How would I break this stone mantle?

[ive]

Hi all.

Wife wants a wood mantle built over the stone slab. I’m looking to break off the corners of the stone slab not using power tools because of the mess is would make.

How would I break off the corner neat and without a mess?

Thanks so much for any input.

 

[Augus7us]

Karate chop?

You might score it and hit it with a hammer but I’ll bet that will do more harm than good.

 

[Garcky]

Hmm...that could be difficult to do and get a neat edge. I'm trying to figure out why it extends that far from the end of the masonry work. You'd get a better cut-off with a diamond masonry blade, mess notwithstanding. The dust could just be vacuumed up.

You can get a 9" long diamond masonry blade for a reciprocating saw for under $20, here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003TO5FHC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Joe Reed]

Angle grinder with a masonry blade. You won't have to cut it all the way through, just score it deeply and whack it with a BFH

 

[gmcgeo]

Angle grinder with a masonry blade. You won't have to cut it all the way through, just score it deeply and whack it with a BFH

^^ this. they beat me to it.

Make sure you have a vacuum running near the area cutting to not make a big mess. and wet it down a bit

 

[mike93lx]

You are covering it with wood? A masonry chisel and a hammer.

A series of light blows along the line you want and then step it up

 

[jwilson645]

 

[four.cycle]

Angle grinder with a masonry blade.

That's what I used to cut some "pavers" in half for my sister.
Be sure you were wearing a FULL RESPIRATOR MASK. (Not a cheapie "dust mask".)
Grinding that stuff sends all kinds of nasty stuff through the air and it's about 37 times finer than talcum powder. Drape off that section of the house prior to running the grinder.

 

[JRC3]

^^ this. they beat me to it.

Make sure you have a vacuum running near the area cutting to not make a big mess. and wet it down a bit

I undercut brick hearth extensions and such for flooring sometimes and a good vacuum held at the right spot does the trick. I won't preach about running a bag in addition to the filter in your shop vac right now, but it makes a difference especially on stuff like this.

 

[Monza Harry]

If you use a vacuum get the "drywall filter" for the fines or just throw the vacuum out afterwards, those fines will pass through the motor and trash the brushes and armature. You could consider some water in the bottom of the canister to aid in capturing the dust but that will be messier to clean after the fact. Harry
JRC3beat me to the "Post" button

 

[engineer2]

Angle grinder with a continuous rim diamond blade.
Have the wife hold the shop vac nozzle to catch most of the dust.
You only need to cut it most of the way around about 1/4" deep.
Use a hammer and chisel and tap the groove until it breaks off.
Have the wife hold onto it so it doesn't hit the floor. Teamwork!

 

[Norcal]

I would hang up some cheap plastic around the work area to contain the dust if a grinder is used. If not done there could be a seriously PO'ed wife & as someone who has screwed up lungs, wear protection.

 

[shoot summ]

Just the ends? Or the overhang all the way around?

Traditional is to score with a chisel and break, if any is hanging out too far use a chipping hammer to get it where you want it. There is a mess of the little chips going everywhere, but little if any dust.

As others have stated a diamond blade in an angle grinder. No matter how well you tent and vacuum, you will find dust in other parts of the house, stuff is like Kilroy, everywhere.

If it were mine, and just the ends I would score and break, if you want the entire overhang gone I would just remove the top stone altogether then trim over it with the new mantle.

 

[jack stand]

Angle grinder with a masonry blade. You won't have to cut it all the way through, just score it deeply and whack it with a BFH

....and get your wife to hold the vacuum right at the cutting action!

 

[imagineer]

I have no idea if this would work for your application, but...

I bunch of years ago, I was at some craft bazaar with the Missus and watched a local stone artisan cut and shape a stone slab (I believe it was sandstone) using 2 triangle files and a few F-style clamps.

It was a bit tricky to set up, but he marked lines on either side of the slab and held the triangle files on the lines, then secured them using 3 F-style clamps. He carefully tightened the clamps, trying to keep them applying even pressure. He lightly tapped the files using a small hammer, then tightened each clamp, then tapped again. By the 3rd round, the slab split, more or less along the line.
He said he preferred this method because it produced a straight, but natural looking edge.

 

[JRC3]

If it were me I'd wrap the mantle around that corner to the back wall, something like this. Then you wouldn't worry about breaking it off too perfectly, just enough to cover it up.

 

[ive]

Thank you all.

Gonna try the chisel. Gonna cover it so dont need it to look nice. And I’m worried about the mess of a grinder.

Thanks again so much everyone. It’s a community here and I love it.

 

[PoorUB]

You can buy diamond blades for a multitool. They do not throw dust all over like a grinder and cut of wheel. The dust just drops to the floor.

Years ago I had to cut a thermostat box in a hospital room wall. The electricians were supposed to run conduit and put in a box, but it didn't get done. The walls were covered with heavy, 1/4" think glazed ceramic tile. We needed holes in the walls and we couldn't make a mess as the rooms were finished including the hospital equipment.
An oscillating multitool did the job and just a little pile of dust on the floor afterwords.

 

[mike93lx]

You can buy diamond blades for a multitool. They do not throw dust all over like a grinder and cut of wheel. The dust just drops to the floor.

Years ago I had to cut a thermostat box in a hospital room wall. The electricians were supposed to run conduit and put in a box, but it didn't get done. The walls were covered with heavy, 1/4" think glazed ceramic tile. We needed holes in the walls and we couldn't make a mess as the rooms were finished including the hospital equipment.
An oscillating multitool did the job and just a little pile of dust on the floor afterwords.

I cant even imagine how long that would take to cut with a multitool

 

[PoorUB]

I cant even imagine how long that would take to cut with a multitool

Faster than one would think, plus you just need to score it well all around and give it a wack with a hammer.

I have cut ceramic floor tile here in my home and it cuts like butter with the right blade. That chunk on the mantle would take a few minutes.

 

[The Cobbler]

T..... Gonna cover it so dont need it to look nice. ....

protect the floor with some cardboard, a few whacks with a 5lb sledge and the rest is history .

 

[ZRX61]

Shaped charge. Roll out some C4 & place it in a piece of inverted 1x angle. Wear earplugs, open the windows.

 

[mogandave]

Water will eliminate the grinder dust. Still a mess, but not nearly as bad.

I would not want to whack it too hard and risk knocking the whole thing off.

Be sure to put something under it (besides your feet) to protect the floor...

 

[engineer2]

Gonna try the chisel.

That'll work too. Mark your line with a pencil. Use a hammer and sharp chisel and keep striking along the line. Keep going around and it will eventually break off.

 

[CSRPenFab]

Lots of great ideas here, but mostly a dust mess. I'd simply take a chisel to the mortar joint holding that entire top piece on and break it all loose. Then just remove the entire top stone.

 

[JRC3]

Lots of great ideas here, but mostly a dust mess. I'd simply take a chisel to the mortar joint holding that entire top piece on and break it all loose. Then just remove the entire top stone.

You shut up. Stop making sense and doing it the easy way. LOL

 

[oldmachinenut]

Shaped charge. Roll out some C4 & place it in a piece of inverted 1x angle. Wear earplugs, open the windows.

You beat me to it

 

[Uncle murph]

Hi all.

Wife wants a wood mantle built over the stone slab. I’m looking to break off the corners of the stone slab not using power tools because of the mess is would make.

How would I break off the corner neat and without a mess?

Thanks so much for any input.

My nephew could break a anvil with a corncob,let him have it.

 

[goldtang]

Shaped charge. Roll out some C4 & place it in a piece of inverted 1x angle. Wear earplugs, open the windows.

or if a quieter approach is needed https://www.dexpan.com/ or https://expando.com.au/ love the shape charge approach

​

 

[JRC3]

1/2" PVC at 135psi.

 

[strutaeng]

Have you looked into the idea of removing the piece, cutting it outside and reinstalling it? Not sure if that's possible?

Looks like that's what happened when it was installed: The installer was like, "damn, last piece is too long! Screw it: Send it!"

 

[yeldogt]

I would reassess the fireplace and determine what I want it to look like ... I think to make anythng out of it you have to remove the limestone top. I would score behind it to remove the drywall seal and then try and remove the whole top.

If the joint is mortar and wide enough you can make a series of drill holes and then hit it with a brick chisel to crack the mortar joint .... otherwise just a chisel .... the limestone may crack

 

[kaymccampbell]

Thank you all.

Gonna try the chisel. Gonna cover it so dont need it to look nice. And I’m worried about the mess of a grinder.

Thanks again so much everyone. It’s a community here and I love it.

Ok, it's Friday. Didja whack it with the BFH? How did it turn out?

 

[Cairo94507]

I really like JRC3's suggestion. Looks very nice and gives you a bit more space on the mantel.

 

[Stuart in MN]

How about simply removing it altogether, and replacing it with an all wood mantel. It may be easier than trying to wrap the stone.

 

[archtimb]

I would reassess the fireplace and determine what I want it to look like ... I think to make anythng out of it you have to remove the limestone top. I would score behind it to remove the drywall seal and then try and remove the whole top.

If the joint is mortar and wide enough you can make a series of drill holes and then hit it with a brick chisel to crack the mortar joint .... otherwise just a chisel .... the limestone may crack

My thoughts exactly.
Take it from an old contractor. Approach the job as if you wanted to save the top stone for reuse. It will break for sure.
But really, just remove it.

 

[rayra]

A brick chisel and watch a couple youtube vids on how to properly utilize it. Several medium taps and a few good blows should cleave off what you want to remove. And do so without all the terrible mess of any sort of saw or grinder.

 

[mogandave]

How about simply removing it altogether, and replacing it with an all wood mantel. It may be easier than trying to wrap the stone.

True that...