Power tool

A concrete saw (also known as a consaw, road saw, cut-off saw, slab saw or quick cut) is a power tool used for cutting concrete, masonry, brick, asphalt, tile, and other solid materials. There are many types ranging from small hand-held saws, chop-saw models, and big walk-behind saws or other styles, and it may be powered by gasoline, hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, or an electric motor. The saw blades used on concrete saws are often diamond saw blades to cut concrete, asphalt, stone, etc. Abrasive cut-off wheels can also be used on cut-off saws to cut stone and steel. The significant friction generated in cutting hard substances like concrete usually requires the blades to be cooled to prolong their life and reduce dust.

Blade choice

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Choosing a proper diamond saw blade for the concrete saw is a necessary condition to perform a cutting task well. Apart from some basic aspects, for example, what diameters of diamond saw blades the concrete saw can accommodate, its arbor size and the blade's quality, there are some other important aspects which should also be considered:

• The match between the diamond saw blade's features and the concrete/asphalt's type. For example, some concretes have steel bars in them (reinforced concrete) and some do not have. Some concretes' stone aggregate is pebbles and some is crushed rocks. Some concretes' curing time is long (cured concrete) and some is short (green concrete). The diamond saw blades should have different design to fit these concrete and asphalt.
• Wet or dry cutting. Though diamond saw blades for concrete are usually laser welded, they are normally designed for wet cutting because the concrete to be cut is often very hard or abrasive. If the blades are used without adequate water, the diamond segment itself may break or the steel core below the segment may wear and break, and then the segment may fly out and may hurt the operator or people nearby. If you have to perform dry cutting for some reason (e.g. there is no water source near your work area), you can choose sharper diamond blades, and the dry cutting should be intermittent and shallow (you can do several passes of shallow cuttings to gain a deep cut) to keep the diamond blade cool.
• Whether faster cutting or longer lifespan is needed. The basic cutting speed of the diamond saw blades should be first determined. On this basis, a blade which has a faster cutting speed or a longer lifespan can be selected.
• The power output of the concrete saw. If the concrete saw has a high power output, the diamonds on the saw blade will receive a higher impact when cutting is performed. In this case, the diamond concentration of the diamond saw blade should be higher, or its bond should be harder. Whilst if the saw has a low power output, the diamond concentration should be lower or the bond should be softer to make the blade become sharper to ensure the cutting speed needed.

Dust control

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Stones, rocks, sands and clays can contain large amounts of crystalline silica and are used to make kerbs, flags, bricks, tiles and concrete. Cutting these materials produces airborne dust containing very fine respirable crystalline silica (RCS) particles. These particles are small and it is not always possible to see the RCS dust in normal lighting.[1]

Serious health effects, such as lung cancer or silicosis, can result from exposure to RCS. This is because fine RCS particles can penetrate deep into the lungs.

There are following ways to reduce or control the dust:

• Wet cutting with adequate water supply.
• If possible, diamond saw blades should be used instead of abrasive saw blades to cut. Diamond saw blades normally cut more quickly than abrasive blades while requiring less water.
• The concrete saw should have a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system, which can capture the majority of dust emitted during the cutting operation.
• When operating, the operator should always wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

There are some other risks during the cutting process which will also need to be controlled to protect the operator and the passers-by, for example, noise, flying debris, hand-arm vibration, manual handling, electricity and refueling.

See also

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References

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Can You Cut Concrete With A Circular Saw?

Concrete is a strong and durable material in construction, but this strength often makes it difficult to cut, repair, or replace. Cutting concrete is a difficult task that requires specialized tools. Can you cut concrete with a circular saw?

Cutting concrete with a circular saw is one of the best ways to do so, provided that the concrete is not thicker than 6 inches. The circular saw should be paired with a wet diamond saw blade for a clean and straight cut. For bigger concrete cutting projects, it is best to use a concrete/cut-off saw.

So, you can use a circular saw to cut smaller concrete projects.

Can concrete be cut with a circular saw?

A circular saw is one of the best tools to use for cutting concrete, as long as you have the right blade. The blade you use to cut concrete with a circular saw should be a diamond blade. These have little diamond pieces throughout the whole blade that can easily slice through the hard surfaces of concrete. But it’s important to note that you should only use a circular saw for smaller concrete cutting projects.

A standard circular saw will only cut around 2.5 inches into concrete. If you’re wanting to remove small bits of concrete, this is a great option. By cutting concrete with a circular saw, you can be much more precise than with other saws. The ease that diamond blades will cut through the concrete adds to this precision. But with a circular saw, you shouldn’t try to cut concrete that is thicker than 6 inches. Doing this risks breaking your blade and increases the risk of injury to yourself. For concrete thicker than 6 inches, use a concrete saw.

When cutting concrete with a circular saw, make sure you have the right equipment and safety gear. The safety gear you need to wear when cutting concrete with a circular saw includes steel-toed boots and heavy clothing. This is to protect you from concrete debris. You should also consider wearing shin guards and knee pads in case some concrete drops towards your legs. This should all be paired with safety goggles and a dust respirator mask. You should also wear earplugs or earmuffs to protect your ears from the noise of cutting concrete.

To cut concrete properly, get the best quality cutting tools for the job, including the right diamond blade and circular saw.

Can you cut concrete pavers with a circular saw?

You can cut concrete pavers with a circular saw quite easily. The key is to make sure that you have a stealth master diamond blade that is designed for cutting concrete pavers.

Here’s how to cut concrete pavers with a circular saw:

1. First, mark the cutting line on the top face of the concrete paver. You can do this with a pencil and a straightedge. Then shift the line to the bottom face of the paver.
2. Adjust the blade to a shallow blade and place the paper on a non-slip surface.
3. Start with a shallow cut on the surface and cut along the line you marked. You can adjust the depth of the saw with each pass into the paver. Continue until you reach a depth of 1.5 inches.
4. Turn the concrete paver over and continue the same cutting process on its bottom face.
5. Firmly (but gently) tap the overhanging end of the paver with a hammer or mallet to break it along the cutting line.

Can you cut concrete blocks with a circular saw?

You can cut concrete blocks with a circular saw precisely if you follow the below guidelines carefully.

1. Mark the concrete block using engineer chalk and a straightedge. For example, if you want the block to measure 7 inches long after cutting, measure 7 inches from the end and mark it with chalk. Marking the cutting lines give you accurate results. If not, you might end up damaging the block.
2. Prepare your circular saw to cut the concrete block. Adjust the blade according to the thickness of the block. Then turn on the saw and wait till it reaches the maximum speed. Starting at a slow speed might not help you to make a firm cut on the concrete. Turning on the saw will exert pressure on your hands, so make sure to hold it tightly with both hands.
3. Turn on your water source to keep the circular blade cool and prevent dust. When cutting concrete blocks with a circular saw, wet cutting is recommended. If you aren’t using a wet blade, a misting system is recommended for your workspace.
4. Make one smooth and simple cut on the concrete block first. Remember, you can’t cut the whole concrete block in a single attempt.
5. Keep making cuts firmly and steadily using the marked cutting line around the block. Let the saw cut the block itself. Putting too much pressure on the saw can damage the entire block.
6. Finally, wipe the surface of the concrete block clean with a wet rag. This will help to remove all the dust.

What circular saw blade is best for cutting concrete?

The best type of circular saw blade for cutting concrete is a diamond blade. A high-quality diamond blade has a reinforced steel disc with a rim that houses synthetic diamonds, which provides a sharpened edge for cutting. This disc rotates at very high speeds while the sharp diamonds cut smoothly through the concrete. You can use either a wet or dry cutting diamond blade with a circular saw to cut concrete. 

Wet cutting diamond blades are the most popular tool used to cut concrete. They can create precise cuts while placing less pressure on the saw as well as on the person yielding it. They are constantly kept wet during the cutting process as high temperatures can damage the blades. Water also reduces the amount of dust in the concrete process. This is important to protect yourself from inhaling construction dust.

Dry cutting blades have specialized segment welds that are resistant to heat. Therefore, these blades do not need water as a coolant. But they can sometimes overheat. Dry cutting also produces a lot of dust. This is why most people prefer wet cutting over dry cutting. Dry cutting blades are usually used for small concrete projects.

Cutting concrete becomes a much easier task when you use tools such as diamond blades and circular saws. If you’re looking for the best gardening and construction tools that can help with your concrete projects, visit Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers today! If you found this article helpful, check out our other resources including ‘how to perform a chainsaw compression test.’