If you are planning to expand a sidewalk or create a countertop in the kitchen, you might need to cut through concrete. Using a saw, you can cut concrete safely on your own up to depths of around 6 inches. Beyond that, it may be a better idea to engage the professionals. For such complex jobs, you can always reach out to concrete cutting Sydney for assistance.
Type Of Saw Blades
1. Abrasive Masonry Blades
The most affordable and widely available blades in the market are the abrasive masonry ones. These can cut through concrete and asphalt, but they wear out quickly. Also, their speed of cutting concrete is slow and time taking. Apart from this, they need frequent blade adjustments due to quicker wear. It might get frustrating if you are working on a big project. To make things worse, longer use of masonry blades causes them to overheat. These overheated blades start giving out bad smells along with fine dust plumes. As such, abrasive blades are a good choice for economical projects and shallow cutting over concrete.
2. Dry Cutting Diamond Blades
Diamond blades are specialized concrete cutters. Their cost is high but then they last much longer too. Dry cutting blades have segregated outer rim to help them cool during operations. These also scoop out the debris while cutting through concrete. But due to the dryness, a lot of dust gets created by these dry cutters. So you need to wear proper masks and seal indoor sites with the use of plastic and duct tapes while working.
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3. Wet Cutting Diamond Blades
Continuous rim diamond blades are used for the wet cutting of concrete. A continuous flow of water cools them while operating. The same water clears out any debris formed as well. Consequently, the chances of dust are minimum while cutting. And unlike the dry cutting blades, these have a continuous rim perimeter. They provide for the fastest and cleanest concrete cutting. But for a continuous water supply over the blades, you might have to take additional help. Proper distribution of water is of utmost essential for these types of wet cutters.
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Do’s And Don’ts For Concrete Saw Cutting
- Never force a cutting blade into the concrete. This might damage the blade or let you lose control over the saw. Allow the weight of the saw to guide the blade through.
- Always use protective gear like masks and glasses when you cut concrete. These can protect you from harmful dust particles off the concrete cuts.
- Don’t use a wet blade without water. It will immediately damage the cutting edges due to overheating and might cause injuries if not careful.
- Allow free run of your dry blade after every 30 to 45 seconds of cutting. This prevents overheating of the blade. Do remember to back your blade off the concrete during each dry run.
Steps To Cutting Concrete
At first, you need to know the purpose of concrete cutting. Next, the area for cutting should be decided. And once you are done with these, the actual cutting would follow. Here we discuss the basics steps to make things easier for you.
1. Site Preparation
Concrete cutting can be really messy with all the resulting dust and fragments. So it is always better to cover the exits using plastic and tape if you are working indoors. Cleaning the target concrete surface for any dust might also help you with speedy cutting. In addition, ensure a safe passage for clearing out the broken concrete towards the end.
2. Getting The Right Blade
Starting with the right choice of blade is essential. Dry blades comfortably fit into a standard circular saw and are suitable for cutting depth up to about 3 inches. In contrast, wet blades can cut up to depths of around 8 inches. But they might need a more specialized “walk-behind” saw for constant water distribution.
3. Safety First
Protecting yourself is paramount when it comes to handling heavy machinery. The same applies to cutting concrete. Use all the necessary protective gear before starting work. Flying concrete fragments can cause serious injury if not careful. Similarly, fine dust formed while cutting is poisonous for your lungs when inhaled. Stay protected with your goggles, gloves, face masks, and suitable clothes until you finish the job.
4. Start Cutting
Right before starting to cut, mark the lay-outing clearly with colored chalks. Mark them wide for better visibility while working. Prepare the blade for a depth of 1-2 inches cut along the guideline. Sprinkle water over the cutting surface to keep it clean while cutting. Avoid spraying water over the saw to prevent short circuits. Once the line cutting has been completed, you can go for more depth up to 4 inches depending upon the concrete thickness. Always start the saw at the lowest speed for better control.
5. Bring On The Jackhammer
Done with the line cutting, it’s time for using the jackhammer to break the concrete. Start from an inside corner to the line cut portion. Keep clearing the initial concrete pieces to make space for more. You might need to cut any wire mesh supporting the concrete using a bolt cutter before breaking.
6. Cleaning Concrete Fragments
Complete your job by cleaning away the broken concrete. Load them into a truck for proper disposal. Similarly, if you were working indoors then remove the protective coverings and clean any visible dust with a damp cloth. All cleaned up, now you are done with your concrete cutting job.
