I have a grinder, but wasn't looking forward to all the noise and dust so I'm going to give option one a try first because I only need to cut about six bricks, thanks for the helpful information.
This is just perfect, I wanted to rent a circular saw but the rent price was so expensive it was just crazy. Thanx for the tip, I did a great job on a budget.
Excellent demonstration. I need to cut into cinder blocks for a house jack to elevate rim joist timber. Feel confident I can now get the job done. Thanks for posting this tutorial. 👍
Great video! Would it be possible to use the hammer and chisel option to take off two outside corners of a solid cement block? Trying to soften the angular corner lines. I have a couple of cement blocks that are holding up a heavy round drainage grate. A rough/irrelgular end result would be fine, because the blocks are among large riprap rocks surrounding the hole.
Hi, thank you! Yes it would be possible to use a hammer and chisel to do that. Take a bit off at a time and don't be too greedy in one go and it will go well, if you try to take too much off at once you may break the block
Me too 🙂 I have to fill up a cavity opening and the first method would suit my needs just fine. Shame I didn't look here first as I wasted a few blocks prior.
I have a block splitter but rarely gets a outing as need to be cutting a lot of blocks to be lugging it about in van but would rarely use grinder unless notching out a corner for a lintel or steel so it's hammer and bolster for a clean cut or mostly just brick hammer or edge of lump hammer but depends on type of block 👍
Yea that’s the only drawback with the block splitter is lifting it in and out of the van, worth their weight in gold when you have lots of cuts though!!
@@monk1100 yea you can’t beat a petrol grinder as it will go straight through without turning the block over. Plus if you use one with water there’s no dust
Ossilong - I have a notification about your comment but it doesn't show up on here for some reason. Sometimes the block splitter can do a clean cut on pavers but it does depend on the paver. The most accurate cut for a paver would be the angle grinder
Thanks for the video! Good information. It's probably already mentioned but I didn't see it with my quick glance but please recommend eye protection for all of the examples. I know a guy with a glass eye as a result of an unlucky fragment.
Thankyou. I do say on the video to use eye protection with the grinder but I should’ve said to use eye protection with all the methods. I have made sure I’ve put it in the description.
Just stopped in to say your chisel is badly mushroomed. The striking end needs to be ground back to the original shape periodically, or bits of split steel can fly off the end and blind you.
I am possibly going to block lay a small house ( I want the easiest and least labour intensive method's) I have always seen the block layers using the bolster like a pro, but I'm not a pro and that gullutine action is widespread in lots of industry. Great that there's no major noise and dust too. Again great vid
Sean O Huiginn yea and a clean cut every time. I’ve had mine over 10 years and never had to change the blade on it, it’s too good to be true 🤣. I’d say only downside is moving it in and out of the van as it’s pretty heavy
@@SamDaviesBuilder noted on the weight, Ill get one and it'll be mostly on the same site, any advice on different types? Are they all roughly the same? Like for example if buying used make sure they run smoothly, some grease helps etc
Sean O Huiginn just make sure it’ll cut concrete blocks and not just block pavers as the smaller ones won’t be big enough for concrete blocks. Loads on eBay for good prices, mine wasn’t in the best shape but still did the job fine!
Very helpful video! Does the exposed concrete inside the new cut need to be treated in any way to prevent damage/soil contamination/etc? Don't need a super detailed answer, just need to know if i should look into that as a follow-on task. Thanks in-advance for any insights!
Thank you a great video. Is there any way you can cut very large stones from a previous stone wall? They are not the right shape and size to handle easily. Thank you.
Hi, thankyou. You could try disc cutting as far as the cutter will go in then chiselling the stone apart. Be careful as the disc cutter can bite a bit in certain stones! Another way would be to drill a few holes through the stone then try bolstering it apart along the line of the holes you’ve drilled. You might find the fault line across certain stones then you’d have an easy break. Wear safety goggles when cutting stones!!
If you wanted to cut a curve then an angle grinder would be best. You can use the 'piano key' cut method, where you take off small slices to make a curve depending how sharp the curve is
@@uh7699 yes that looks very good. Pretty much the same as mine. Only thing I’d change with mine is to be able to take a block lengthways as they don’t fit in lengthways on these. More than good enough for all the usual cuts though! I have another video on my channel with me just using my block splitter so it might be worth you checking that out too
Perfect, you're a star! Just checked for the ones that cut length ways (440mm) and they close to the £1k mark so way above my budget 😅,...I'll have to stick to the one with the shorter cuts for now:)
The hammer I was using was a bit big actually, not sure of the weight but I have since got a smaller one. As long as its a lump hammer it should be fine for cutting blocks
@@SamDaviesBuilder with a decent blade it wasn't bad. It's hard to see and keep track of the guide line though. I only had 4 toppers to cut for a small retaining wall off my shed. So it cost me $17 for the concrete blade. I've used A mason wet miter saw for a big wall, and I would def use that again for anything more than a few toppers. I was just trying to avoid paying to rent it. Anyway, just wanted to follow up since I said I would.
Hi Denise, is it a concrete path and which method are you thinking? The hammer and bolster? Usually you'd have to use a disc cutter for the neatest cut for a path
@@SamDaviesBuilder Thanks for your reply. Glad you use safety glasses other times. I have also used a hammer and chisel on concrete and I have had small pieces break apart near my face. Glad I was wearing safety glasses since all it takes is that one piece to hit my eye and cause eye issues. Anyhow, your video was interesting to see and thanks for sharing.
@@SamDaviesBuilder Yes, VERY good advice! I protect my eyes at all times, even when trimming trees and shrubs. I cannot tell you how often I have had garden, wood, concrete and other debris hit my eyes but my safety glasses always saved me from eye issues. A guy at work was doing a brake job on his car but was not wearing his safety glasses. A spring got loose and hit his eye causing him to go blind in his eye. A costly lesson for him.
@@SamDaviesBuilder great set of alternatives but yeah, you should re-record this with some VOLUME on the sound, maybe record the voiceover separate, and better PPE
Great "How to" video...well done Sir, well done indeed.
Thanks very much 😃😃
Brilliant. I already knew WHAT was needed, but you showed me HOW to use the tools I had. THANK YOU.
No problem at all, glad I could help 😃😃
I have a grinder, but wasn't looking forward to all the noise and dust so I'm going to give option one a try first because I only need to cut about six bricks, thanks for the helpful information.
No problem at all. Option one can be very effective.
Very informative video mate.. Thank you
Glad it was helpful! 😃😃
thanks for the first technique since i don't own any fancy equipments
No worries! 😃
Extremely helpful techniques, thank you!!!
Thankyou 😀😀
I’m I breaking blocks, no did I watch the whole video, yes I did💪🏽
Thanks for watching 😃😃🤘
Thank you...works a treat. I did this for the first time on a block paver as a DIYer! Who needs an angle grinder or petrol powered cut-off saw
Thanks, glad it helped!
you have just saved me ages worth of needless work thanks pal
No worries, what way are you going to cut them?
@@SamDaviesBuilder bolster first but switch to the grinder if it don't work out , bolster seems less mess and a little more cleaner
Thank you for the lesson; much appreciated.
No problem 😃😃
This is just perfect, I wanted to rent a circular saw but the rent price was so expensive it was just crazy. Thanx for the tip, I did a great job on a budget.
Thanks, glad the video helped you 😃
Wow, clean cut. 🎉
Which method did you prefer the most?
@@SamDaviesBuilder chisel
Oldest way is the best way! No need for expensive tools then
Excellent demonstration. I need to cut into cinder blocks for a house jack to elevate rim joist timber.
Feel confident I can now get the job done. Thanks for posting this tutorial.
👍
Thanks, glad this video helped and good luck with your project!
I usually just use a straight pinky and jab at the blocks until they break cleanly. Usually takes 1-2 jabs for something to break
What’s a pinky?
I used a concrete saw 7 1/4 inch blade. The last one you did was nice
Yea those block splitters are handy! Concrete saws are good if you can wet cut so it stops the dust
Thank you for sharing, very helpful :)
No problem, thanks for watching!
Hi Sam awesome video, block splitter for me, thanks for sharing
Build With A&E cheers for watching! Yea block splitters are almost too good to be true!!
Great video! Would it be possible to use the hammer and chisel option to take off two outside corners of a solid cement block? Trying to soften the angular corner lines. I have a couple of cement blocks that are holding up a heavy round drainage grate. A rough/irrelgular end result would be fine, because the blocks are among large riprap rocks surrounding the hole.
Hi, thank you! Yes it would be possible to use a hammer and chisel to do that. Take a bit off at a time and don't be too greedy in one go and it will go well, if you try to take too much off at once you may break the block
Thank You for showing us. For a small job I have, I think I will use the first option you showed.
No problem at all, thanks for watching :)
Me too 🙂
I have to fill up a cavity opening and the first method would suit my needs just fine. Shame I didn't look here first as I wasted a few blocks prior.
Thanks for info
Thanks dave
Thank you
I have a block splitter but rarely gets a outing as need to be cutting a lot of blocks to be lugging it about in van but would rarely use grinder unless notching out a corner for a lintel or steel so it's hammer and bolster for a clean cut or mostly just brick hammer or edge of lump hammer but depends on type of block 👍
Yea that’s the only drawback with the block splitter is lifting it in and out of the van, worth their weight in gold when you have lots of cuts though!!
Acoustic method every time
Which method is that?
@@SamDaviesBuilder the hand tools, no power 😉
@@thebrokenstringspete I’ve got you! Now I get it, that’s a great description
When you have created the break point you can the put a series of drilled holes through then you will achieve a clean break
You can achieve a clean break without drilling
@@SamDaviesBuilder just a thought, I always use a petrol grinder like your second demo
@@monk1100 yea you can’t beat a petrol grinder as it will go straight through without turning the block over. Plus if you use one with water there’s no dust
@@SamDaviesBuilder which I have, yeah
Awesome
Thanks 😃😃😃
Ossilong - I have a notification about your comment but it doesn't show up on here for some reason. Sometimes the block splitter can do a clean cut on pavers but it does depend on the paver. The most accurate cut for a paver would be the angle grinder
Thanks for the video! Good information. It's probably already mentioned but I didn't see it with my quick glance but please recommend eye protection for all of the examples. I know a guy with a glass eye as a result of an unlucky fragment.
Thankyou. I do say on the video to use eye protection with the grinder but I should’ve said to use eye protection with all the methods. I have made sure I’ve put it in the description.
Thanks sam!!
No problem 😃
Just stopped in to say your chisel is badly mushroomed. The striking end needs to be ground back to the original shape periodically, or bits of split steel can fly off the end and blind you.
Thanks Matthew, a new chisel is on my list to buy!
Eye protection should have been worn as well
That block splitter, super vid, tks
Sean O Huiginn the block splitter is a life (wrist!) saver
I am possibly going to block lay a small house ( I want the easiest and least labour intensive method's) I have always seen the block layers using the bolster like a pro, but I'm not a pro and that gullutine action is widespread in lots of industry. Great that there's no major noise and dust too. Again great vid
Sean O Huiginn yea and a clean cut every time. I’ve had mine over 10 years and never had to change the blade on it, it’s too good to be true 🤣. I’d say only downside is moving it in and out of the van as it’s pretty heavy
@@SamDaviesBuilder noted on the weight, Ill get one and it'll be mostly on the same site, any advice on different types? Are they all roughly the same? Like for example if buying used make sure they run smoothly, some grease helps etc
Sean O Huiginn just make sure it’ll cut concrete blocks and not just block pavers as the smaller ones won’t be big enough for concrete blocks. Loads on eBay for good prices, mine wasn’t in the best shape but still did the job fine!
Very helpful video! Does the exposed concrete inside the new cut need to be treated in any way to prevent damage/soil contamination/etc? Don't need a super detailed answer, just need to know if i should look into that as a follow-on task. Thanks in-advance for any insights!
I have never treated an exposed cut in any way, can’t see it causing an issue. Thanks for watching too :)
Anyone tried the Hammer and bolster method to cut the 140mm blocks ?
Yea, just takes a bit longer but works fine
hello this is helpful. is that block splitter an ordinary driveway block splitter. will a driveway block. splitter do?
Hi, this block splitter is built to take these size blocks. A driveway block splitter won’t br heavy duty enough unless it’s built for bigger blocks
Sam, can I use the splitter on a wall? Thanks in advance.
Best wishes,
Ed
Do you mean while building a wall to use for cuts or resting the splitter on a wall?
Can't hear a word, but good demo and captions.
Thanks! I need to work on sound quality for future videos…
Thank you a great video. Is there any way you can cut very large stones from a previous stone wall? They are not the right shape and size to handle easily. Thank you.
Hi, thankyou. You could try disc cutting as far as the cutter will go in then chiselling the stone apart. Be careful as the disc cutter can bite a bit in certain stones!
Another way would be to drill a few holes through the stone then try bolstering it apart along the line of the holes you’ve drilled.
You might find the fault line across certain stones then you’d have an easy break. Wear safety goggles when cutting stones!!
@@SamDaviesBuilder Thank you for your advise.
@@naturalillusion7704 no problem 😃
Is it ok cut blocks lenght ways if you need to with a angle grinder?
Yea absolutely fine to do it like that with a grinder
Great info, thanks.
Is it possible to cut a curve?
If you wanted to cut a curve then an angle grinder would be best. You can use the 'piano key' cut method, where you take off small slices to make a curve depending how sharp the curve is
@@SamDaviesBuilder Of course. Thanks again.
What model is your block splitter?
I’m not sure sorry, it was one bought second hand off Ebay well over 10 years ago
Thanks for your reply! Will something like Lumag LST3314 be okay?
@@uh7699 yes that looks very good. Pretty much the same as mine. Only thing I’d change with mine is to be able to take a block lengthways as they don’t fit in lengthways on these. More than good enough for all the usual cuts though! I have another video on my channel with me just using my block splitter so it might be worth you checking that out too
@@uh7699 ruclips.net/video/nW5tMROEP0c/видео.html
This is the video with just the block splitter
Perfect, you're a star!
Just checked for the ones that cut length ways (440mm) and they close to the £1k mark so way above my budget 😅,...I'll have to stick to the one with the shorter cuts for now:)
I'll just do the first method lol, I don't have any other tools than that.
I’d always go for the first method most of the time! Only grinder if it’s a tricky cut or block splitter if I’ve got loads to cut
Great vid mate. What weight hammer do you use? I need a heavier one I think.
The hammer I was using was a bit big actually, not sure of the weight but I have since got a smaller one. As long as its a lump hammer it should be fine for cutting blocks
What about cutting a block lengthways? would it be a waste of time to cut with a chisel?
It’s very difficult to cut a block lengthways with a chisel. If I was cutting a block lengthways, I’d usually use an angle grinder.
Hi, very nice demonstration! Was that a 7" or a larger grinder? Thanks.
Thanks. It is a 9" grinder, doesn't quite cut through a block though, only goes through about 70mm so you have to cut both sides of it
Cool
Thanks :)
I have a few small toppers to cut for a small retaining wall.. will a circular saw work okay (with a mason blade)?
By rotary saw do you mean the same as the grinder I’m using in the video?
@@SamDaviesBuilder sorry, meant to say circular saw.
@@jeff_9074 I’ve not got experience with using a masonry blade in a circular saw but if you do just hold on tight!
@@SamDaviesBuilder okay, I'll follow up on my experience with it if I do use it.. and thanks lol, will do!
@@SamDaviesBuilder with a decent blade it wasn't bad. It's hard to see and keep track of the guide line though. I only had 4 toppers to cut for a small retaining wall off my shed. So it cost me $17 for the concrete blade. I've used A mason wet miter saw for a big wall, and I would def use that again for anything more than a few toppers. I was just trying to avoid paying to rent it. Anyway, just wanted to follow up since I said I would.
Hi Sam, can you take a 2ft square off a path with this method?
Hi Denise, is it a concrete path and which method are you thinking? The hammer and bolster?
Usually you'd have to use a disc cutter for the neatest cut for a path
@@SamDaviesBuilder yes I thought it would be ok,however having watch you I can only get to 3 sides.
Is this a NO NO then. By the way great vid. Thanks@@SamDaviesBuilder
@@denisechapman5531 any idea what size grinder you would be using and what thickness is the path?
The thickness is 2” approx.
No safety glasses for eye protection?
Not for using a hammer and bolster. I do use safety glasses when using a grinder.
@@SamDaviesBuilder Thanks for your reply. Glad you use safety glasses other times. I have also used a hammer and chisel on concrete and I have had small pieces break apart near my face. Glad I was wearing safety glasses since all it takes is that one piece to hit my eye and cause eye issues. Anyhow, your video was interesting to see and thanks for sharing.
@@DougCeleste it’s good advice - they used to say in college you only get one pair of eyes!
@@SamDaviesBuilder Yes, VERY good advice! I protect my eyes at all times, even when trimming trees and shrubs. I cannot tell you how often I have had garden, wood, concrete and other debris hit my eyes but my safety glasses always saved me from eye issues. A guy at work was doing a brake job on his car but was not wearing his safety glasses. A spring got loose and hit his eye causing him to go blind in his eye. A costly lesson for him.
Rr
I just start touching concrete, even rough rocks with bare hands and they are about destroyed!
A good pair of builders gloves are the answer! Mine are ok apart from when the blocks are wet
You're insane chiseling concrete with no eye protection
I should be wearing goggles to do this if you follow PPE correctly but when just using a bolster I don’t. Grinding I always wear goggles
@@SamDaviesBuilder great set of alternatives but yeah, you should re-record this with some VOLUME on the sound, maybe record the voiceover separate, and better PPE
@@RayDoeksen cheers Ray, will keep that in mind!
Too much work , Monks can do it faster with only hands , i go learn how to do it their way . thanks anyway
Please share a video of that :)
@@SamDaviesBuilder i will, once i master their secret techniques.
@@NuttyPotato I’m looking forward to it!