Need help on cutting brick

[wren57]

Hi all. I'm changing an exterior light from one with a round base to one with a square base. As such, I need to trim the brick to more of a square, almost all the way up to the mortar line. Should I just use a chisel and punch vertically along the left edge and hope the brick breaks apart? The red box indicates the size of the new base.

(couldn't find one with a round base that looks right)

 

[rayra]

I would not, likely to break / crack where you don't want it to. I'd use a 1/8" masonry drill to drill the corners then I'd use a small angle grinder and masonry disc and I'd cut in the outline. This will give you clean edges at the surface. Then a very small chisel to tap out what remains inside your corners. With as little force as possible.

 

[Walkers]

Yep, what he said.

 

[nadogail]

You might consider using a Mill

 

[nadogail]

You might consider using a Multi tool with a carbide blade

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

What's wrong with the square base sitting on the face of the brick or possibly on a trim plate?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Diamond blade in a grinder is what I would use.

 

[FredWanaker]

bricks vary in hardness depending on where they were in the firing process. Some can be like ceramic and some softer. I'd start with a diamond masonry blade on an oscillating saw. Example although his is a softer brick. You can also get masonry blades for sawzall and rotary saws.

 

[wren57]

You guys are awesome. I do have a milwaukee multi-tool, will get a masonry attachment. THANKS!

 

[PoorUB]

I would be tempted to take a piece of PVC trim board and shim out the lower instead of trying to cut out the upper brick.

 

[zeke67]

Again, why can't a square base luminary be mounted on an octabox with the correct mounting strap?

 

[Meursault74]

I'd say you could cut a brick with some corn starch or baking powder,.......... oops, wrong type of brick

 

[PoorUB]

Again, why can't a square base luminary be mounted on an octabox with the correct mounting strap?

Mounting the light to the box isn't the issue, the two different heights of the brick is the problem.

 

[engineer2]

Most fixtures are surface mount. I would just cut away the raised portion of the brick.
Get a good quality diamond blade for you oscillating tool.
I got a cheap one and within 5 minutes the diamonds on the edge were gone.

 

[rsanter]

I would make an adapter piece that compensated for the step in the brick and also adapted the hole pattern as needed

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Oscillating multi-tool with carbide saw.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Again, why can't a square base luminary be mounted on an octabox with the correct mounting strap?

This. ^^^^ I'm trying to picture a fixture that you can't make work.

 

[Bert_]

I would be tempted to take a piece of PVC trim board and shim out the lower instead of trying to cut out the upper brick.

I like this thought. Paint it a brown that matches the brick.

Problem with cutting away the brick is what happens when you want to change the light to one with a smaller canopy. You will have a hard time repairing the damage some day in the future.

Box really should have been placed lower so it didn't interfere with that ledge but it's already done.

 

[PoorUB]

Box really should have been placed lower so it didn't interfere with that ledge but it's already done.

Tha masons should have a clue and set the brick at one level!

 

[wren57]

Tha masons should have a clue and set the brick at one level!

lol, it's a design feature. I used my grinder then got the carbide diamond blade for my oscillating tool as suggested. Worked like a charm! Thanks again everyone.