Powerful Stone Cutting Tools and Techniques

Used by Pros

Stone is largely used as a building material for as long as

people build houses. With its durability and beauty, the

stone is a highly-favoured material for modern homes. For

this reason, construction professionals who are skilled in

cutting stone are in demand by many renovation-minded

homeowners.

Today, builders have the option of using either natural stone

quarried from the earth or synthetic materials created to

mimic the look, feel and durability of real stones. Synthetic

stone is also known as "cast" or "cultured" stone that has a

number of advantages. It can be created in virtually any

shape and size. It's (relatively) easy to work with and it's

usually significantly cheaper than natural stone. However,

it's difficult to perfectly replicate the look of the genuine

stone. Also, synthetic products are usually not durable

compared to the natural stone.

Common Stone Types in Residential Construction

When it comes to finishes, choosing different types of

stone can produce a multitude of different looks. Granite is

highly prized for its durability and beauty. They are perfect

for important and highly-visible applications like

countertops. Slate is a dark, hard-wearing stone that has a

long history in construction. Thanks to the way it naturally

breaks into flat sheets. Today, slate is used both for roofing

and for tile flooring.

Limestone and sandstone are both soft stones that are

easy to carve, leading to their use in highly decorative wall

and trim pieces. Travertine is a particular kind of porous

limestone that's often used in building. It has many porous

holes that give it a very lively look. These are typically filled

with resin or cement before the stone is cut and placed.

Finally, marble is a particularly sumptuous stone that can

be used in any application to add a touch of luxury.

The Tools Required For Clean Cuts

For large-scale work, professional stonecutters rely on a lot of

heavy-duty and expensive tools. These can include powerful

water jet cutters and large diamond carbide saws. These

industrial tools can process large volumes of stone quickly

and efficiently. However, they're rarely used on residential

construction jobs. Stone is typically cut into much more

manageable pieces before it's purchased and delivered to the

job site. Stone countertops are an exception, as these are

usually designed in advance, finished in a dedicated shop and

delivered ready to install.

On a residential scale, cutting stone is typically a job for power

saws. These are especially effective on thin stone pieces used

for veneers and tiling. Tile saws use diamond-tipped blades

specifically designed for stone work. Many of them are

mounted on stands to make quick work of high-volume jobs.

Handheld power saws (typically with a four-inch diameter

blade) are also useful for small cutting jobs that can be handled

in place.

Dealing with heavier stones requires hammers and chisels.

These are also often useful in tile work. These tools have been

the go-to equipment for stonecutters for centuries. There is a

vast array of specialised chisels and hammers are customised

to suit particular tasks or specific types of stone. In modern

stone cutting, a power saw is often used to score stone along

the intended cut line. This provides an easy guide. The cut can

then be completed cleanly using a hammer and chisel set.

MegaSaw Address: 12 / 433-435 Hammond Rd, Dandenong South VIC 3175 Phone: 1300 920 419 Website: http://www.megasaw.com.au/stone-cutting/