powerful stone cutting tools and techniques used by pros
TRANSCRIPT
Powerful Stone Cutting Tools and Techniques
Used by Pros
Stone is largely used as a building material for as long as
people build houses. With its durability and beauty, the
stone is a highly-favoured material for modern homes. For
this reason, construction professionals who are skilled in
cutting stone are in demand by many renovation-minded
homeowners.
Today, builders have the option of using either natural stone
quarried from the earth or synthetic materials created to
mimic the look, feel and durability of real stones. Synthetic
stone is also known as "cast" or "cultured" stone that has a
number of advantages. It can be created in virtually any
shape and size. It's (relatively) easy to work with and it's
usually significantly cheaper than natural stone. However,
it's difficult to perfectly replicate the look of the genuine
stone. Also, synthetic products are usually not durable
compared to the natural stone.
Common Stone Types in Residential Construction
When it comes to finishes, choosing different types of
stone can produce a multitude of different looks. Granite is
highly prized for its durability and beauty. They are perfect
for important and highly-visible applications like
countertops. Slate is a dark, hard-wearing stone that has a
long history in construction. Thanks to the way it naturally
breaks into flat sheets. Today, slate is used both for roofing
and for tile flooring.
Limestone and sandstone are both soft stones that are
easy to carve, leading to their use in highly decorative wall
and trim pieces. Travertine is a particular kind of porous
limestone that's often used in building. It has many porous
holes that give it a very lively look. These are typically filled
with resin or cement before the stone is cut and placed.
Finally, marble is a particularly sumptuous stone that can
be used in any application to add a touch of luxury.
The Tools Required For Clean Cuts
For large-scale work, professional stonecutters rely on a lot of
heavy-duty and expensive tools. These can include powerful
water jet cutters and large diamond carbide saws. These
industrial tools can process large volumes of stone quickly
and efficiently. However, they're rarely used on residential
construction jobs. Stone is typically cut into much more
manageable pieces before it's purchased and delivered to the
job site. Stone countertops are an exception, as these are
usually designed in advance, finished in a dedicated shop and
delivered ready to install.
On a residential scale, cutting stone is typically a job for power
saws. These are especially effective on thin stone pieces used
for veneers and tiling. Tile saws use diamond-tipped blades
specifically designed for stone work. Many of them are
mounted on stands to make quick work of high-volume jobs.
Handheld power saws (typically with a four-inch diameter
blade) are also useful for small cutting jobs that can be handled
in place.
Dealing with heavier stones requires hammers and chisels.
These are also often useful in tile work. These tools have been
the go-to equipment for stonecutters for centuries. There is a
vast array of specialised chisels and hammers are customised
to suit particular tasks or specific types of stone. In modern
stone cutting, a power saw is often used to score stone along
the intended cut line. This provides an easy guide. The cut can
then be completed cleanly using a hammer and chisel set.
MegaSaw Address: 12 / 433-435 Hammond Rd, Dandenong South VIC 3175 Phone: 1300 920 419 Website: http://www.megasaw.com.au/stone-cutting/