Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do it - any indication of cost?

thanks

Lee.

On Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:12:59 -0700, Lee Nowell wrote:

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I
now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching
around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews.
One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular
saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight
cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to
do it - any indication of cost?

We had a granite worktop fitted in our old place. All cut to size/shape
offsite from templates, then delivered and installed, except for tap
holes needing to be cut, which they did after installation.

Blimey o'Reilly... Considering that was a pro specialist doing it, what a
bloody long job! A well of plasticine or something similar around, filled
with water. Then a VERY slow and long session with a holesaw. Must have
taken the thick end of an hour for the two holes.

Frankly, ******** to that.

For outdoor, angle grinder may well be good enough. If so, shouldn't take
so long. You've got the granite? Give it a crack! What is there to
lose...?

Can it be that hard? I notice that they still make granite table lamps
turned out of granite and polished. very nice but don't drop them on your
foot!
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 11 Aug 2014 07:12:59 -0700, Lee Nowell wrote:

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I
now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching
around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews.
One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular
saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight
cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to
do it - any indication of cost?

We had a granite worktop fitted in our old place. All cut to size/shape
offsite from templates, then delivered and installed, except for tap
holes needing to be cut, which they did after installation.

Blimey o'Reilly... Considering that was a pro specialist doing it, what a
bloody long job! A well of plasticine or something similar around, filled
with water. Then a VERY slow and long session with a holesaw. Must have
taken the thick end of an hour for the two holes.

Frankly, ******** to that.

For outdoor, angle grinder may well be good enough. If so, shouldn't take
so long. You've got the granite? Give it a crack! What is there to
lose...?

In article ,
Brian Gaff wrote:
Can it be that hard? I notice that they still make granite table lamps
turned out of granite and polished. very nice but don't drop them on
your foot!

I'm from Aberdeen where at one time pretty well all houses were built with
it. And yes, it is hard. A normal hammer drill and masonry bit won't touch
it. Only thing which did work (before SDS) was a RawlTool. And that was
very hard work.

I'm assuming SDS will work - I've not actually tried it since I left
Aberdeen long before they were invented. ;-)

--
*A bicycle can't stand alone because it's two tyred.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 11/08/14 15:12, Lee Nowell wrote:
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.


I have cut sandstone with a diamond equipped angle grinder and quartzite
with a diamond tile saw. It works, but te latter is very slow.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do it - any indication of cost?

Did this for marble - they supplied granite. Its expensive. About half
the cost or more of what it costs to get them to supply the lot. They
were also complete ******* and couldn't read drawings - only 'templates'


thanks

Lee.



--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll

"Lee Nowell" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now
need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around
for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I
saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go
through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts
around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

It cuts easily enough with a 9" angle grinder with a diamond blade.
I would smooth down some masking tape on the cut line and mark your cut line
on that. It'll be easier to see when the dust gets going.
I would cut it on a board, you don't want the bit you cut dropping on your
foot.

Mask....it's dusty
Ear protectors... it's noisy.


mark

"Lee Nowell" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now
need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around
for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I
saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go
through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts
around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do
it - any indication of cost?

thanks

Lee.

Definitely a job for the angle grinder.
I presume your worktop is 30mm thick. Use gloves, goggles and plenty of
water as you cut.
A cutting disc in the grinder will work fine. Make several light passes.
I have a tenant of 20 years standing who is a stone worker. He has
industrial diamond tipped saws for cutting slabs but uses an angle grinder
for smaller stuff. Also industrial polishing machines. Some of his product
is truly amazing. Old school bloke and very good.
IIRC a metal cutting disc will cut stone but a stone cutting disc will not
cut metal. Also IIRC stone cutting discs are more prone to shatter.
HTH
Nick.

On 11/08/2014 19:20, Nick wrote:
"Lee Nowell" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now
need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around
for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I
saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go
through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts
around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do
it - any indication of cost?

thanks

Lee.

Definitely a job for the angle grinder.
I presume your worktop is 30mm thick. Use gloves, goggles and plenty of
water as you cut.
A cutting disc in the grinder will work fine. Make several light passes.
I have a tenant of 20 years standing who is a stone worker. He has
industrial diamond tipped saws for cutting slabs but uses an angle grinder
for smaller stuff. Also industrial polishing machines. Some of his product
is truly amazing. Old school bloke and very good.
IIRC a metal cutting disc will cut stone but a stone cutting disc will not
cut metal. Also IIRC stone cutting discs are more prone to shatter.
HTH
Nick.


I'd be inclined to agree with that approach. A little while ago I laid
some granite floor tiles. Only 10mm thick, unlike a worktop, but they
cut easily on a regular cheapo diamond wheel tile cutter, which is
pretty similar to an angle grinder. The greatest challenge is to keep
it on a steady line.
I noticed recently that Evolution do a stone cutting disc for a circular
saw. No idea, but that might be simpler to get a good line with,
running it along a guide (or sawboard).

On Monday, August 11, 2014 3:12:59 PM UTC+1, Lee Nowell wrote:
Hi All,



I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.



Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.



Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do it - any indication of cost?



thanks



Lee.

We paid as much to get ours cut as the granite cost. It was three three metre lengths though. they did a great job.

Jonathan

Lee Nowell wrote

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ
and I now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly.
Searching around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides
mixed reviews. One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped
blade from a circular saw and go through it very slowly and drop a few mm
each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight
cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking
a professional to do it - any indication of cost?

When I needed to cut some concrete blocks that are amazingly
hard because of the quartz chips used in the aggregate, I just
took them to the operation that does tombstones and got
them to cut them using the water cooled saw they use.

40 years ago now so the price isnt going to be useful.
Nothing special cost wise as I recall.

On 11/08/2014 15:12, Lee Nowell wrote:
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I
now need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly.
Searching around for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides
mixed reviews. One site I saw suggested getting a diamond tipped
blade from a circular saw and go through it very slowly and drop a
few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight
cuts around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Pretty sure I have trimmed the end of a granite slab once with a diamond
disc in an 9" grinder. I would be inclined to do it with water running
over it slowly - and you will need a very good quality hard materials
disk (the cheaper diamond ones will tend to glaze and stop cutting on
things like granite)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Hi All

Thanks very much for your replies...

I have decided to give it a go and will post back the results. I am a little concerned about getting a straight edge with the grinder and also stopping it from jumping.... So.... I am going to try the circlar saw option...

thanks

Lee.

On 12/08/14 12:59, Lee Nowell wrote:
Hi All

Thanks very much for your replies...

I have decided to give it a go and will post back the results. I am a little concerned about getting a straight edge with the grinder and also stopping it from jumping.... So.... I am going to try the circlar saw option...

thanks

Lee.

Grinder wont dump, but saw if wetted is much better.

Take it very slowly


--
Everything you read in newspapers is absolutely true, except for the
rare story of which you happen to have first-hand knowledge. €“ Erwin Knoll

In article , Lee
Nowell writes
Hi All

Thanks very much for your replies...

I have decided to give it a go and will post back the results. I am a little concerned
about getting a straight edge with the grinder and also stopping it from jumping....
So.... I am going to try the circlar saw option...

I'm surprised no one mentioned it but there's nothing stopping you
clamping a bit of ply (12 or 18mm) to the workpiece to act as a guide
for the angle grinder disc. Obviously the guide is soft but you wont be
applying any force to it, it is purely there to limit wander and to
provide a sacrificial surface should there be any of the jumping you are
concerned about (there shouldn't be if you use light strokes. Once
started the slot becomes its own guide but retain the ply for
protection.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On 13/08/2014 11:13, fred wrote:
In article , Lee
Nowell writes
Hi All

Thanks very much for your replies...

I have decided to give it a go and will post back the results. I am a
little concerned
about getting a straight edge with the grinder and also stopping it
from jumping....
So.... I am going to try the circlar saw option...

I'm surprised no one mentioned it but there's nothing stopping you
clamping a bit of ply (12 or 18mm) to the workpiece to act as a guide
for the angle grinder disc. Obviously the guide is soft but you wont be
applying any force to it, it is purely there to limit wander and to
provide a sacrificial surface should there be any of the jumping you are
concerned about (there shouldn't be if you use light strokes. Once
started the slot becomes its own guide but retain the ply for protection.

Depending on how much you are taking off but is there enough to do a
`test` run on the waste piece before you line up for the proper cut.

"Lee Nowell" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I have bought some pieces of granite worktop for my outdoor BBQ and I now
need to do a bit of cutting to get them to fit correctly. Searching around
for advice on whether this is a DIY task provides mixed reviews. One site I
saw suggested getting a diamond tipped blade from a circular saw and go
through it very slowly and drop a few mm each time.

Does anyone have any experience in doing this? I have a few straight cuts
around 100mm long to make and then one about 300mm.

Failing this, has anyone had experience about asking a professional to do
it - any indication of cost?

thanks

Lee.

It will need a diamond disk and cooling water.
NB There are diamond disks and diamond disks.
The el cheapos have fewer diamonds and no good at all on granite.

I can't imaging the work ther must be in manufacturing thes ethings.

Even more so these Victorian granite columns you see.
Some mad ******* here. Wouldn't fancy his method (water +230 Volts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--h-d6EVvkg

/water +230 Volts/q

Thought USA was 120?

Jim K

On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:14:53 -0700, JimK wrote:

/water +230 Volts/q

Thought USA was 120?

They use 120 mostly, but have 230 for "big stuff".

/Adrian
On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:14:53 -0700, JimK wrote:

/water +230 Volts/q

Thought USA was 120?

They use 120 mostly, but have 230 for "big stuff". /q

Er... like...? ....Industrial use in machine shops?
If so, why do we 'need' 3 phase etc to do ours?

Jim K

On 8/12/2014 2:51 PM, JimK wrote:
/Adrian
On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:14:53 -0700, JimK wrote:

/water +230 Volts/q

Thought USA was 120?

They use 120 mostly, but have 230 for "big stuff". /q

Er... like...? ....Industrial use in machine shops?
If so, why do we 'need' 3 phase etc to do ours?

Electric cookers, air conditioners, clothes dryers.

On 12/08/2014 19:51, JimK wrote:
/Adrian
On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 10:14:53 -0700, JimK wrote:

/water +230 Volts/q

Thought USA was 120?

They use 120 mostly, but have 230 for "big stuff". /q

Er... like...? ....Industrial use in machine shops?

No, things like cookers, washing machines etc - i.e. stuff where 1800W
is not going to hack it.




--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:51:28 -0700, JimK wrote:

water +230 Volts

Thought USA was 120?

They use 120 mostly, but have 230 for "big stuff".

Er... like...? ....Industrial use in machine shops?

Domestic washing machines, tumble dryers, etc.

If so, why do we 'need' 3 phase etc to do ours?

V=IR

harryagain wrote:

Some mad ******* here. Wouldn't fancy his method (water +230 Volts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--h-d6EVvkg

Seems to be a "left hand drive" saw, but he also seems to like pulling
it backwards, OK it's not a toothed blade he's using, but I'd have
though he might get less judder by pushing it ...

On Wednesday, August 13, 2014 12:58:22 AM UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
harryagain wrote:



Some mad ******* here. Wouldn't fancy his method (water +230 Volts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--h-d6EVvkg



Seems to be a "left hand drive" saw, but he also seems to like pulling

it backwards, OK it's not a toothed blade he's using, but I'd have

though he might get less judder by pushing it ...

I must admit I thought granite was harder to cut than that. Diamond blades in circular saws usually sounds like a bad idea, but a tile blade is a lot safer.
Simon.

On 13/08/2014 00:58, Andy Burns wrote:
harryagain wrote:

Some mad ******* here. Wouldn't fancy his method (water +230 Volts)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--h-d6EVvkg

Seems to be a "left hand drive" saw, but he also seems to like pulling
it backwards, OK it's not a toothed blade he's using, but I'd have
though he might get less judder by pushing it ...

He could have made life much easier but cutting from the underside and
pushing the saw in the more traditional way.

(also a bit of a muppet taking the guard off the AG)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Hi All,

After much searching..... I am still stuck! When I looked closer at my circular saw, the blade size is 184mm with a bore size of 16mm. The good segmented diamond blades I was going to buy from Screwfix are 115mm and 230mm! Never mind I thought I'll look for some others... I have searched everywhere and can't find a blade that would fit. The nearest I got was a continuous tile cutting blade 180mm with a bore size of 22mm.. I assume the 180mm will be fine but not the bore size.

Anyone know where I could get one?

thanks in advance..
Lee.

/. I have searched everywhere and can't find a blade that would fit. The nearest I got was a continuous tile cutting blade 180mm with a bore size of 22mm.. I assume the 180mm will be fine but not the bore size. /q

JFG 'reducing rings'

Jim K

Where would I get the reducing rings? How does it work?

Thanks

Lee.

/Where would I get the reducing rings? How does it work?

Thanks

Lee. /q

OK I'll bite....

JFG = just feckin google.....

I.e. Google "reducing rings"....

Jim K

On 24/08/2014 20:29, JimK wrote:
/Where would I get the reducing rings? How does it work?

Thanks

Lee. /q

OK I'll bite....

JFG = just feckin google.....

I.e. Google "reducing rings"....

Jim K

No, no - you need this...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=reducing+rings

Andy

In message , JimK
writes
/Where would I get the reducing rings? How does it work?

To be fair to the OP, prior to this thread, I would not have known that
such a thing existed, or what is was called.
--
Graeme

In article ,
wrote:
Where would I get the reducing rings? How does it work?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161398055207 ?

On 24/08/2014 08:06, Lee Nowell wrote:
Hi All,

After much searching..... I am still stuck! When I looked closer at
my circular saw, the blade size is 184mm with a bore size of 16mm.
The good segmented diamond blades I was going to buy from Screwfix
are 115mm and 230mm! Never mind I thought I'll look for some
others... I have searched everywhere and can't find a blade that
would fit. The nearest I got was a continuous tile cutting blade
180mm with a bore size of 22mm.. I assume the 180mm will be fine but
not the bore size.

Anyone know where I could get one?

Adaptor rings that fit into the bore of the blade, and have a reduced
diameter bore of their own will fix that problem as long as the mounting
washers / flanges on the saw are at least as large as the larger bore size.

e.g.

http://r.ebay.com/eYrX4G





--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Ah... Thanks for this John. I was wondering how it would work. The washer comment was the missing bit of the jigsaw.

Thanks

Lee.

On 26/08/2014 08:22, wrote:
Ah... Thanks for this John. I was wondering how it would work. The
washer comment was the missing bit of the jigsaw.

Yup, if the clamping mechanism only grabs the reducing ring then the
blade will drop off!


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Ah... Thanks for this John. I was wondering how it would work. The washer comment was the missing bit of the jigsaw.

Thanks

Lee.