is right in front of the machine and has full control over the working process. Only a certain shape of disc is suitable for the particular machine. During the work it is necessary to follow the safety regulations. The equipment should have a reliable ground connection.
How to simplify the cutting of bricks
The best way to cut the bricks is to use a machine that allows you to cut them fast and beautifully. This method has only one drawback. This is a high cost of equipment, so not everyone can afford it. In connection with what many people decide to make a homemade machine.
The simplest machine for cutting bricks with their own hands to make is not difficult. Much depends on the technical capabilities and practical skills of the craftsman. Most often, the imitation machine is a structure consisting of a wooden workbench, bed and cutting tools. An ordinary circular saw is used as the basis. The fabrication process can take several days. Before you start working with the homemade machine, you should check that it is in good working order.
To sum up
To obtain an even and fast cutting of the building material it is advisable to use special tools. Both dry and wet bricks can be cut. Slicing dry bricks is faster, while generating a lot of brick dust. If you moisten the brick bars with water before starting work, no dust will form during the work. If they are not stained well, it can change the color of the bricks because the water dissolves the stain.
How to cut a brick with a special machine
The rail stone-cutting machine in operation
The algorithm for working with the equipment is very simple. First, the workplace is prepared, collected and installed the machine itself. Then all the necessary markings are placed on the bricks. On a domestic machine they are cut one at a time. The marked workpiece is fastened on the work surface at the desired angle. The cutting wheel is then brought to the place to be cut. Only after that the power is turned on, the rotational speed is selected and the brick is cut gently and carefully.
A big advantage of these machines is that the worker is facing the cutting disk and perfectly sees the markings. This greatly improves the quality and precision of the work. And that’s the key to a good cut.