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Exercise 6
Cutting of Paving
and Wall Materials
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this exercise is to execute the proper cut-
ting of paving and wall materials using a brick set and
hammer, hydraulic splitter, cutoff saw, wet masonry
saw, and chain saw.
Serious injury or death could result from
improper use of construction equipment. Tools
used to cut materials present a significant safety
TEXTBOOK REFERENCE
Information related to this activity can be found in the
Landscape Construction textbook in Chapter 7, Basic
Construction Techniques and Equipment Operation.
Common tools used to cleave stone, brick, or concrete
materials are the brick set, which concentrates the down-
ward force of a hammer along a line to split material, and
the hydraulic splitter, which uses a bar under high pres-
sure to split material. Both tools can be used to cleave
material of any size, but the hydraulic splitter is best for
large units.
Typical tools used for cutting paving and wall materi-
als are the cutoff, or chop, saw, which uses a dry high-
speed circular blade; the wet masonry saw, which uses
a wet high-speed circular blade; and the chain saw,
material in position and use a pencil to transcribe the
cut location directly onto the material. Marking with
a magic marker provides better visibility of the mark
when using a wet saw. Place marks on the scrap side of
the cut so the mark will not be visible when the mate-
rial is placed.
Measuring requires that a high degree of accuracy be
maintained. Most paving and wall material must be cut
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Steps for Using a Brick or Stone Set
to Cleave Stone, Concrete Paving,
and Brick Materials
• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing.
• Place the material on sand and align the set along
the desired location for cleaving.
Steps for Using a Hydraulic Splitter
to Cleave Stone, Precast, and
Brick Materials
• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing.
• Mark the cleave location.
• Set material on the table with the cleave location
directly below the striking bar (Figure 6–2A).
• Lower the bar to the stone manually and tighten
(Figure 6–2B). If the splitter is equipped with a
tilting base plate, angle paving material downward
Steps for Using a Cutoff Saw to Cut
Stone and Precast Materials
• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing.
• Mark the cut location.
• Anchor the material to avoid movement while
• Run the saw to full speed and slowly lower it onto
the paving material.
• Apply light downward pressure, but do not
force the saw into the material. Let the saw pass
completely through the material before removing
the blade from the cut.
Steps for Using a Wet Masonry
Saw to Cut Precast Stone and Brick
Materials
• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing.
32 Exercise 6 Cutting of Paving and Wall Materials
Hammer
Hold in position
and strike
Material
B. Lower cleaving
bar
A. Hold material in
position with hand
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CAUTION
(indicated by a lowering of the pitch of the
motor), back the material up and restart the pass
through the blade at a slower pace.
• Pass the material completely by the saw blade to
complete the cut.
• Turn off the saw.
• When the blade stops turning, remove the cut
material and scrap.
Steps for Using a Chain Saw to Cut
Wood Materials
Do not cut with the tip of the saw blade. Use only
the flat bottom portion of the blade while holding
the body of the saw against the material. Read
chainsaw operating instructions before beginning.
• Wear proper safety equipment and clothing.
• Mark the cut location.
• Place the wood so that the longer portion will have
adequate support.
• Use one foot to safely anchor the tie/timber or
have a coworker, standing at a safe distance, help
hold the piece.
Exercise 6 Cutting of Paving and Wall Materials 33
Steady saw with
both hands
Lower saw into
cutting mark
Figure 6–4 Cutting with a wet masonry saw.
Steady
material
with foot
Steady saw
with both hands
© Delmar/Cengage Learning.
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CAUTION
PREREQUISITE EXERCISES
MATERIALS REQUIRED
• Proper clothing and safety equipment, including:
safety glasses, work gloves, hard hat, dust mask,
ear protection device, and work boots
• Tape measure
• Carpenter’s pencil/permanent marker
• Carpenter’s square/protractor
• Supply of stone, bricks, concrete paving blocks,
precast concrete wall units, and wood retaining
wall timbers
Dress in proper safety equipment and clothing.
instructions. See the cautions throughout this
exercise.
• Mark and square cut one piece of stone, one brick,
and one concrete paving unit using a brick set and
hammer, one repetition for each material.
• Mark and square cut one piece of stone, one
brick, one concrete paving unit, and one precast
concrete wall unit using a hydraulic splitter, one
repetition for each material.
34 Exercise 6 Cutting of Paving and Wall Materials
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