Using a Wet Tile Saw for Fire Bricks?

[Huhness]

Brick saws are EXPENSIVE! To buy and to hire. I could hire one for a day and rush to get all of my bricks cut and dome built before it would have to go back.

OR

I could get one of these?

Brand New Tile Cutter/Tile Saw 3000RPM, 45 deg. 500 - eBay, Marble, Tile, Stone, Building Materials, Industrial. (end time 12-Sep-10 04:50:26 AEST)

Otherwise i'll just use a angle grinder and a bolster.

[kellytoronto]

I use this: Mastercraft Wet Tile Saw | Canadian Tire

It sells for $50 at least every couple of months, and it worked fine.

[Huhness]

Originally Posted by kellytoronto

I use this: Mastercraft Wet Tile Saw | Canadian Tire

It sells for $50 at least every couple of months, and it worked fine.

That says it only has a cutting depth of 1" did you just pass the bricks through twice?

[GianniFocaccia]

The beautiful thing about building an oven out of brick is it's design allows the builder to use his imagination,diligence, skills, and whatever tools he has to get the job done. Almost everyone here uses a 10" wet saw, but many do not. They use 7" wet saws, 7" dry saws, 7-10" chop saws, 41/2" grinders, and best of all, a hammer and chisel. With access to 'previously-owned' tools via Craigslist, etc, it has never been easier to buy a suitable, if not ideal cutting tool. There is nothing wrong with acquiring and utilizing whatever tool you can afford, but I would caution against renting a tool for one day thinking to could cut the entire oven in one session. For one, this places too much pressure on the builder to hurry through the job and he's left without a saw for later adjustments. Second, if the rental fee includes blade usage, the cost incurred to pay for blade wear often exceeds the cost of a good used saw all by itself.

[dmun]

That's an eight inch blade: It won't cut a firebrick in one pass. That said, it's great for score and break, or cutting in two passes. It's sure a lot better than an angle grinder or brick set (bolster)

[kellytoronto]

Originally Posted by Huhness

That says it only has a cutting depth of 1" did you just pass the bricks through twice?

Pass it through, flip it over, cut the ends (ie four continuous cuts) and then it would snap by hand. I did my full 42" oven this way.

[Huhness]

Cool thanks guys! I'll get one of the tabletop wet saws as they are about $100 cheaper.

I agree that I didn't want to rush the cuts and the dome. It costs at least $180 for me just to hire a brick saw where I live. I can get my own wet saw for $150!

[eprante]

My advice would be to make sure and get a saw that will cut through the brick in one pass, especially if you are tapering your bricks. You cut a lot of bricks on this project and the prospect of doubling the number of cuts is daunting. Whatever extra you spend to get a 10" (254mm) saw will be made up in time and energy saved.
Good luck,
Eric

[Huhness]

If i'm using a saw i will not use anything but a wet saw and a wet saw capable of making cuts in one pass is more than $1000 more than these tile saws.

I'm not going to be tapering my bricks.

[dmun]

Cool thanks guys! I'll get one of the tabletop wet saws as they are about $100 cheaper.

A hint about those tabletop tile saws: Use it backwards and pull the brick toward you. That way most of the mud is thrown away from you instead of in your face.

For most of your cuts, a single pass is enough for a score-and-break.