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can i cut concrete with a circular saw

by Prof. Jarvis Hickle Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Use a standard circular saw, equipped with a corundum or diamond blade, for small tasks. For slabs, it's best to cut through the top inch, then use a sledgehammer to break off the rest. The jagged edge left below the cutting line provides a good rough edge for the new concrete to bond to.Jun 24, 2019

How to make a straight cut using a circular saw?

Ways to make straight cuts with a circular saw

  • Speed Square. Using a speed square is quick and easy. ...
  • Cutting Guide. Using a circular saw guide helps you make straight cuts. ...
  • Kreg Rip-Cut. The Kreg Rip-Cut gives you straight lines with our circular saw. ...
  • Kreg Accu-Cut. The Kreg Accu-Cut helps to cut straight lines with your circular saw. ...

How deep can you cut with a circular saw?

What Can You Cut With a Circular Saw?

  • Step #1 Know About The Blades. Blades and saws come in various sizes, allowing you to have multiple cutting depths. ...
  • Step #2 Understand How Deep The Saw Cuts. The ideal depth range should be between 4-1/4 and 7-5/16 inches, for your record. ...
  • Step #3 Adjust Depth To Your Needs. ...

How to cut soffit or siding with a circular saw?

Circular Saw Fit a circular saw with a fine-toothed plywood-cutting blade. For the smoothest cuts, put the blade in backward. Lie a strip of vinyl siding on a flat work table. Hold the strip of siding and the carpenter's square steady on the table with one hand.

How to properly use a circular saw?

Using a Circular Saw

  • Draw a guideline on a piece of scrap lumber and make a test cut to determine how to properly align the blade to the guideline on your work piece for ...
  • When cutting, start the saw and then move it into the material you’re cutting. ...
  • Cut with the body of the saw on the side of the work piece that’s supported, not on the cutoff side. ...

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How thick of concrete can you cut with a circular saw?

A 7” circular saw, for instance, can only cut to 2-¼ inches deep, meaning you'll need to sledgehammer the rest of the concrete away; a 14” wet-cutting blade attached to a concrete-cutting saw, on the other hand, gets you to 4-5/8 inches of clean cut.

Can you put a concrete cutting blade on a circular saw?

1:246:14Cutting Concrete with a Circular Saw - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut to keep it wet what I'm going to do is I've got a hose here. And I'm just gonna trickle. WaterMoreBut to keep it wet what I'm going to do is I've got a hose here. And I'm just gonna trickle. Water the more normally you'd say the more water the better but because I'm using a sidewinder style.

What kind of blade Do I need to cut concrete?

Diamond saw blades are typically the best choice when it comes to making clean, professional cuts in concrete.

How hard is it to cut concrete?

Wet concrete is very difficult to cut, and fully cured concrete can fracture as it's being cut. So if possible, cut concrete when it's hard but only half cured. The cut will come out smoother with less dust.

Can Dewalt circular saw cut concrete?

Use the DEWALT 7 in. Concrete and Brick Diamond Circular Saw Blade for dry and wet cutting. This blade is ideal for brick and other masonry materials. It features heavy-duty metal construction and a hard, diamond-reinforced edge for durability.

How deep should saw be cut in concrete?

A good rule of thumb is to cut the joints one-quarter to one-third the slab thickness. For a 6-inch-thick slab, that means cutting 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.

Is it better to cut concrete wet or dry?

Cleaner job site: During wet cutting, water combines with dust, creating a concrete slurry. While this minimizes dry particles in the air, it creates a mess to clean. Dry cutting creates a cleaner job site and can be combined with a dust extractor or vacuum to remove dust.

Can you cut concrete straight?

There are many different tools that can be used to mark straight lines on concrete; however, using a straight edge is one of the most common methods. Creating a straight line on the concrete with a straight edge will help you to produce clean, neat cuts.

Can you wet cut with a circular saw?

2:023:06SKILSAW Medusaw Dry and Wet Cutting Demonstration - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd around the back of this it allows water just to completely encompass the blade that actuallyMoreAnd around the back of this it allows water just to completely encompass the blade that actually allows the saw to operate the same way. But as you plunge in there won't be any any dust whatsoever.

What happens if you don't cut concrete?

Late sawing can result in random concrete cracks. Shallow cracks aren't sufficient to prevent uncontrolled cracking while deep cuts are excessively labor intensive and undermine the aggregate interlock in the concrete.

Can you cut concrete too deep?

Depth of Cut In case the cut is too deep, the interlocking may not be sufficient enough for transfer of loads. On the other hand, if it's too shallow, it might result in random cracking. The contractor should also make sure that the concrete cut depth meets the appropriate structural engineering specifications.

Does cutting concrete weaken it?

? Cutting through concrete undermines the structural integrity of the slab, no matter how carefully the cut is made or patched. If the contractor fails to use the same or a better grade of concrete, the patched section will be weaker than the rest of the slab.

Can I use a concrete cutting disc on metal?

1:215:19Which angle grinder blade / disk for concrete, plastic, tiles and metalYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipVery nice and flat and this allows you to cut through metal. Pretty much all types of metal materialMoreVery nice and flat and this allows you to cut through metal. Pretty much all types of metal material.

Can you use any blade in a circular saw?

When using a circular saw, you need to be sure you're using the correct blade for the material you are cutting. Not only will you need a different blade for cutting metal than you would for cutting wood, but a metal-cutting blade should not be used in the same saw as the type used for wood.

Can you do cross cuts with a circular saw?

1:388:53Circular Saw Basics: EASIEST CROSSCUTS!! (6 TIPS For Fastest ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBut sometimes you need to make clean cross cuts with just a circular. Saw especially when you'reMoreBut sometimes you need to make clean cross cuts with just a circular. Saw especially when you're tackling deck projects or perhaps framing where square cuts.

Can you use a diamond blade in a circular saw?

The perfect tile cutting blade for a circular saw when performing on porcelain, is the diamond blade, because is one of the few materials that are harder than porcelain. In a few words, the diamond blade not only score the tile but grinds it all the way through.

How deep should saw cuts be in concrete?

How deep should saw cuts be in concrete? 1 1/2 to 2 inches. A general rule of thumb is to cut the concrete 1/4 of the actual thickness of the concrete.

What blade to use to cut concrete?

If you need to cut concrete and the circular saw in the tool of choice your going to have to pick up a abrasive corundum masonry blade or a diamond blade. This blades are the only way your circular saw will be able to cut through concrete.

What is a cicular saw?

A cicular saw is a saw that has an abrasive of toothed circular blade to cut all different types of materials. This saw cuts by having the blade move in a high speed spinning motion.

What is the best blade for cutting concrete?

Diamond Blade. A more expensive option but higher quality blade is a diamond blade . These diamond blades are amazing at cutting through concrete. If you want to get the job done quicker and more efficiently then I would recommend the diamond blade over the abrasive corundum masonry blade.

What to wear when using a circular saw?

Be sure to wear a mask and goggles when using your circular saw. Nothing is more painful than a tiny piece of concrete in the eye. Circular saws have exposed blades. Be sure to keep your fingers, hands, and any other part of your body out of the way of the blade.

Why is dry cutting used?

Dry cutting is used mostly when it is essential to keep the space dry. Wet cutting comes in handy to abusive cutting and reduces health hazards because the water makes it so no dust particles enter the air. With either of these methods it is still important to make sure you have the proper blades to get the job done.

What is wet cutting?

Wet cutting is also used for jobs that last a long period of time, this technique aids in less overheating and blade deterioration.

How to cut concrete with a saw?

Turn on the blade and then plunge it into the concrete, cutting to your set depth. Follow the chalk line closely with the blade of the saw. Use as little pressure on the motion of the saw as possible, allowing the saw to do most of the work for you. Use a low RPM setting when cutting through the concrete to keep the blade from overheating ...

How to use a circular saw?

When you are using a circular saw, you should mark out your cutting area with a chalk marker and a 2x4 straightedge. If using a wet-cutting blade, turn on the water supply and saw. Hold the saw’s front handle with your less dominant hand and the front handle with your stronger hand.

What type of saw blades are used for concrete?

There are two categories of concrete blades for circular saws: abrasive corundum masonry and diamond blades. Corundum (hard aluminum oxide) blades cost less and cut through concrete, asphalt and stucco, but they are not very fast. They can only make shallow cuts of 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, so you need to cut into the surface repeatedly. Besides that, these blades wear down quickly, create fine dust and get hot enough to glow. They also smell. If you only need to create a few shallow cuts, abrasive corundum masonry blades are the more economical choice.

Can you push concrete downward?

Do not push downward on horizontal concrete (flooring) but you can use pressure when working vertically. You may need to turn off the saw periodically to clean up the work area. When finished with the saw, clean up with a wire brush, hammer and chisel (if needed) and a high-abrasion sandpaper. Take apart the saw and clean it as directed.

Is concrete a hard material?

Concrete makes for an extremely hard and durable building material. That same strength poses a difficulty when you have to cut through it for any reason. Most cutting methods involve breaking the concrete at the cutting point, which creates jagged cuts as well as messy cutting areas.

What is a circular saw?

A circular saw would be a power tool that uses an abrasive or a toothed disc to cut various materials by utilizing the motion spinning around its arbor. It can cut materials such as masonry, metal, plastic, and wood, and can be either mounted to a machine or hand-held. The blades of these devices are specially designed for the material they are intended to be used on and can be powered by electricity, gasoline, or a hydraulic motor. The circular saw first appeared somewhere at the end of 18th century when it was used to transform logs into timber. There are many claimants to the invention of this device, but the person most commonly accepted as its inventor is Samuel Miller, who obtained a patent all the way back in 1777. The rotary nature of this handy device requires more power to operate – but it’s highly efficient since its teeth are in perpetual motion. The sound of this machine is different than that of the up-and-down saw, which is precisely what earned it the nickname of the buzz-saw.

What blade to use for sidewalk cutting?

Your best option is to use a large circular saw that sports a diamond blade – you can simply rent one. Maybe you’ll also have to use a jackhammer or a sledgehammer if your circular saw doesn’t cut through the entire thickness of the sidewalk.

How Deep Should the Cut Be?

In our experience, a good rule is to always cut the joint 1/4 to 1/3 of the piece’s thickness. Always check that the depth of the cut is sufficient enough and that it’s according to the recommendation of the engineer. If it’s too deep, the interlocking simply won’t be enough for the transfer of the loads. If it’s too shallow, there’s a great chance for the random cracks to occur. Factors like slab thickness and length, base type, and the curing techniques all need to be analyzed before choosing where to cut the joints.

How much does a 7 inch blade cost?

These types of blades are typically quite inexpensive – a 7″ blade will cost you under $5. They are widely available and can be used for cutting asphalt, stucco, as well as concrete. Unfortunately, the low price of abrasive corundum blades has a negative effect on their speed, as they’re capable of cutting only the shallow 1/2″ to 1/4″ passes. Cutting with them can be quite time-consuming, and they also wear away fairly quickly.

How to use a wet cutting blade?

Cutting with them is fast and clean, but the only proper way to use a wet-cutting blade is to put it into a saw that can distribute water. A workaround would be to plug the device into a GFCI-protected cord and let someone direct a stream of water in front the machine as you’re using it.

Can you cut concrete?

That’s it – with these tips in mind, cutting concrete should no longer be a trouble for you. Just make sure to use proper safety equipment when you’re cutting – you don’t want to end up in the hospital just because you wanted to complete the project as quickly as possible. And one more thing – always let the weight of your saw do the work for you, without trying to force the blade into the cut. We’ve seen far too many accidents happening because of that, and we don’t want to see such a thing also happening to you.

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What Is A Circular Saw

Do’s and Don’ts of Cutting Concrete

Wet vs. Dry Cutting

Blades That Cut Concrete

Safety Precautions

Final Thoughts

  • There are a few things to consider when dictating if your circular saw can be used to cut concrete. If you need to cut concrete and the circular sawin the tool of choice your going to have to pick up a abrasive corundum masonry blade or a diamond blade. This blades are the only way your circular saw will be able to cut through concrete.
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