Cutting Brick

[JamieK]

I'm installing an exterior door in my garage, and need to cut about 20 bricks to put back in the stem wall. What would be the simpliest and cheapest way to do this? I could rent a brick saw, but its $50 a day. I was thinking about either a abrasive disc for a 4" grinder, or a circular saw masonary blade.

 

[brownbagg]

4 inch grinder and a cheap 17 dollar diamond blade

 

[pattenp]

When I needed to cut a bunch of patio brick I bought a diamond blade for a circular saw. It is a dusty job. Plus I used an old saw I had.

 

[Torque1st]

+ another vote for a diamond blade.

 

[MoonRise]

Simplest and cheapest? Brick chisel or just a masonry hammer. Not the 'cleanest' cuts always though. Put the cut ends/edges in the mortar joint and not the 'exposed' end joint. YMMV.

Want to actually cut the bricks? Then a blade (abrasive or diamond) in the appropriate tool (angle grinder, circular saw, or brick saw) is the way to go. Can be loud, dusty (unless using a wet saw/blade), and usually slower than a hammer/chisel, but you can (or should be able to) get nice straight cut lines.

Rent the brick saw for the $50 and be done with it.

 

[Torque1st]

Simplest and cheapest? Brick chisel or just a masonry hammer. Not the 'cleanest' cuts always though. Put the cut ends/edges in the mortar joint and not the 'exposed' end joint. YMMV.

My mileage was usually poor when using that method.

 

[plung]

Day laborer + hammer and chisel.

 

[Tech Guy]

Day laborer + hammer and chisel.

And dont you have to provide them lunch ?

 

[Tech Guy]

I cut these in a couple of times a week but I have the correct saw. You can either buy the blade for your circular saw, use a grinder with cutoff (need at least a 7") or as Moonrise said, pay the $50 and rent it. It will make your life easier and faster and if you drop it, who cares. No wear and tear on your tools as the dust is a *****. Dont forget, wear glasses and a mask. Good luck

 

[plung]

And dont you have to provide them lunch ?

Hire them after the lunch hour?

 

[JamieK]

I've got an old circular saw, and Lowes has these blades...

Should that work okay? Will it last for 20 bricks?

 

[Tech Guy]

Hire them after the lunch hour?

Hahahaha, ya I saw a documentary once on Discovery about the guys that hang out at home depot or lowes. You grab who you need for the day but always had to supply the lunch. Funny documentary

 

[ddawg16]

I also vote for the blade....you don't have to cut all the way through....I have had good luck cutting about 1/2" and then whacking it with a hammer.

 

[bimmer1980]

there is something to be said about using the right tool..... I have a Stihl concrete saw and it would cut those like butter. I've cut quite a few cement blocks and it makes short work of it. I very quickly forgot the price of it when I was cutting all my block.

Check at some other rental places.... maybe you can get one for a shorter amount of time.

I know they make an electric and a gas version. One or the other might be cheaper.

 

[SGKent]

hold the brick in your hand. Hit it two or three times in a line just hard enough to score it. Flip it over, hit is a couple times in your line then whack it again. It will split along your lines. It isn't hard once you learn it. I did it in High School back in the 1960's when I worked for a mason for the summer.

 

[Stuart in MN]

People always make this sort of thing more complicated than it is...just use a hammer and chisel and put them back in the wall with the cut side hidden, it doesn't matter if the cut isn't perfect.

 

[dipper]

i used a blade like that but got it from harbor freight for $15 with the coupon.
It has cut at least 50 paver block with it and is still got some life left to it.
Just be sure to clean your saw real good when done.

I've got an old circular saw, and Lowes has these blades...

Should that work okay? Will it last for 20 bricks?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've got an old circular saw, and Lowes has these blades...

Should that work okay? Will it last for 20 bricks?

This blade is what I've used. About $22 at Home Depot. Has lasted a loooong time, no worries.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Well it certainly isn't cheap; but this TOOL has to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I found out about it through my brick mason. He said he found out about it through another mason that does restoration work. Really good for that "need to put a door here, or a window there-
and there's only a brick wall!

http://www.as170.com/index2.html

 

[Torque1st]

Well it certainly isn't cheap; but this TOOL has to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I found out about it through my brick mason. He said he found out about it through another mason that does restoration work. Really good for that "need to put a door here, or a window there-
and there's only a brick wall!

http://www.as170.com/index2.html

There you go. You have done it now. Posting more tool ****...

 

[rburke65]

In the late 60s, I was a 'mason tender' and I saw lots of masons just grab that brick hammer and within 6 to 10 wacks they had the desired cut brick.

 

[BlockBuster]

You've only got 20 bricks to cut. Can't you get the brick saw for just a half day?

 

[steel 35]

I paid to rent a block saw two days, and after the second time of paying for the wear of the diamond blade; I ordered the saw they raped me so bad..... the 7" saw blade works very well and so does the 4.5" grinder version of the diamond blade start it nice and straight and a little tap and there clean and straight, I am not a professional She is just very whiny

 

[jweller]

I've got an old circular saw, and Lowes has these blades...

Should that work okay? Will it last for 20 bricks?

I've got that blade. it works well. I used it to score a concrete floor to move a drain pipe a few feet. still has some life in it.

 

[Lippyp]

Big wide bolster chisel and a lump hammer, a gentle tap on the chisel all the way round to score a line on all four faces then a good sharp whack with the chisel on the line on one face to cut it along the lines, a bit slower than a brick hammer but still quick enough.

 

[BWS]

Just be aware that brick/mortar dust will flat out eat an angle grinder for lunch.......and burp the remains right back at ya.We still use them for certain cut jobs....but its figured into customers bill.

I'd either rent a saw,not likely for just a few bricks........

Buy a HF POS angle grinder and not give a F**k......

Or simply use a brick hammer and chisel......



And bricks will eat an air impact as well.Again,they work....but you gotta figure the cost.BW

 

[Herb]

Just use the brick hammer. If you use a saw with a diamond blade, use it with water, no dust, faster cut and very little wear on the blade.