How To Cut Flat Slate

Use for Cutting Angle Grinder with Diamond Wheel

Having at its disposal UGShM with a diamond wheel, you can cut slate sheets both along and across the waves. You need to wet the material well beforehand, put very wet rags along the mowing line and leave them there for about three hours. Wet slate becomes more elastic, pliable, less dusty.

Equipped with a diamond disc angle grinder, it is convenient to cut slate sheets in winter by laying them on the snow. Since the working part of the tool comes into contact with the material from above, most of the asbestos dust will settle on the snow and will NOT scatter.

UGShM with a diamond wheel will help to cope with cutting sheets in any direction, and will also allow you to grind their edges, making the material more resistant to destruction under the influence of weathering. With the help of a diamond wheel, it is also convenient to cut the corners of the sheets if you plan to install them without shifting half the width.

Before starting independent work, it is recommended to look at the thematic in how to properly cut a slate sheet with a power tool with a diamond wheel.

Slate cutting angle grinder with stone disc

Using an angle grinder (angle grinder) equipped with a stone disc, you can effortlessly saw the letter of wave slate. The technology of work requires the use of water, which must be supplied in a thin stream to the cutting site. This will allow you to simultaneously cool the working part of the tool and prevent the appearance of harmful asbestos dust.

To supply water, an assistant is needed, who will hold the hose or water the incision with water from an ordinary plastic bottle. In this case, the dust will NOT scatter, but will drain together with the water to the ground. If there is no assistant, then you can use improvised means to fix the hose with water so that it flows onto the spray.

It is convenient to cut sheets of roofing material along a wave with an angle machine (hereinafter UGShM) with a stone disk. First, you should mark the place of the cut, put the sheet on a flat piece of land so that the cut falls on the lower wave, or on wide boards, so that the place of the cut is near the edge of one of them.

If you have to cut a sheet across the wave, the operation is carried out in two steps: at the first stage, convex ridges are cut along the intended mowing line, at the second stage, the letter is turned over, and the convex ridges, which previously remained at the bottom, are cut again. In this way, the slate is cut through and splits itself into two parts.

Organization of work when cutting slate

Slate. A rather fragile material, and when it is broken or cut into the air, the smallest particles and fibers of asbestos get into the air, which is extremely harmful to health. To avoid the destruction of sheets not along the cut line of the cut, as well as to protect yourself from the negative effects of asbestos dust, you should strictly follow the work technology and use protective equipment.

In the course of cutting slate sheets:

• Respiratory protection required Respirator, eyes. Construction glasses, leather. Gloves and tight clothing. The operation of power tools (angle grinder, cutting machine, jigsaw, etc.) is accompanied by a lot of noise, so it is recommended to use protective headphones;
• In order to reduce the emission of dust and reduce the fragility of the slate, you can pre-moisten the cut site with water using wet rags, or pour water over the place of contact of the power tool with sheet material during the cutting process;
• In the open air, it is recommended to find a comfortable working position on the leeward side, so that the wind blows away the asbestos dust released during sawing;
• When working indoors, remove everyone who is NOT directly involved in work from it, close the door tightly and take care that asbestos dust does not penetrate into neighboring rooms.

Let’s consider further how to cut slate for roofing: corrugated and flat asbestos-cement sheets lend themselves to various tools.

How and what to cut slate: basic methods

To successfully cope with the installation of flat or corrugated slate sheets, it is important to know how to cut the slate, and what precautions should be taken to protect your health.

Application of second power tools for cutting slate

To accurately cut a sheet of slate, it is enough to have at your disposal a cutting machine, on which a disc for cutting stone is installed. I drew the line of the future cut, it is necessary to wet the material well. Then you need to slide the disc exactly on the intended mowing line, without pressure, in order to make a shallow cut. The resulting cut is moistened (moistened with water from a plastic bottle, but it is better to put wet rags for a while), after which you should again cut the cutting line along the mowing line with the working part of the cutting machine, deepening it. The cycle is repeated three to four times, after which the letter breaks easily.

Pre-wetted wave slate is also allowed to dust with an ordinary jigsaw. It is important to use blades with fine teeth and downshift the spindle. Work with the tool carefully, DO NOT press on the material, otherwise it will begin to crumble. It makes sense to use a jigsaw only if you need to cut a small number of sheets.

How to do without a power tool

If the work has to be done indoors or if suitable electrical tools are available, the classic methods of cutting corrugated slate sheets can be used. Pre-wetted asbestos-cement material, you can:

• Saw it with a hand saw. It is necessary to use a tool with replaceable blades with a fine tooth, since the working part will quickly become blunt and clogged with asbestos-cement chips. Dusts better without pressure, so as not to break fragile material;
• Cut with a conventional hand-held cutter. The cut along the marked mowing line deepens in several passes, which alternate with slate soaking. When the cutter deepens more than 2/3 of the sheet thickness, place a wooden plank under the line and press on the edges of the sheet. It will fall in two.

It is possible to split the slate letter without using cutting tools, using only a hammer and a roofing nail. Many holes are punched with a nail along the intended mowing line (along or across the wave). The more there are, the smoother the break line will be and the easier it is to break off the excess part of the sheet. If holes break through along the wave, you should unfold the letter so that this wave is bottom. After the chain of holes has been punched, a long strip or block is placed under the intended line, after which the letter is broken by pressing on the edges. You can also tap the material into the cut line from the holes with the side of the hammer.

If many slate sheets need to be split, the punching process can be speeded up. To do this, drive a row of roofing nails into the block and pierce the slate with a ready-made “comb”.

You can learn how to properly “cut” slate sheets without dust from the.

How and what to cut slate?

Surely, the most widespread and popular roofing material in the territory of the former USSR is slate. It has found use everywhere. Roofs, fences, garages. However, not everyone knows how to work with this material, as well as the main thing than to cut slate. We will try to give the most detailed answer in the nuances of working with this material.

Asbestos, Portland cement and water are used for the production of slate. However, foreign manufacturers, keeping up with the times, are trying to eliminate the use of asbestos, as a component harmful to the human body.

Slate sheet cutting methods

Using a circular saw to cut slate

They use several methods, depending on what we cut the slate with:

• Angle grinder with stone disc,
• Angle grinder with diamond disc,
• Cutting machine,
• Jigsaw,
• Hacksaw, cutter, slate nail.
• Let’s consider each of the letter slicing methods in more detail.

We wet the rags with water, put them on the intended line, along which the slate will be cut, and leave them for a couple of hours. The material has become softer, but you still need to be careful when pressing on it to avoid splitting. An angle grinder, jigsaw or ordinary hacksaw is used to cut wet slate.

How to properly work with slate?

Learning to work with slate

Slate is a rather fragile and unsafe material if improperly organized work with it. Therefore, every builder must know how to cut slate., so that the sheet cut is even, so that the material does NOT crumble, and also so that your work does not harm health.

As you know, slate consists of asbestos, which belongs to the class of silicates and, if inhaled, is unsafe for the human body.

In order to protect yourself and others as much as possible when working with slate letters, strictly follow the basic rules:

• When working, be sure to use personal protective equipment such as respirator, gloves and goggles;
• Wet material to reduce dust;
• Position yourself outdoors so that when cutting slate, dust is blown away by the wind.

Material advantages

The main advantage of using slate is its resistance to extremes of both high and low temperatures in different climatic zones, as well as its resistance to water resistance and resistance to aggressive UV exposure. over, its predominant property. Excellent sound insulation of roofing and mansard structures.

Most often, the slate coating is made in the form of rectangular sheets with a wavy surface to facilitate drainage from the roof surface. But today flat sheets of slate cover are also produced for the construction and improvement of sites. It is used by:

• For installation of walls of utility rooms;
• Arrangements of fences and barriers;
• In construction. When pouring foundations. As a permanent formwork, which serves as a waterproofing barrier, protecting the product from groundwater and blocking of the product.

How to cut wave slate?

If your farm has an angle grinder equipped with a diamond wheel, then the question “what makes the slate dusty” has already been resolved. Using diamond discs on an angle grinder, we make cuts in different directions and grind the edges. If we use this method in winter, then we cut on the snow, an angle grinder tray on top of the sheet, as a result of which the dust is NOT sprayed.

Another way to cut slate is using a cutting machine to which a stone disc is attached. The method is as follows: moisten the line of the cut of the leaf, lightly run it with the disc, moisten it again, draw it a little deeper with the disc and repeat this several times until the maximum deepening of the mowing line of the cut. After which the slate can easily break and avoid unnecessary scrap.

Cutting flat sheets

Cutting flat sheets

If you are going to use flat slate in construction, then there are several methods that will help you decide what to cut flat slate.

Basically you can use an angle grinder with a stone disc. But for this you need an assistant. The scheme of work is as follows. You rarely write, and the assistant pours a thin stream of water into the place of the cut. This method will help you to reduce the dustiness of the environment and the tool. Since asbestos dust accumulates, dries up and, as a result, becomes difficult to remove, all contamination must be washed off after work.

The cutter will also help with cutting flat slate sheets. On the sheet, mark the cutting line, after placing the slate on a flat, even surface. We pass the cutter several times along this mowing line, deepening the cut, and carefully scraping the letter along the cut mowing line.

But the easiest way is to use such an improvised tool as a slate nail and hammer. Only with the help of a slate nail design will the letter be cut without damage or chips. To do this, according to the marked mowing line of the cut with a slate nail and a hammer, we punch holes, put a block and scrap of slate under the line of the cut. It should be remembered that the more holes, the smoother the cut.

Choosing a convenient and effective method of cutting slate, you can once again emphasize the practicality and ease of use of this roofing material in modern construction of cozy houses and summer cottages.

Secret number 2. We pour water generously

Water will help to significantly reduce the amount of dust. Wet the slate before cutting. over, moisture, in turn, will also facilitate the process itself, additionally protecting the Used tool from dullness.

It will be easier for you to do it in stages:

• Step 1. Slide the disc over the wet mowing line of the cut, just effortlessly.
• Step 2. The appeared line Moisten again with water.
• Step 3. Run the machine over it again, this time deepening the line, but again without effort. Tool weight is sufficient.
• Step 4. Wet the line again with water.
• Step 5. Repeat this all three to four times.
• Step 6. Easy to break the slate over the finished mowing line.

It’s good if you can get an assistant. You will cut, and he Moisten the cut with a stream of water from a bottle or hose. But another option is to moisten the cut site without direct contact of water with electricity. Moisten a rag and leave it on the future cut for half an hour.

Let’s say this is the most accurate and healthiest way to cut. Wet slate will naturally emit much less asbestos dust than dry slate. At the same time, dust is combined with water and such a paste is obtained. Believe me, pasta is already better. DO NOT inhale it. The resulting dirt from water and asbestos dust must be washed off with water from a hose. Both from tools and from sheets. Otherwise, if it hardens, it will not be washed off.

On the other hand, water can damage the angle grinder itself, and then pouring this particular tool is literally not worth it. Naturally, it is not necessary to pour water under the instrument when working with electricity plugged into the outlet. Just add from a spray bottle. Just be careful: the sheets from moisture become not only more elastic, but also fragile. And Considering that water does not cope with asbestos dust by 100%, and then you need to work in a high-quality respirator and glasses.

We cut with a jigsaw

But an ordinary cheap jigsaw copes with such a task worst of all. Wears out too quickly. Most suitable for such work is the HCS jigsaw made of high carbon steel, which is designed for working with soft materials.

A jigsaw with a file, on each tooth of which a victorious tip is soldered, is also excellent for cutting flat slate. Such a tool is convenient Not only to cut sheets according to certain parameters, but also to make rounding and arcs.

Another good option, especially if you have to work with slate often and professionally, is. Jigsaw with a BIM saw. Such a tool, when cutting sheets, will never break even thin corners into flat slate.

We cut with a saw: I select the coating and teeth

Perfectly cuts slate saw with a special Teflon coating, which on the one hand protects the saw blade, and on the other, significantly reduces friction with the material. Less friction. Less dust and easier work. Such a saw is not much more expensive than usual.

Secondly, you should pay attention to the saw teeth: the larger they are, the faster the slate will gather dust. And certainly faster than a simple hacksaw.

A little about asbestos-phobia

So let’s start from the beginning. The most common slate, which has been covering the roofs of houses for several decades, consists of the following components:

• Asbestos;
• Water;
• Portland cement.

In addition, some experts have the opinion that only dust from amphibole-asbestos is carcinogenic, which is mined in Africa and is NOT used in domestic flat slate (here only chrysotype-asbestos).

For example, amphibole-asbestos was banned several years ago in such large countries as Germany and the United States. Billions have been spent looking for artificial substitutes and the battle for markets for new materials has become particularly fierce.

Chrysotile asbestos. This is another kind of roofing slate. Strong and refractory material is produced and used today, and 50% of it is exported to other countries. The price for it is low, and then it is difficult to speak in competition. Why and the reports of the world media about the unexpected carcinogenicity of all materials containing Not only amphibole asbestos, but also chrysotile asbestos are perceived critically by most Russian scientists. Like a normal competitive attack on the international market. Although it is worth noting that the issue of CJSC using this raw material is now raised quite high.

The problem is that asbestos fibers tend to irritate lung tissue. over, constantly, because of which the body first develops benign tumors in such places, otherwise it can be reborn over time. On the other hand, glass and cement can cause the same problems. THOSE. Almost every person can have microtumors in the lungs, but they are reborn as malignant ones only in people predisposed to cancer. Therefore, be that as it may, the airways of all participants in the process must be closed.

Secret number 3. Equipping dust collectors

A regular vacuum cleaner will also help to cope with dust when cutting slate: just ask an assistant to put a pipe near the cut line mowing line and follow you.

We cut with an electric saw and a chisel

This slate is traditionally cut using a chisel and an electric circular saw:

• We take a ruler, a sharp chisel and make notches on both sides of the future cut.
• We place the slate on a flat base with a sharp bar or edge so that the mowing line matches.
• We carefully break the slate.
• If the slate can’t break. We cut it with an electric circular saw, from time to time we cool it with water.

How to cut flat and wave slate. Methods and tools. Slate trimming. How to cut flat slate?

Cutting flat slate is fastest with an angle grinder and stone disc. If you need to cut on a hard surface, which is highly undesirable to damage, place a wooden strip under the slate sheet, not far from the place where the cut will be made. However, this option will help you out when you need to cut close to the edge. If you need to cut the sheet in the middle, then it is best to put the slate on a flat surface that will not be scared to damage, for example, on the ground.

It is best to work with an assistant. While one person is cutting, the second will constantly wet the cutting site with a thin stream of water from a hose or bottle. If there is an assistant, then try to bring a hose to the cutting site, so that the water spreads along the plane of the slate in the place where you will cut. In this way, you can avoid spraying asbestos dust, which will drip onto the ground in the form of dirt. Its remains must be washed off from tools and surfaces, as the dirt will harden upon drying. Using the same angle grinder and diamond wheel, you can not only cut, but also polish the edges of the slate. Slate cutting angle grinder. A very noisy event, so ear protectors will NOT interfere at all.

How else can you cut slate from power tools? Indeed, an angle grinder. Not the only solution to the problem, a jigsaw or even a hacksaw with a fine tooth will do. However, in this case, get ready for a long marathon. These tools are only suitable for small amounts of work. To make it easier to spray with a jigsaw, and even more so with a hacksaw, put a wet rag over the cut site and let it stand for at least a couple of hours. Just don’t get carried away. Remember that the sheets will not only become elastic from moisture, but also more fragile, so you should not press too much. When working with a jigsaw, set a reduced spindle speed.

Required tools and materials

You will NOT surprise anyone with roofing slate. This is the most common roofing material throughout the vast territory of the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, how and how to cut flat or wave slate. Rather fragile products. For the younger generation, it often remains a mystery. We will try to clarify this issue.

How to cut slate without dust. Dangerous dust

Today, in the wake of insanity on everything that is environmentally friendly, slate is hardly considered the most dangerous roofing material. How is it. It contains asbestos, a dangerous mineral! True, the majority absolutely DOESN’T imagine exactly how this substance acts, and how much it contains different objects and things around us. Consider, if you decide to get rid of anything that contains asbestos, throw your money away immediately! In their manufacture, asbestos is used to increase the service life and strength of banknotes.

But seriously, asbestos for a person in the bound state in which he is in products is completely harmless. A slate on the roof of a house or barn does NOT create any dust, and if you are so worried about it, just paint it. Fortunately, today, specifically for THESE purposes, slate paints have been developed that have high adhesion to such surfaces.

That is, the asbestos-containing slate itself is NOT at all more dangerous than the same plastic roof, since asbestos is bonded with cement, but if you start sawing it or thin sections, then the dust that appears gets into our lungs, can really cause chronic bronchitis and other troubles, which are treated with great difficulty. Starting repairs in order to get rid of all asbestos-cement structures, you are just provoking the spread of such dust. It is not in vain that in the United States at the peak of the campaign to combat asbestos at the STATE level, a quite sensible decision was made. It is much safer to live with Asbestos than to deal with it.

Therefore, there is no need to rush to get rid of all asbestos-containing. Use as you used before. However, try to keep yourself safe when performing any tasks. The easiest way to avoid dust getting into your lungs and eyes. Wear a respirator and safety goggles, and leeward floor, before cutting the slate. If you have to work indoors, before cutting the slate, wet it properly. Much less dust is emitted from wet products when cutting. In addition, it is much easier to cut products after soaking. Therefore, experienced craftsmen put wet rags on the cutting site for several hours before cutting the flat slate.

Breathe some air while cutting. Even street smog is not as harmful as asbestos-cement dust. First of all, the children must leave the room. Due to their short stature, they breathe air just at the level where the dust is most. And one more important mayor of security, as they say, for the future. Never throw building waste or debris onto the road. Over time, machines will crush pieces of the same slate, and the air in hot weather will be filled with dust from asbestos.

No dust and noise. How to cut wave slate quietly?

If slate trimming has to be done indoors, where it is important not only to avoid the appearance of dust, but also to do the job as quietly as possible, then in the case of even slate letters, a cutter made of good steel will come in handy. The slate letter is laid on a flat place and a line cutter is held under the ruler. Then, I removed the ruler, the line deepened and expanded, pressed harder on the cutter.

There is little left to do. Place a rail or pipe under the letter, placing them parallel to the cutting line of the cut, and apply slight pressure. If you tried at the previous stage, then there should be no problems here either. The corrugated slate cutter can only be cut along the wave. Filled your hand, you can cut off even very narrow strips of about 10 cm, and mind you, completely dust-free and with minimal noise.

How to cut off the slate if there is only a hammer from the tools? Then a method that belongs to the category of “grandfather’s tricks” will come in handy. Indeed, when there were no grinders and jigsaws, and for using a good hacksaw not for its intended purpose, the grandfather could have an overhead power line to his grandson with a savory slap on the head, the only way was slate cut. Although the word “cut” is somehow wrong to call this method. Rather, they break it. However, they break without dust and unnecessary noise, so the method will always be relevant.

So, you will need NOT any, namely a slate nail. Pre-mark the line of the cut, it is important that it passes along the bottom of the wave. That is, if the line runs along the top, just Flip the sheet over. Holes are punched along the mowing line with a nail. The more often they are located, the better. Then a pipe or wooden block is placed under the letter and gently pressed on the edge of the sheet to break the slate along the mowing line with holes. The evenness of the line depends on the number of holes and the accuracy. Sometimes, in order for the desired piece to come off, it is enough to tap the side of the hammer on the cutting line of the cut.

How to cut slate. Overview of tools and cutting methods

Flat and corrugated slate sheets are widely used as roofing materials. During their installation, there is a need for cutting, which is a rather specific operation.

How to cut slate with an angle grinder. What disc is cut

This procedure can be performed using two types of slate discs:

Disc for stone. In this case, NO Significant Efforts will be required. It is important to organize a constant supply of water with a thin stream to the point of contact between the angle grinder and the slate. In this way, the disc is cooled and dust is prevented. The easiest way to do this. Have a helper with a garden hose or cut plastic bottle next to it. When working alone, the water hose is secured in a convenient position for watering. Using an angle grinder and stone disc, it is best to cut along the slate wave. For convenience, before starting work, the letter is marked out and laid on a flat surface. If the cut is made near the edge of the sheet, a wide board is installed under it.

If it is necessary to cut in the direction transverse to the waves, the procedure is divided into two stages. First, an incision is made on the convex ridges. Then, turning the slate over, the procedure is repeated: it turns out that the ridges that were at the bottom are on top. If done correctly, the letter neatly splits in two. At the end of work, the tool should be thoroughly wiped off dust, especially its working part. The fact is that if the asbestos-cement layers become fossilized, it will be very difficult to remove them from the surface of the disc with an angle grinder on the slate. Use a soft dry cloth for cleaning.

Diamond wheel. Using an angle grinder with a diamond wheel, you can cut slate in any direction. For greater efficiency, it is pre-wetted, increasing the elasticity and pliability of the material. In addition, this will significantly reduce the amount of dust generated. If the cutting is carried out in winter, then the slate sheets can simply be laid on top of the snow: in this case, most of the asbestos dust will simply be absorbed into the snow cover.

How to organize slate cutting

Slate is characterized by sufficient fragility, which is why very small asbestos fibers and particles are formed during the breaking or sawing of sheets. As you know, asbestos is a harmful substance that provokes the occurrence of cancer. In order for cutting the material NOT to be accompanied by its destruction, with the appearance of asbestos dust, you need to know what the slate is cut with and use protective equipment.

Requirement for cutting slate sheets:

• Mandatory use of personal protective equipment. For the respiratory system, it is a respirator, for the eyes. Special glasses for the skin. Gloves and tight clothing. In addition, a lot of noise is generated during the operation of a cut-off electric tool: noise ear muffs will help from it.
• In order to reduce the amount of dust generated by an order of magnitude and make the slate not so fragile, the cut section is moistened with water before cutting. To do this, you can use wet rags or direct watering of the cut mowing line during operation.
• When working outdoors, it is important to find such a place that the resulting asbestos dust is blown away by the wind away from the operator.
• If the procedure is carried out indoors, there should be no one in it except workers. All doors must be tightly closed, taking measures to further seal them.

Mechanical tools

If slate cutting is carried out indoors, or a suitable power tool for work is not available, classic techniques come to the rescue than cutting slate.

In this case, a wet letter can be cut in the following ways:

• Hand saw. A tool with replaceable blades and fine teeth is suitable for this. It is necessary to stock up in advance with several such canvases, since in the course of work they rather quickly become dull and clogged with asbestos dust. It is recommended to avoid pressure when cutting, otherwise the fragile material may break.
• Manual cutter. In this case, it will take several times to deepen the cut along the applied markings. Between approaches it is necessary to wet the line and cut. When the cutter is 2/3 deeper than the plate thickness, it can break. To do this, a wooden plank is placed under the slate, cut along the mowing line: after pressing on the edges of the sheet, it will easily split into two parts.
• Hammer and roofing nail. For this, the line is carefully pierced with a nail in many places. It is advisable to make as many of these holes as possible. This will only contribute to the quality of the fault. When making holes in the direction longitudinal to the wave, the slate is turned in such a way that this wave passes below. After applying a series of holes, a wooden block or a lath is placed under them: pressed on the edges of the sheet, it is broken. To facilitate this procedure, it is allowed to tap the break line with a hammer.

To implement this method, you will need special slate nails. The usual ones are distinguished by the presence of a special rod shape and a soft head, which allows avoiding splitting of sheets during driving. To speed up the process of equipping the slate with a series of holes, roofing nails are stuffed into the block. This kind of comb is usually used for constant work with slate letters.

How can you cut slate from power tools

In addition to the angle grinder, a cutting machine equipped with a stone cutting disc can be used to cut slate. The preparatory procedure here is the same as in the case of an angle grinder: the letter is first marked and then moistened. When working with a cut-off machine, it is important to avoid any shifts by running the disc exactly along the markings. It is usually not possible to cut the slate in one approach, therefore, after wetting, cut with water, the procedure is repeated again, due to which the cut deepens. As a rule, in order to comfortably break the slate, 3-4 such approaches are required.

For sawing wet slate, you can use a regular jigsaw, equipped with fine-toothed blades. In this case, the spindle is set to the low gear mode. When using this tool, it is important to be very careful to avoid any pressure on the slate, otherwise it will crumble. The use of a jigsaw is justified only in the case of small volumes of such work.

Cutting flat slate at home

To separate flat slate sheets, any method of cutting corrugated slate can be adopted. However, it is most convenient to cut smooth slate with an angle grinder with a disc on a stone. For the procedure, a flat surface is selected on which the material is placed. This can be a simple wooden deck, or a dense dirt pad. The main thing is that the bottom base is not expensive, as it will be damaged during cutting. When cutting near the edge of the slate, it is advisable to put a wooden lath of the required length under it. Before cutting flat slate at home, you need to organize the water supply to the work site to reduce the amount of asbestos dust