We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft. FIL has done a lot
of building work, but he has not used many power tools. He wants to
do it by drilling a series of holes and then breaking the slab along
that line of holes. I am not too keen on this because the edge of the
slab will be fairtly visible and i don't think it will look nice. Also
we have exactly the right number of slabs and don't want to risk
breaking one in the wrong place. We'd rather not bring in new ones as
they won't match the nice 'patina' of the 1960s originals. (sounds
daft I know but...)

I know you can cut slabs with a diamond cutting disk on a machine
which I could hire or even buy. I am pretty handy but do not have
much experience of powered cutting other than a hand held circular
saw. Would it be safe for me to attempt this or are such machines
dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced but enthusiatic?

Perhaps could pay a builder to come and do the cuts.

Thanks for any comments anyone cares to make,

Robert

RobertL wrote:
We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft. FIL has done a lot
of building work, but he has not used many power tools. He wants to
do it by drilling a series of holes and then breaking the slab along
that line of holes. I am not too keen on this because the edge of the
slab will be fairtly visible and i don't think it will look nice. Also
we have exactly the right number of slabs and don't want to risk
breaking one in the wrong place. We'd rather not bring in new ones as
they won't match the nice 'patina' of the 1960s originals. (sounds
daft I know but...)

I know you can cut slabs with a diamond cutting disk on a machine
which I could hire or even buy. I am pretty handy but do not have
much experience of powered cutting other than a hand held circular
saw. Would it be safe for me to attempt this or are such machines
dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced but enthusiatic?

Perhaps could pay a builder to come and do the cuts.

Thanks for any comments anyone cares to make,

Robert

Its easy enough for a novice (i.e. me) the usual safety precautions
apply, especially with regard to your toes Also cut the slabs
somewhere that wont matter if the disk goes through the slab and into
the surface underneath... the grass or an old pallet is ideal.

On 2007-10-01 08:57:27 +0100, RobertL said:


We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft. FIL has done a lot
of building work, but he has not used many power tools. He wants to
do it by drilling a series of holes and then breaking the slab along
that line of holes. I am not too keen on this because the edge of the
slab will be fairtly visible and i don't think it will look nice. Also
we have exactly the right number of slabs and don't want to risk
breaking one in the wrong place. We'd rather not bring in new ones as
they won't match the nice 'patina' of the 1960s originals. (sounds
daft I know but...)

Reasonable. The drilling holes idea is not going to be a good one.


I know you can cut slabs with a diamond cutting disk on a machine
which I could hire or even buy. I am pretty handy but do not have
much experience of powered cutting other than a hand held circular
saw. Would it be safe for me to attempt this or are such machines
dangerous in the hands of the inexperienced but enthusiatic?

You can rent such machines. They are safe enough. Make sure that the
slabs are properly supported on the ground and make sure you have
correct spec eye protection - rental place will advise on this.


It's worth getting a couple of new slabs on which to practice.



Perhaps could pay a builder to come and do the cuts.

or someone who lays drives and paths etc. For this small quantity,
that might be the economic choice.



Thanks for any comments anyone cares to make,

Robert

On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:57:27 -0700, RobertL wrote:


We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft. FIL has done a lot of
building work, but he has not used many power tools. He wants to do it
by drilling a series of holes and then breaking the slab along that line
of holes. I am not too keen on this because the edge of the slab will
be fairtly visible and i don't think it will look nice. Also we have
exactly the right number of slabs and don't want to risk breaking one in
the wrong place. We'd rather not bring in new ones as they won't match
the nice 'patina' of the 1960s originals. (sounds daft I know but...)

I know you can cut slabs with a diamond cutting disk on a machine which
I could hire or even buy. I am pretty handy but do not have much
experience of powered cutting other than a hand held circular saw. Would
it be safe for me to attempt this or are such machines dangerous in the
hands of the inexperienced but enthusiatic?

Perhaps could pay a builder to come and do the cuts.

Thanks for any comments anyone cares to make,

Robert

==================================
Even a small 115mm / 4 1/2" angle grinder will do a few cuts if you're
worried about the weight of a 9" cutter. The technique is to cut as deeply
as you can on one side and then break along the cut line as if breaking a
wall tile. An angle grinder with a diamond disk used with a light touch is
perfectly safe provided that you use adequate eye protection and work on a
solid base.

If you will be discarding the offcuts do a few practice cuts on the waste
areas before you work on the final cuts.

Cic.

--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================

Hi Robert

I brought my self a cheap 4.5" angle grinder from B&Q at first I tried
the standard abrasive discs which did not work well at all. The
diamond disc is the way to go I brought the cheapest one I could find
and it is still going strong.

Cut the slabs on the ground as Gerry recomends. The Angle grinder is
fairly easy to control but can jump if it is twisted in the cut so I
used a strong pair of shoes and keped my feet at the oppisite
direction the angle grinder would jump in if I twisted the blade in
the cut.

Straight cuts are easy but curves are a little more difficult.

Good luck
Tom

wrote:
Hi Robert

I brought my self a cheap 4.5" angle grinder from B&Q at first I tried
the standard abrasive discs which did not work well at all. The
diamond disc is the way to go I brought the cheapest one I could find
and it is still going strong.

Cut the slabs on the ground as Gerry recomends. The Angle grinder is
fairly easy to control but can jump if it is twisted in the cut so I
used a strong pair of shoes and keped my feet at the oppisite
direction the angle grinder would jump in if I twisted the blade in
the cut.

Straight cuts are easy but curves are a little more difficult.

Good luck
Tom




I've used the standard discs in a small grinder. One disc per slab if
you're lucky but, if you're only doing a couple....

RobertL wrote:

We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft.

Old slabs are quite soft compared to new ones, so they cut easily with a
masonry cutting disc.
For just 3 cuts, firstly ask if anyone local will cut them, if not, buy
a cheap 115mm grinder, and 3 masonry discs - easily available for £25.

You only need to go halfway through the slab,then put a piece of 2x1"
wood under the cut, and give it a sharp tap, and it should break cleanly
along the cut.
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

RobertL wrote:
We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a few paving slabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concrete paving slabs 2ftx3ft. SNIP

Some independent hire shops will cut them for you at a small charge. They
invariable have the big radial arm slab cutters hanging around the yard.
Don't bother with the big chains like Speedy, Brandon, HSS etc, find the
little shop.

Grab YP & ring around.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On Oct 1, 8:49 pm, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
RobertL wrote:
We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a fewpavingslabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concretepavingslabs 2ftx3ft. SNIP

Some independent hire shops will cut them for you at a small charge. They
invariable have the big radial arm slab cutters hanging around the yard.
Don't bother with the big chains like Speedy, Brandon, HSS etc, find the
little shop.



Thank you all for this very useful advice. I will be cutting only
straight lines.
i'll report back with my experiences.

best wishes,

Robert

On Oct 2, 10:00 am, RobertL wrote:
On Oct 1, 8:49 pm, "The Medway Handyman"

wrote:
RobertL wrote:
We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a fewpavingslabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concretepavingslabs 2ftx3ft. SNIP

Some independent hire shops will cut them for you at a small charge. They
invariable have the big radial arm slab cutters hanging around the yard.
Don't bother with the big chains like Speedy, Brandon, HSS etc, find the
little shop.

Thank you all for this very useful advice. I will be cutting only
straight lines.
i'll report back with my experiences.

Before I rush off and buy/rent a grinder I wanted to check the group's
view on doing this job with an ordinary circular saw. I only need to
do straight cuts and Ithink you can get masonry blades (diamond) for a
circular saw. I already own a good circular saw with a 6" blade
(IIRC). Would this be a possible way to go or is it really better to
use an angle grinder?

Thanks you,

Robert

RobertL wrote:
On Oct 2, 10:00 am, RobertL wrote:
On Oct 1, 8:49 pm, "The Medway Handyman"

wrote:
RobertL wrote:
We (me and father-in-law) need to cut a fewpavingslabs (3 of them).
These are 1960s concretepavingslabs 2ftx3ft. SNIP
Some independent hire shops will cut them for you at a small charge. They
invariable have the big radial arm slab cutters hanging around the yard.
Don't bother with the big chains like Speedy, Brandon, HSS etc, find the
little shop.
Thank you all for this very useful advice. I will be cutting only
straight lines.
i'll report back with my experiences.

Before I rush off and buy/rent a grinder I wanted to check the group's
view on doing this job with an ordinary circular saw. I only need to
do straight cuts and Ithink you can get masonry blades (diamond) for a
circular saw. I already own a good circular saw with a 6" blade
(IIRC). Would this be a possible way to go or is it really better to
use an angle grinder?

Thanks you,

Robert



Grinders usually run at x2.5 the speed of a circular saw and probably
handle the dust better. There has to be a reason grinders are the norm

On Oct 3, 10:33 am, RobertL wrote:

Before I rush off and buy/rent a grinder I wanted to check the group's
view on doing this job with an ordinary circular saw. I only need to
do straight cuts and Ithink you can get masonry blades (diamond) for a
circular saw. I already own a good circular saw with a 6" blade
(IIRC). Would this be a possible way to go or is it really better to
use an angle grinder?

Argos have got a grinder for £10, not worth risking your circular saw
for.

Try keeping the dust away from the motor air intake slots on the
grinder, a windy day might help.

cheers,
Pete.

On Oct 3, 1:34 pm, Pete C wrote:
On Oct 3, 10:33 am, RobertL wrote:

Before I rush off and buy/rent a grinder I wanted to check the group's
view on doing this job with an ordinary circular saw. I only need to
do straight cuts and Ithink you can get masonry blades (diamond) for a
circular saw. I already own a good circular saw with a 6" blade
(IIRC). Would this be a possible way to go or is it really better to
use an angle grinder?

Argos have got a grinder for £10, not worth risking your circular saw
for.

Try keeping the dust away from the motor air intake slots on the
grinder, a windy day might help.

A good thought, thanks. My wife is in the shop buying a grinder as
we speak.

R