Author	[Modern View]
IA Leo 06-02-2012 16:49:25 67.224.18.215 Report to Moderator	Will have 18x26 patio poured, would like a diamond cut pattern 18" paralells. Will have it quoted. Cut with Skill Sw w/specil bldes? (just spilled drink on keybord, some letters do not work!)Leo [Reply]   [No Email]
IA Leo 06-04-2012 07:44:07 67.224.18.215 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Well thanks everyone! Hadn't thought of troweling grooves while wet. Hadn't thought of keeping my hands safe while on my knees (I am very careful with my poorly designed battery op. cutoff saw, it kicks back and the handle is in too much of a horizontal position to control kick back). Leo [Reply]  [No Email]
dr sportster 06-03-2012 14:15:31 69.125.161.237 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Use a GFI and lots of water . That dust is a saw killer. My concrete blade has actually outlasted my saw. I get the cheapest saw sold . [not Harbor Freight]. One blade has cut quite alot of stuff. Always with water. Don't ever rest your hand near anywhere the saw can kick back when cutting. Those blades will cut off fingers faster than a wood blade. [ Not trying to be saftey Joe ] But if you are cutting up the side of a concrete pool you tend to rest your other hand on the surface [just not in back of the saw]. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 06-03-2012 07:26:29 70.56.167.132 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Yes you can. I do it all the time to open basement floors to install drain pipes etc. Use it to score concrete or cut full depth to open floors. Buy a diamond blade for your saw - about $30 at Home Despot, Menards, etc. I use a hose and trickle water in front of the blade to keep the dust down and lube the blade. A skillsaw is an expendable item. I use and abuse mine cutting concrete, cement board all the time. After using your saw with water let it dry and lube it down good with pentrating oil. I suppose the ducks are gonna quack now about safety and using a power tool around water. All I can say is I've done it hundreds of times and never been shocked. When you hire me to build you a bathroom I know how to get things done. BTW, best bang for your buck in circular saws is Makita. I've owned most other brands but wont buy anything else. [Reply]  [No Email]
pjmo 06-03-2012 03:48:46 67.210.181.171 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   use limestone as the aggragate not meramac the red rock is much harder and will shorten blade life. diamond blades with water, use a straightedge made of mutiple pieces of plywood or 1x12s so you can screw it too the 2x4 form at both ends nake the straight edge strong enough that it doesn't deflect and long enough too for the longest cut/ a wet saw that rides on an aluminum track would make the job much easier as you would want each saw cut too be perfectly placed and executed as your oppition to repair the miss cut is to remove the concrete and repour? perhaps holding the saw by hand would be iffy at best [Reply]  [No Email]
MarkB_MI 06-03-2012 01:50:49 32.178.183.226 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Rent a "green saw". They're lighter than a regular concrete saw and only work on fresh concrete, say a couple of days old. I have done some concrete cuts with a skil saw and diamond blade. It's slow work. The blade can only cut a quarter inch at a time, if that. You need to cut an inch or more to ensure the concrete cracks on the cut. A respirator is a must. On an 18 x 26 slab, you shouldn't need very many cuts. Every six feet should be plenty if it's six inches thick. [Reply]  [No Email]
dave2 06-02-2012 23:27:56 139.139.35.70 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   It'll do it, but as downsouth said, borrow your fat alcoholic BIL's saw to do it..... Have you given any thought to what it's gonna look like (or who is gonna clean it) when the nice little diamond patterned grooves fill with dirt, tatorsalad, BBQ sauce, etc??? Did our frt porch/patio out of 14x14 pavers... Looks nice but a real PITA... Good luck.. [Reply]  [No Email]
ss55 06-02-2012 21:23:56 173.26.32.153 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   That's 624 feet of slow cutting. If you haven't poured the slab yet, can you rent some rubber embossing patterns to imprint a pattern into the concrete before it's hardened? Or can you trowel in your pattern as you are finishing it? I'm just tossing out some alternatives. [Reply]  [No Email]
downsouth 06-02-2012 19:55:42 205.188.116.142 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Yes you can do that, but I might suggest you either buy a used saw at a pawn shop or garage sale, or better yet borrow one from a neighbor you don't like. The dust plays havoc on the saw so don't use your best Milwaukee for this job! Disclaimer: Always use safety equipment appropriate for the job you are doing. In this case, eye protection, ear plugs, dust mask and someone elses saw! [Reply]  [No Email]
john d 06-02-2012 18:30:35 69.11.151.27 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Portable saw will do it. Don't try to cut fast, best do it while concrete is new. Wear goggles, wear a mask, and your saw will last longer if you have someone with a shopvac blowing (not sucking up) the dust so it stays away from the motor side of the saw. [Reply]  [No Email]
Paul Janke 06-02-2012 18:10:39 216.166.168.54 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Diamond blades are not as expensive as I would have thought. I bought a 4" and a 7" at Northern tool for under $50. I was surprised at how fast it cut rock which is harder than concrete. I didn"t time it, but the 4" blade in my angle grinder seemed much faster than cutting steel with a grindstone. [Reply]  [No Email]
awlknottedup 06-02-2012 17:44:58 67.142.168.23 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   I have a concrete low water bridge where the culverts are improperly installed (Outlet is about 2 inches above inlet). The previous owner put it in about 10 years ago so the concrete is very hard. I was thinking of a skillsaw with a concrete blade but with about 16 feet to cut I think I will rent a saw. The problem with renting is that is is a 35 mile round trip to the rental place. [Reply]  [No Email]
awkknottedup 06-02-2012 17:45:51 67.142.168.23 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to awlknottedup, 06-02-2012 17:44:58   That should have been 70 mile round trip. [Reply]  [No Email]
Michael Soldan 06-02-2012 17:36:43 24.235.45.149 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   I cut my own concrete with my circular saw and a concrete blade..its pretty dusty but it works just fine,recently we rented a cutting saw to do some professional work,it was cheap to rent and worked very well and very quick..rental place measured the radius of the blade and charged by how much of it we used up as well as the half day rental of the machine..but yes your circular saw will do it and as everyone has said..do it when the concrete is green [Reply]  [No Email]
bjb in Tx from Ne 06-02-2012 17:15:45 99.104.248.63 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Another option would be to go to your local construction rental place and rent a concrete saw. By the time you buy all the blades and all the time setting on the ground running the saw it might be a better alternative. Also, make sure you are ready to cut it within 24 hrs. It will be much easier to cut the concrete (with whatever method you choose) while it is still "green". [Reply]  [No Email]
Sean Feeney 06-02-2012 17:13:05 174.63.127.125 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   When the concrete is still green cuts very easy [Reply]  [No Email]
Jim in MN 06-05-2012 21:30:57 98.132.220.48 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to Sean Feeney, 06-02-2012 17:13:05   You wouldn"t be the Sean Feeney now in KS and formerly of SE MN? [Reply]  [No Email]
rabbit 06-02-2012 16:54:09 207.241.137.116 Report to Moderator	Re: Cutting concrete with a Skill Saw? in reply to IA Leo, 06-02-2012 16:49:25   Years ago, my dad cut a bunch of notches in concrete blocks with one. Had special concrete cutting abrasive blades. Don't think they lasted long, however. So, yes, it can be done. [Reply]  [No Email]