12" Delta compound saw for cutting brick

[andyvh1959]

Just bought a 12" diamond edge masonry blade for my Delta sliding arm compound saw to cut standard brick. I have about 30 brick to cut to create enough 1/2" thick facing brick to finish the outside of my living room south wall below the windows I framned in last fall. My Delta saw is the older style with the dual parallel slider arms, used on top of my Workmate folding stand. I'll set up a stop to position the brick to cut the face, and then some type of shield over the cut zone so I can apply a water drip into the cut zone. Its an older saw but still works great. Unless someone says this is dumb use of a good saw its my plan.

 

[PCustoms]

It's a dumb use of a good saw.

Use a cheap grinder with a small blade, or some other tool easily replaced, not a good compound miter

 

[jack stand]

...or an old skillsaw and a dust mask or box fan!

 

[pcmeiners]

Well if you do not need the compound saw after the bricks, go ahead,heed Jack's advice

 

[gahrajmahal]

If I had that job to do I’d use my 4-1/2” grinder with a Diamond blade. I have used one while rebuilding my stone walls. Occasionally I’ll use the blow gun to blow the dust out of the windings. Or, rent a tile saw. Dustless cutting and easy to make angles or other cuts.

 

[carlaisle]

That saw is in no way designed to operate in wet conditions or in masonry dust. Use a grinder or get a saw designed to do what you are planning to do.

 

[tarmy]

Pics of the saw before and after you destroy it. OP, rent the proper tool, or as others mentioned, use alternative tooling.

 

[mike93lx]

Very dumb use of a good saw.

 

[tarbellb]

Sketchy cut to make regardless

I would rather setup a grinder w/ diamond blade, strapped or clamped 1/2" off a table, drip system above, and run the bricks face down cutting all 4 sides to make those veneers

 

[39Tudor]

Rent a tile or brick saw! No need to destroy a good miter saw.

 

[JABgj]

I bought a cheap tile saw at HD years ago. Cuts tile, brick, block, concrete pavers. The trick is to go slow and on some items you will have to make front and back cuts to get thru thicker ones. Oh, and plan on getting wet, but for a few cuts here and there, it works.

 

[WisJim]

My son does granite countertops and used a Dewalt miter saw with a diamond blade to cut scrap granite and it lasted for more than a year before it started getting real noisy from granite dust getting in bearings. Then he replaced it with another one and gave the old one to my other son who cleaned it up and uses it for household carpentry.
So it depends on if you want to use the saw for it's original intended purpose later or not.

 

[reader2580]

I destroyed a very nice Ridgid compound miter saw cutting just a few concrete retaining wall block. I used a dry abrasive blade.

 

[The Cobbler]

if it's a saw that you don't care about, have at it... otherwise it is a bad idea

 

[JohnX14]

Rent a tile or brick saw! No need to destroy a good miter saw.

^^^THIS^^^^

 

[Davefr]

Why cut them when you can slice them in a just few seconds. Rent one of these:

 

[mike93lx]

Why cut them when you can slice them in a just few seconds. Rent one of these:

I never would have believed something like this would cut a paver until seeing one in action. It's impressing how well they work

 

[Davefr]

I never would have guessed) believed something like this would cut a paver until seeing one in action. It's impressing how well they work

I agree, the masons that set pavers can slice one and set it in about 2-3 seconds. They don't mess around with saws.

 

[andyvh1959]

Ok, dumb idea to use my Delta saw, step back and go the proper tool way. I do like the Delta saw so I don't want to compromise it. I'll return the $47 saw blade and check into renting a proper wet saw for cutting brick. Or, I'll get the bricks cut at the local brick retailer in town. I have about 20 whole brick to cut two facing brick off each one.