Selecting the Right Concrete Cutters for the Right Job

Construction & Contractors Blog

There are two main types of concrete cutters commonly used by concrete contractors. Selecting the suitable one for the right job is the first step towards success in your job.  The two types of concrete cutters are:

  • Diamond chainsaws
  • Cut-off machines

The uses of these two types of concrete cutters usually complement and overlap. However, these two tools are not interchangeable. It is, therefore, important to understand the particular uses of each type in order to make the right choice of tool for the right job.

Diamond Chainsaws

These are designed for special concrete cutting needs. With a guide bar, a power head and chain, diamond chainsaws mimic the usual wood-cutting chainsaws. The only difference is that, unlike wood-cutting chainsaws, they have diamond segments fused with the chain instead of the typical cutting teeth on the wood-cutting ones.

Cut-off Machines

These are the standard concrete cutters commonly used in the construction industry. These hand-held cutters are also used on asphalt and metal cutting. They have either a diamond blade or a resin abrasive wheel for their functionality. Depending on their applications, they can use electric or hydraulic sources of power.

When choosing different types of cut-off machines for your concrete work, electric powered ones are more preferable because they are lightweight and less noisy. They are also the preferred choice when you are working in indoor environments. However, these types usually take longer to have a job completed unlike when you are using hydraulic-powered ones.

Most contractors usually have a hydraulic power plant on site for core drilling purposes. This means that hydraulic-powered cut-off machines will work better in this situation. The job will be done faster and more work will be completed in a short time. However, these ones are more expensive in the long run.

When using cut-off machines, you also have a choice for pneumatic powered ones. These are easy to use and have little health hazards or risks. For example, if the machine blade halts, you only need to release the air pressure. This makes them easy and convenient to use.

Selecting the right concrete cutters, therefore, depends on the following:

  • The type of job to be done and the time available- smaller jobs require simple cutting tools such as diamond chainsaws.
  • The available source of power.
  • The site on where the working is being done- whether closed or open environment. Diamond chainsaws are better indoors than all others.

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6 January 2016

Repairing Reusing or Recycling Broken Concrete: A Concrete Blog

If you have broken concrete around your property, you need to be creative about how you deal with it. You can tear it out, you can fix it or you can reuse the concrete in another area. Hi, my name is Betty, and I am a firm advocate of reducing waste and reusing things. I take this attitude to every part of my life, including my concrete. I own a business and a home, and I have concrete around both of them. Over the years, I have hired contractors to do repairs and a number of other things. I have also done a lot of research. Want ideas? Check out my posts. Cheers!