New brick cutting tool - Old tool? Tools, Tips and Techniques Discuss New brick cutting tool - Old tool? in the Pizza Oven Design and Installation forums; I'm with Les, seems like a lot of lift for one course.....I would only cut a few, then lay things ...

[RTflorida]

I'm with Les, seems like a lot of lift for one course.....I would only cut a few, then lay things out. Nothing beats the "eyeball" test.

RT

[SCChris]

I know what you mean about the back thing.. The beauty of the tool is if I set bubble on the small level, torpedo level? using the angle of the indispensable tool and then lay the level across the top of the cutting cradle and zero it out by moving and setting the brace, I should be good with my cuts, as long as the radius has been measured and set right on the jig.



C

[SCChris]

RT and Les, I'm betting that I'll need to make adjustments and refinements. I'm sure there is a low tech way to get these cuts in a single pass. I'll likley cut 3 bricks and see where I am with the whole afair. The Indespensable tool and eye will tell the tale on the first 3 bricks. I keep getting these visions of "Tool time" "Binford" and "Rube Goldberg" devices. Uh Oh.. Am I showing my age?



Chris

[SCChris]

The jig works pretty good. I cut and layed most of 4 rows in 3 days. If I were to re-build the jig, I'd go bigger on the Base metal channels. I'd likley go to 1.5 to 2 inches wide on the bottom rail and boost the construction of the brick shoe to 1.5 or so inches throughout. Most times, 95% of the time, the cuts go without issue, but the saw can bind. A fresh blade and more water flow will help. I'll be adding a cross member under where the brick shoe sits for more stability. The next ring sits at 48 Degrees.

Chris

[SCChris]

I used the tool on the 13th course for 11, placed, bricks and was happy that
I could. This course had bricks from 3.25" to about 2.25" in outside, max, width. The tool was set for the radius, about 4.25", and the slope, about 82 degrees. The cuts can only extend to 3.5", so I have been breaking the waste out and cleaning up the remainder, not as hard as it might seem, but it's up close and freehand cutting. This freehand work is why I think it's important to mention safety and that a 14" saw and a wider, stronger jig would be better and safer.

The last ring bricks fit like a glove, I'm delighted! I wish the last 3 keystones were as clean, but I know these are fine and will work.

Chris

PS
When the rings are so small, the angle of the previous course bricks, under the next ring, forced a few quick underside bevel cuts to settle some bricks in better. I did this on the underside of 3 or 4 bricks in the last ring, not the 3 plug stones.