DIY thermalite/celcon block cutting saw

[garyo]

Thought I'd share....

I needed to cut a heap of these so rather than buying a proper saw for £20 I gave this DIY approach a go using a blunt old saw. Works a treat.. goes through like butter!

 

[^woody^]

It does not last. Binds after a few cuts, and because the steel is thin, the cut wanders.

Get a proper one with tungsten teeth.

Or use a recip saw.

 

[garyo]

Binds after a few cuts,

I only do one extension every three years so if might last for me. I've done ten blocks so far and decided that I've set the teeth too wide- the saw is making a 5mm channel through the block. How wide a cut do the proper ones make?

I reckon I need to get it down to 3mm, but balance that against it binding as you say.

 

[^woody^]

TC tipped ones must be about 3mm

 

[cjard]

Did it take you an hour to make? Be honest now...

 

[chappers]

3mm 5mm who cares as long as it cuts well, I would say the cut with a block saw is 3mm minimum, it's not exactly what I would call a precision tool.

 

[garyo]

Did it take you an hour to make? Be honest now...

It was around fifteen minutes I'd say by the time I'd found the angry grinder and put the right disc on, then run down and made 20 odd 10mm slits. I probably didn't spend enough time setting the teeth, hence my 5mm cut. I reckon 25 minutes would have made a better job of it. I'll take a photo later.. she's a beauty.

3mm 5mm who cares as long as it cuts well

yeah, I hear what your saying. I was just thinking that all things being equal, with a 5mm slit I must be putting in 40% more arm effort than if the slit was only 3mm.

At the moment it's still cutting alright, but I can feel that it's not as good as when I first made it.

 

[foxhole]

I just use old standard rip saw when it's lost its edge, never binds, or reciprocating saw with 300mm rip blade if doing lots of cuts.