Usually every construction project is engaged in some type of cutting concrete or core boring. Cutting concrete may appear to be simple and easy, but in real practice there are many aspects that need to be considered for a safe and successful concrete cutting.
Safety Measures to Consider
To start with you must understand that concrete dust is potentially harmful to the lung sinuses and eyes. It may also damage nearby finish.
Dust control should be an important aspect that should be given due consideration. The two ideal dust control systems are wet cutting in which the dust is accumulated in the cooling water and another one is pneumatic devices that sucks the dust in an air stream.
When leveraging a diamond cutting blade or any other abrasive disk cutting apparatus, the water work as lubricant and simmers down the temperature of cutting device. You should handle the spillage of water onto the area that is being cut. Specific drainage should be provided or a vacuum system to control the cooling water from spreading.
Proper grounding and insulation is also vital in using electrically driven tools. Some extra precaution should be observed when using core drilling appliances. Several machines work on the suction theory to retain the base in place while the drilling process is on.
How to Cut Concrete
Any surface deeper than 4 inches can be easily cut with hand saw, but with the increase in depth of the surface being cut, the difficulty increases. Cutting concrete thicker than 6 inches warrants a professional expertise and intervention to perform the task professionally and safely.
Lay out the surface to be cut. Draw a chalk line to delineate the exact area of cutting on the concrete. Now take a 15-amp circular saw having a diamond or abrasive blade for cutting the thickness of 2 inches. This saw will work best when working with a sidewalk machine. Set the blade of your circular saw at 2 inches.
Start sawing at the brim of the concrete and gradually saw on the line you have made with your chalk. Keeping the blade wet by dripping water on it can reduce dust and keep the blade smooth and cool.
The thickness of the cut will provide you with a straight brim allowing the concrete to complete breaking the other remaining thickness and a straight edge on the top to combine with a new and fresh concrete.
How to Cut Concrete more than 4 inches Deep
You should put to work a gasoline or electric powered cutoff saw to perform the task when you have to cut concrete that is deeper than 4 inches. The cut-off saw enables you to sink deep up to 6 inches. Most housing platforms, driveways, and basement or concrete walls are found in this range.
You should follow the same guidelines of drawing a straight mark to follow on the concrete slab to ascertain your starting point. Now cut the concrete to the right depth. Progress gradually, maintaining the line of the cut-off saw. Easy going speed enables the saw will not allow the blade to overheat and will not allow the shrapnel type pieces to be flung out into the air from a broken blade causing damage to your health and damaging the well being of nearby areas.
You can also keep an assistant to remove the dust from the chalk line to view the saw cut and keep the dust under control.
Concrete cutting is one of the most vital activities that are found in almost all kinds of construction projects. If you are in the sector of the construction industry and used to perform concrete cutting, you need to keep yourself updated with prominent tips and warnings that you should follow to successfully perform your duties and keep yourself abreast with the latest development and technologies!