Types of tools for cutting concrete

In construction and renovation projects, cutting concrete is a common task. Having the appropriate concrete cutting tools is crucial when shaping new structures, making window and door openings, or removing sections for repairs.

Concrete can be cut with a variety of tools, each designed for a particular cut type and set of requirements. By being aware of your options, you can select the most effective and precise tool for your project.

Every tool, from small handheld saws to strong wall saws, has advantages and perfect uses. This post will examine the most popular kinds of concrete cutting tools, emphasizing their functions and characteristics. Being aware of these tools can help you do your work more efficiently and easily, whether you’re a professional contractor or a do-it-yourself enthusiast.

Concrete cutting methods

Concrete is cut by drilling, chipping, crushing, and grinding. There are two approaches to carrying out work, depending on the method:

1. Dry. In this case, work is carried out with breaks, which are necessary for the equipment to cool down. In addition, when dry cutting concrete walls, you will have to use a special vacuum cleaner or wait until the dust settles (due to the volume of dust, you simply will not see the cut site). Another disadvantage of this method is the small depth to which the cutting apparatus can be immersed. Due to strong lateral friction, the disc will become very hot and fail faster.
2. Wet. This dust-free cutting method is considered the most correct and less labor-intensive, since you do not have to wait for the equipment to cool down. Water supplied to the cutting wheel performs several functions at once: it cools the cutting tool and “knocks down” the dust.

Wet processing is advised in order to achieve dust-free, high-quality concrete cutting quickly. Different tools with diamond coatings are used for this kind of work.

Tools

These days, the following units are used to cut openings in concrete:

Hand cutters

Although this type of concrete cutting equipment is most commonly referred to as a "grinder," in the professional world it is known as an angle grinder (AGM). With the aid of a hand cutter like this, holes up to 13 cm thick in walls can be made. These kinds of tools come in a variety of power capacities and come with unique attachments that screw onto the grinder. Diamond discs for roughing, grinding, and cutting are most frequently used in cutting operations.

Practical! Because the protruding parts of the disc will stick to the reinforcement, it is advised to purchase diamond cutting discs with cutouts for ordinary concrete and without cutouts if you intend to cut reinforced concrete structures.

Because hand cutters are so flexible, a lot of work can be done with them. Conversely, concrete diamond discs and angle grinders are meant for small spaces. Such equipment will quickly wear you or your workers out on large construction sites.

Wall cutting machines

Another tool with a diamond disc for cutting concrete is a wall cutting machine. A cutting disc (with a diameter of more than 25 cm), a control panel, guide rails for both vertical and horizontal fixation, a motor, and a hydraulic pump station make up the unit.

These kinds of machines offer better cutting quality. The device also offers the following benefits:

• The depth of the opening can reach up to 7.5 cm.
• Suitable for large-scale works of increased complexity.
• With the help of the unit, cutting of reinforced concrete is carried out as quickly as possible.
• Low noise and vibration.
• Reliable fixation on the work surface.

Among the drawbacks, the following should be noted:

• High cost of the machine for cutting concrete.
• To use the unit, you need to undergo training.
• Requires a power supply of 380 W.

Joint cutters (joint cutters)

Joint cutters are frequently used to cut openings and expansion joints in horizontal concrete floor slabs. An engine, a cutting wheel, and a metal frame on wheels make up a joint cutter. This apparatus allows for the cutting of openings up to 2.7 cm deep.

• Stationary. Devices of this type are used for thick layers of monolith.
• Portable. Such units allow you to make cuts of different depths and configurations.

This equipment’s capacity to cut thick surfaces with little vibration is one of its benefits. The high price and limited processing capacity for horizontal surfaces are the drawbacks.

Rope machines (cutters)

Both hydraulic and electric drives are used in the production of rope machines. These kinds of devices also have cooling systems, oil stations, and racks for rollers and ropes.

Large structures (bridges, piers, columns, and much more) are dismantled using rope cutting techniques in the concrete industry. With the help of this specialized cutter, holes up to 50 cm deep can be made. One can make cuts in any direction.

In these machines, a special rope coated in diamond spraying serves as the primary cutting element.

Rope machines are utilized in large construction sites for a variety of tasks, including cutting reinforced concrete, blocks, and pipes, and dismantling them. This type of equipment is thought to be costly and challenging to operate.

However, when there is no electricity, it is not always possible to make cuts with a grinder or wall cutting machines. Here, a concrete chainsaw—also known as a gas cutter—is employed.

Saws for cutting concrete

Concrete chainsaws run on compressed air or gasoline are commonly used for hand sawing concrete. This inexpensive, lightweight tool is perfect for do-it-yourself construction projects because it doesn’t require any specialized knowledge or abilities.

A gas cutter is distinguished from a wood chainsaw by its more intricate tire, which has diamond chain and unique water supply channels that allow concrete to be cut dust-free.

This type of cutting set is very useful for making niches, openings, and other holes in concrete because it can cut up to 30 to 40 cm deep and rotates 90 degrees.

Gas cutters typically function using a two-stroke principle and are characterized by a high level of dust formation protection.

Any of the following materials can be processed with a concrete saw:

• Lightweight concrete (expanded clay concrete, arbolite and other materials).
• Heavyweight concrete, which includes Portland cement, asphalt and other binding components. Also, a petrol cutter can be used to process monoliths, if there is a weak reinforcement frame.
• Silicate and ceramic bricks.
• Natural stones, porcelain stoneware and other artificial materials.
• Gypsum, plasterboard and limestone structures.

Additionally, working with foam concrete and other cellular concrete (foam blocks, aerated concrete blocks, foam aerated concrete blocks, and others) is appropriate for a petrol cutter.

Additionally, as of right now, there is:

• Laser cutting of concrete. Processing is carried out by heating the surface with a laser. Due to the high cost of equipment, such processing is now practically not used.
• Plasma cutting of concrete. This method is also never used in private construction, but the cost of the equipment is lower. For plasma cutting, the material also heats up, but not due to the laser, but due to the compressed arc of the plasma.

Once you’ve chosen the tool to use to cut concrete, there are a few more details to consider.

Specific tools are needed to cut concrete, and these tools vary depending on the needs of the project. Every tool has a different set of benefits, from small, precise handheld saws to large walk-behind saws for large jobs. To help you choose the best tool for your next project, this article will examine the various kinds of concrete cutting tools and highlight their applications, advantages, and ideal usage scenarios.

Features and procedure for cutting concrete

Determine the type of building material before cutting any concrete, particularly if you plan to use an angle grinder with a disc. As a result, measure the surface’s thickness before proceeding. The diamond wheel for concrete will probably encounter reinforcement if the cutting depth is 10 cm or greater, so you should select more robust cutting discs.

Take into account the following suggestions as well:

1. Basalt and quartz quickly dull the disc.
2. The larger the fraction of the filler in the concrete slab, the slower the cutting will be.
3. The smaller the tool for manual cutting, the less power it will have.
4. For fresh and hard material, you need to use different discs for cutting concrete.
5. Before starting work, it is necessary to make a test cut, no more than 1 cm deep. This is necessary in order to evaluate the performance of the equipment.
6. When performing dry cutting, remove the blade from the unit between cuts to cool it faster.
7. When using any equipment, be sure to wear a protective respirator mask, goggles and gloves.
8. For perfectly smooth, round holes in concrete, use special diamond core bits.

Once your equipment has been set up and inspected, just take these easy steps:

1. Mark the line along which the cut will be made. To make your work easier, secure wooden blocks along the cutting line. Thanks to this, the disk or saw will not “carry” from side to side and you will not accidentally make a cut deeper than necessary.
2. Turn on the equipment and make a test cut.
3. Continue working, immersing the equipment to the desired depth (remove the bars).

For safety and clean, accurate cuts, selecting the appropriate concrete cutting tools is crucial. Whether you’re a do-it-yourself enthusiast or a professional contractor, knowing the different tools available will help you choose the right one for the job. Every tool, from small handheld saws to bigger walk-behind models, has particular benefits and uses.

Concrete saws that are handheld are useful tools that can be used for precise work or smaller projects. They are very easy to use and perfect for jobs like drilling holes for windows and doors or breaking through walls. Conversely, walk-behind saws are more appropriate for bigger tasks, like cutting expansion joints out of sidewalks or driveways. They are a dependable option for large-scale concrete cutting due to their strength and stability.

It is highly recommended to use diamond blades for precise and smooth cuts. These blades are made to perform better and withstand the abrasive nature of concrete. Furthermore, by extending the life of the blades and reducing dust, wet cutting techniques can improve process efficiency and safety.

Ultimately, the secret to cutting concrete successfully is to choose the right tool and blade for your particular requirements. You can make sure that your concrete cutting jobs are finished quickly and expertly by being aware of the various tool types and how they are used. Purchasing the appropriate tools will save time and effort and lower the possibility of making expensive errors.

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