Advanced Gear Guide: Concrete Saws
One of the big reasons concrete has stood the test of time, literally and figuratively, is because it’s so durable. Concrete, brick, asphalt and other hard building materials are literally designed to last as long as possible. This is great if you’re setting a new foundation. But it does provide a bit of a headache if you need to cut or remove it.
If you’re planning to cut concrete without the right tools or you don’t plan, you’ll most likely give yourself a big headache. That’s where concrete cutting tools like a concrete saw comes in. Yes, a concrete breaker is great for general demolition work. However, concrete cutters or concrete saws should be at the top of your list of equipment to hire when it comes to clean cuts and more intricate work. But how do you get the most out of a concrete saw?
How do you cut a straight line with a concrete saw? And how can your trade business benefit from hiring masonry equipment like our pals at BPS Concrete? This advanced gear guide will cover all of this and more. Here are the main talking points:
Benefits of using a concrete saw
Safety equipment for using a concrete saw
Why hire a concrete saw instead of buying one
The range of concrete saws at Hirepool
Let’s get into it!
What is a concrete saw?
At Hirepool, we have a wide range of masonry equipment, including many different concrete breaker options and options for concrete saw hire. But what actually is a concrete saw? A concrete saw can sometimes go by many other names, including:
- Consaw
- Cut-off saw
- Slab saw
- Road saw
- Concrete cutter
No matter what you decide to call it, a concrete saw is a really popular piece of equipment to hire. A concrete saw is a heavy-duty saw that may come in various sizes. Despite the name, a concrete saw is also commonly used for cutting concrete and other hard materials such as brick, asphalt and even tiles as well.
How a concrete saw works
All concrete saws are slightly different, but there are similar characteristics and features across the board. Generally speaking, a concrete cutter works by using diamond or carborundum blades to cut through materials. A concrete saw can be powered in many ways, including:
- Pneumatic
- Hydraulic pressure
- Electric motor
Given the materials it’ll need to cut through, diamond or carborundum are usually seen as the best type of blade for masonry. However, it is worth noting that the blade will usually need to be cooled after use due to heating up.
Top tip: At Hirepool, we have loads of concrete and masonry guides. Check out our popular read about how to mix concrete perfectly every time.
Benefits of using a concrete saw
Many different jobs and industries contact us about concrete saw hire and concrete cutter hire, including:
- General masonry
- Construction
- Demolition
There are a lot of reasons why a concrete saw and other concrete cutting tools are so popular in New Zealand.
Precision
Sometimes, a concrete breaker is all that is needed to smash and break concrete. However, a concrete saw is preferred if you’re looking to trim or make a clean cut with hard materials. Given the nature of the sharp diamond blade, a concrete saw makes it easy to cut concrete in a straight line. Precision is vital if you’re required to cut concrete to a specific shape or measurement.
Ease of use
Comparatively to some larger masonry equipment, a concrete saw is really simple to use. As well as that, you don’t need any kind of specialist license or training to operate one. In saying that, like with any power tools or heavy machinery, safety needs to be a priority. But, more on that soon.
Speed
Once again, safety needs to be top of mind when using concrete cutting tools, especially concerning the effects of silica dust. In saying that, one of the benefits of using a specialised concrete saw or concrete cutter will make your cutting job a lot quicker than it would’ve been if you used another tool that wasn’t fit for purpose.
Versatility
As we’re already mentioned, you shouldn’t just consider a concrete saw hire for cutting concrete. A concrete saw is also perfect for cutting through other hard materials like brick, PVC pipe and steel. The versatility of a concrete saw can be beneficial on the work site, especially if something unexpected comes up that you need to cut through.
Safety equipment for using a concrete saw
As well as the weight of concrete potentially causing injury, masonry work also poses the risk of silica dust. Combining these two safety considerations and the danger of the concrete saw blade means that personal protective equipment must work when operating a concrete saw or concrete cutter. Gear you’ll need to wear includes:
How to use a concrete saw
Each concrete saw will be slightly different to use; depending on its size, model and how it’s powered. In saying that, there are many general instructions for use across the board. And, no matter the type of concrete saw you hire, safety needs to be a top priority to avoid an injury on the work site.
Carry out pre-start safety checks
Keeping to the theme of safety; you’ll want to start by carrying out pre-start safety checks before you even power up your concrete saw or concrete cutter. If you’re picking up a concrete saw for a colleague or mate, you must ensure that whoever is planning to use the hire equipment has read the safety instructions. The safety instructions for your concrete saw will come with the gear, and they may include the following:
- Check that you’re not wearing loose clothing that could get caught
- Make sure there isn’t any oil or grease on the hand grip
- Clear out your work area
- Check that the blade is not bent or broken and that you have the right one attached
- Make sure there’s an extinguisher or water available in flammable areas
- Check that your saw’s guards are secure
- Ensure the fuel tank is full
- If using carborundum, check that you’re using the right speed blade
Follow the starting procedure
Like any other building equipment or power tool, it’s crucial to follow the starting procedure to the letter. This is to avoid any potential injuries or accidents and to ensure your equipment works to a high standard as intended. The starting procedure will vary depending on the concrete saw you’re using, for example, whether you’re using a petrol or electric option. Here is the starting procedure for most petrol concrete saws:
- Put your concrete saw on the ground
- Place one of your feet below the main throttle on the plastic housing
- Flick the ignition on, and choke if you’re starting from cold
- Press the decompression button
- By depressing the trigger and throttle lock with your thumb, lock the throttle trigger
- Grip the top handlebar
- While gripping with one hand, pull the starter cord like you would a petrol lawn mower
- After giving several sharp pulls, the engine should begin running
- Once running, squeeze the throttle trigger to release the throttle
If you’re using a battery or electric-powered option, be sure to check the starting procedure, which may be different. For most electric concrete saws, you’ll want to grip the saw’s handle with one hand and then the handle with your other. After plugging in the equipment safely, you should simply need to press the power switch lock to then unlock and press the power switch.
Cut safely
Once again, the operating instructions will be slightly different depending on your concrete saw. In saying that, there are many standard operating instructions across the board, including:
- Hold the concrete saw firmly with both hands
- Apply a slight amount of pressure when sawing, but don’t overdo it
- Ease off of pressure when nearing the end of your cut
- Check fuel and clean the air filter from time to time
- If the engine is revving but your blade isn’t moving, either your blade isn’t straight or your applying too much pressure
Other operating points of not include:
- If petrol, allow the engine to warm up before using
- Use water for diamond blades, unless the blade is labelled to only be for dry use
- Always check for wires and pipes before cutting
- Quick cut saws aren’t allowed to be used for cutting products that may have asbestos
- When finished, switch the ignition off and let the saw cool down
If you’re looking for other advice to do with breaking and cutting concrete, check out our helpful guides, including how to break up concrete and the advanced gear guide: concrete breakers.
Why hire a concrete saw instead of buying one
There are many benefits to choosing a concrete saw hire instead of buying one. Like with other equipment available at Hirepool, you won’t need to fork out the upfront cost of the gear. This money may be substantial and unnecessary, especially if you don’t plan to use your concrete saw all year round. As well as that, you’ll be able to save more money, as you won’t need to pay for the storage of your concrete saw or regular maintenance or repairs. For more advice on the general benefits of hiring equipment, read our guides that cover whether you hire or buy gear for your trade business or savings for trade businesses.
The range of concrete saws at Hirepool
At Hirepool, we’ve got you covered regarding masonry equipment, including concrete saw hire. The type of concrete saw best suited for your work site or job may depend on the size of the job, how accessible the job is, your preferences between petrol or electric and budget.
Concrete saw petrol
Our concrete saw petrol 350mm is well suited for heavy-duty material cutting, especially where accessibility is an issue. Whether you’re looking to cut metal or concrete, this saw has you covered.
Maximum blade diameter | 350mm |
Maximum cutting depth | 125mm |
Cutting width | 5mm |
Fuel tank capacity | 0.725 - 1.2lit |
Noise level | 101bd |
Length | 605mm |
Width | 225mm |
Height | 415mm |
Weight | 9.9 - 13kg |
Concrete saw petrol walk behind
If you’re working on a smaller cutting job with either concrete or bitumen, our concrete saw petrol walk behind 350mm is perfect. It’s lightweight and portable for ease of use.
Maximum blade diameter | 350mm |
Maximum cutting depth | 120mm |
Cutting width | 5mm |
Fuel tank capacity | 0.9lit |
Noise level | 89db |
Length | 860mm |
Width | 505mm |
Height | 990mm |
Weight | 87kg |
Concrete saw battery
Our concrete saw battery 230mm is also fantastic for smaller concrete cutting jobs like PVC pipe, cutting steel, and also working indoors or at height. It’s also lightweight and relatively quiet.
Maximum blade diameter | 230mm |
Maximum cutting depth | 70mm |
Cutting width | 3mm |
Noise level | 90db |
Length | 550mm |
Width | 225mm |
Height | 350mm |
Weight | 5kg |
Run time | 30min |
Concrete saw chase cutter
Our concrete saw chase cutter 230mm is a handheld saw that is perfect for cutting grooves that are narrow into walls. Its weight makes it easy to maneuver.
Cut depth | 120 |
No load rotation (rpm) | 4900 |
Sound level | 106 |
Concrete saw tile electric
If you need to cut masonry tiles, in particular, our concrete saw tile electric 180mm is ideal. Its design is perfect for cutting instead of smashing tiles.
Maximum blade diameter | 180mm |
Maximum cutting depth | 60mm |
Cutting width | 3mm |
Noise level | 100db |
Length | 370mm |
Width | 300mm |
Height | 350mm |
Weight | 6.8kg |
Concrete tub saw
Especially if you’re looking to work with bricks, cobblestones or blocks, our concrete tub saw electric 150mm shines.
Maximum blade diameter | 350mm |
Maximum cutting length | 420mm (Stubbie) - 630mm (Husqvarna) |
Maximum cutting depth (90 deg) | 100mm |
Maximum cutting depth (45 deg) | 60mm |
Cutting width | 5mm |
Noise level | 106db |
Length | 1130mm |
Width | 630mm |
Height | 1300mm |
Weight | 92kg |
Looking for other masonry gear?
At Hirepool, we’ve got loads of gear and advice to help with masonry, including our range of concrete saws. You can hire any gear you need online and pick it up from your nearest Hirepool branch. Other guides that may be of interest include our advanced gear guide on concrete mixers and vibrators and advanced gear guide on concrete breakers.