Cutting paving slabs

[ss]

Would a normal bog standard cheapo angle grinder be ok for cutting a few
garden slabs the 2 x 3 foot size? Or would I need something more
substantial, got about a dozen to trim and in no rush.

[stuart noble]

Should be ok taking it easy with a 9" cheapo and a diamond blade. 2 x 3
foot? Blimey, are you a weight lifter?

[The Natural Philosopher]

I have actually cut these on a £30- tile cutter..but after the first one
I hired a diamond bladed big angle grinder. Took less time to drive to
town, get one, cut the slabs and take it back than I spent cutting the
first one.

So the answer is yes and no.

You need power and you need a proper diamond stone cutting disk.


--
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to
lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the
members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are
rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a
diminishing number of producers.

[Dave Liquorice]

Provided you have the depth of cut yes. You might not even need the full
depth, just cut as deep as you can from the face side, place cut along
the edge of lath and break the slab. Get diamond blades, ordinary stome
cutting abrasive ones just won't last.

--
Cheers
Dave.

[polygonum]

On 08/01/2013 14:43, ss wrote:

Get mask, ear defenders, eye protection (I use full face cover), gloves,
changes of clothes and somewhere that the dust doesn't matter.

--
Rod

[Dave Liquorice]

On Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:30:47 +0000, polygonum wrote:

>> Would a normal bog standard cheapo angle grinder be ok for cutting a
>> few garden slabs the 2 x 3 foot size?

> Get mask, ear defenders, eye protection (I use full face cover),
> gloves, changes of clothes and somewhere that the dust doesn't matter.

That goes without saying when getting the angle grinder out doesn't it?

--
Cheers
Dave.

[polygonum]

I'd hope so - but the OP doesn't appear to have much experience of using
them in this sort of role. And it is a whole extra chapter of muck from,
maybe, trimming a bolt or other relatively trivial use of an AG.

--
Rod

[The Natural Philosopher]

Not really. eye protection is worth having, but the rest is only for
dumb fucks who cant handle power tools: I mean who really is going to
cut paving slabs on the best carpet..

..well except Danny. Danny was a labourer on the site of my new house.,
WE had fitted very expensive oak doorframes and they were barrowing
stiff in through them and banging them. I suggested he organise some
protection. So he NAILED with six inch nails some ply over the
frame...to the frame! ....sheesh.

That was the final straw.

[ss]

On 08/01/2013 16:16, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 08/01/13 15:47, Dave Liquorice wrote:
>> On Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:30:47 +0000, polygonum wrote:
>>
>>>> Would a normal bog standard cheapo angle grinder be ok for cutting a
>>>> few garden slabs the 2 x 3 foot size?
>>
>>> Get mask, ear defenders, eye protection (I use full face cover),
>>> gloves, changes of clothes and somewhere that the dust doesn't matter.
>>
>> That goes without saying when getting the angle grinder out doesn't it?
>>
> Not really. eye protection is worth having, but the rest is only for
> dumb fucks who cant handle power tools: I mean who really is going to
> cut paving slabs on the best carpet..
>
> ..well except Danny. Danny was a labourer on the site of my new house.,
> WE had fitted very expensive oak doorframes and they were barrowing
> stiff in through them and banging them. I suggested he organise some
> protection. So he NAILED with six inch nails some ply over the
> frame...to the frame! ....sheesh.
>
> That was the final straw.
>
>
>

Thanks for the suggestions all. The reason I dont want to hire a `real
slab cutter` is the job will be done over a couple of months so wont
have all the slabs needing cut ready to go so will just be doing maybe 4
at a time as required.
And yes I only use the grinder ocassionaly for odd bits and have never
used on slabs before, I hate the things but...........needs must.

[harry]

You can hire a machine like a guillotine that will crack them.

Or if you cut a slot with the angle grinder, you can turn them over
and tap the back until they break.

As long as they are not "granolithic" fairly easy to do.

[John Miller]

On 08/01/2013 14:43, ss wrote:

If you don't need a nice smooth edge, then you can just use the angle
grinder to score a line, then tip up the slab and tap with a lump hammer
along the line on the back and it will break along the line but the edge
under the cut will be a bit rough.

John M

[SteveW]

I had to remove, and then twice more move, ten 2' x 3' slabs, before
finally disposing of them - 9 of the B's were the proper 2" thick ones
too. I don't think my left knee has ever been the same since :(

SteveW

[stuart noble]

The source of much crazy paving I imagine :)

[SteveW]

The source of much cursing! Especially getting them back out of the
trailer when I finally got rid of them!

SteveW

[fred]

So are those cheapo diamond core bits and diamond cutting discs any use ? I've got very wary of Axminster own brand products.

[SteveW]

Don't know about the core bits, but any diamond cutting disk is many
times better than the alternative types. If I was cutting such things
regularly, I'd buy good disks, but for relatively small numbers, cheapos
will do.

[alan]

On 08/01/2013 14:43, ss wrote:

I recently cut three concrete fencing barge boards (with reinforcing
rods?) with a cheap angle grinder and a diamond disk, purchased from
Aldi, without problems (I did have to cut from both sides because of the
depth of cut)

--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

[Rick Hughes]

Need a diamond blade or it will wear away like hell and make a mess of
things

[brick...@gmail.com]

Have a look at this site www.brickworker.co.uk i would sat higher a water bottle and cutoff saw. regards george.

[JimK]

/brick...@gmail.com
- show quoted text -
Have a look at this site www.brickworker.co.uk i would sat higher a water bottle and cutoff saw. regards george/q

Oh FFS another prehistoric spamming cunt.....

WTF did he mean anyway ? Apart from www.prickworker.co.uk
??

Jim K

[Bob H]

I used a 4.5inch Matika angle grinder with a diamond wheel, and it beat
the hell out of a similar Bosch angle grinder, as I f*****d up 2 of
those, cutting some 2x2 paving flags.