How do I cut BIG sandstone blocks?

Halitosis · 6 Jun 2015

Hi all,
Planning a dry stone retaining wall in the garden and bought a bargain load of reclaimed sandstone where a local railway bridge is being demolished.
However, some of the blocks that were dropped in the garden are nearly a cubic yard in size!
Any ideas on how I can split these into smaller blocks?
Plan B could be a scale model of Stonehenge

oldbutnotdead · 6 Jun 2015

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=cutting+sandstone

Or try one of those block cutting handsaws you can get.

Halitosis · 6 Jun 2015

Thanks Oldbutnotdead - I watched those videos previously, but the guy takes 10 minutes to cut a piece the size of a brick. I'd die of old age before getting through these blocks.
Think an angle grinder cut all around then blows with a big hammer might do it, or am I wasting my time?

^woody^ · 6 Jun 2015

Lol. The bargain that's not a bargain.

You want one of those breakers that are on the end of a JCB

Belboz · 6 Jun 2015

^woody^ said:
Lol. The bargain that's not a bargain.

You want one of those breakers that are on the end of a JCB

Or Alex Salmond's heid..................

geraldthehamster · 6 Jun 2015

Halitosis said:
Thanks Oldbutnotdead - I watched those videos previously, but the guy takes 10 minutes to cut a piece the size of a brick. I'd die of old age before getting through these blocks.
Think an angle grinder cut all around then blows with a big hammer might do it, or am I wasting my time?

Yes, that would do it. Score all the way round with a 9 inch angle grinder. Make sure to keep a good grip of the grinder, using the side handle (and don't wear gloves because this reduces control of the tool and if you slip your glove could get caught in the disc).

Then put a bolster chisel into the slot and hit with a lump hammer (or if that doesn't work, a sledgehammer.

Cheers
Richard

Halitosis · 6 Jun 2015

Thanks guys!

Sandstone for back retaining wall

Halitosis
6 Jun 2015
2

Some of the blocks are bigger than I expected!

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joe-90 · 6 Jun 2015

Stitch drill right through right across and then hit with big hammer.

Norcon · 6 Jun 2015

Doesn't look like sandstone.
Sandstone is a more yellow colour.

Guy were working for has two cnc saws with 1.4m blades for stone cutting.
He's installing a third saw which has a 3m blade. Will cut 1.2m in one swipe.

Halitosis · 6 Jun 2015

Anyone had any experience with a concrete chainsaw? I see they can be hired for huge money, but are they worth it and would it cut sandstone (and if so, would the wear charges be even more money?

Halitosis · 6 Jun 2015

Norcon said:
Doesn't look like sandstone.
Sandstone is a more yellow colour.

Apparently there's an abundance of 'white sandstone' here around Edinburgh, so I'm thinking that's what this is...

theprinceofdarkness · 6 Jun 2015

The first thing is to see if it has any grain, it will split more easily along the grain. The traditional (medieval) way is to chain drill the line. Insert "feathers", a pair of slightly curved (to suit the hole diameter) bits of steel sheet , half way into the hole then hammer a steel pin into the space, on all holes at the same time. The purpose of the feathers is to stop the pin sticking on the stone sides to the hole. could try to grease the interface?
As said grooving all round is the way to go, the only advice I can give is to rest the block on a piece of steel bar along the bottom groove. This will encourage the block to split open at the top, and swivel at its bottom edge. I have actually broken blocks by just dropping them onto the bar.
Frank

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How do I cut BIG sandstone blocks?

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