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Post by dougclay on May 20, 2012 20:56:11 GMT
One of the things that put me off brick build is that I might need to cut the bricks to make them fit the shape I want...
I'm now refurbing my clay oven with a new brick arch and realise that I need at least 1 tapered brick as the key stone and can probably get away with the rest of the arch with full bricks at an ever more jaunty with the mortar filling the gap.
The problem is cutting bricks... I'm not going to splash out on cutting equipment for one brick so I am determined to use a bolster and hammer.... I've seen brickies using a single blow from the back edge of their trowel, or a couple of taps of a brick hammer and get a clean cut every time... When I've tried with brick hammer, or hammer and bolster, the brick splits but nowhere close to where I want it cut.. and certainly not straight...
So what's the secret? what are the top tips to bolstering a brick in the shape you want? and to get it to cut where I want?
I must be doing something wrong...
Cheers
dougclay
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Post by pete123 on May 20, 2012 21:11:18 GMT
You might be able to buy a keystone shaped brick from a builders merchant?
I'm not very good cutting bricks myself. One method is to hit them one on the top. them once on each side before giving them a final big belt back on the top again.
Or a cheap 4" grinder with a £2 stone cutting disc would do it. £25 from machine mart or screwfix
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Post by pete123 on May 20, 2012 21:17:04 GMT
Great user name by the way.
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Post by turkey on May 20, 2012 21:34:40 GMT
I think to get a clean accurate cut you need to be gentle at first, you fairly gently tap the bolster where you want to cut around all 4 sides. When I say gently enough to start making an indent, this makes a "weak" spot and then when you finally go for the strike hopefully these act as fault lines for a better "cut".
Remember that this keystone will only have one face visible really, possibly 2 with the underside but the front if the main one. So score the brick and kit from this side, this will make this face have the perfect cut, and when cemented you will not see the inside which is more wobbly.
Where are you in Surrey btw?
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Post by tonyb on May 21, 2012 9:18:19 GMT
You could always ask firnds and neighbours if they have an angle grinder you can borrow and buy a cheap stone cutting disc as suggested by Pete. I'm not sure brickies would consider shaping a visible brick keystone by hand where the aesthetic is important.
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Post by webbaldo on May 21, 2012 11:29:57 GMT
I just draw a chalk line round the brick, then keep hitting it dead on (1 sharp blow but not mega hard) and keep turning till it breaks, 3 out of every 4 normally turn out ok.
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Post by cannyfradock on May 21, 2012 16:43:10 GMT
Good advice from the guys.......I do very similar...mark the brick both sides and on the back face a sharp tap with a lump hammer and a bolster (with a decent edge). Turn the brick over and really clout the face as above. If you angle the bolster slightly in towards the brick, when the brick breaks the rough edge will then be slightly concave. Just to complicate the issue some bricks simply won't cut with a hammer and bolster. Others as mentioned can be cut with the edge of the trowel......but only a decent Marshelltown or WHS trowel, and then only the right hand edge should be used. If I build an arch, I dry lay the bricks on the arch former and mark where the bricks are to be laid. I then build from either side. Normally if the arch is not too steep the last brick doesn't need to be cut. If I creep past my marks and the last brick needs to be cut, I would always trim the brick with an angle grinder. On my last build I built 3 arches....none of which had a "cut" keystone....just space the bricks out ...  Terry p.s......sorry about the long response. Sometimes it's difficult to write what can be easily said in 1 sentence. |
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Post by dougclay on May 21, 2012 20:49:44 GMT
Yes, thanks guys for lots of tips. Maybe the "decent edge" on the bolster is something to look into, it's not sharp like some of the smaller chisels I have.. Terry, you may not have cut a keystone but you have those nice angles at the side of each arch. I'm in need of more of a curve... I have also tried laying it out dry, but on the ground and I've changed my mind as I can see a better fit with 2 extra bricks... Original idea...  Better fit...  This takes the arch just higher than actual clay doorway but looks better and would probably be easier to build... I'm determined to use the brick in the picture as the keystone and probably another right behind it, then a gap for chimney output.. So 4 diagonal cuts... can your get stone cutting disks for a regular circular saws, I have one of those, but thinking about it, it would only cut half way... Pete123, I'll give it a go myself first before looking to a ready made keystone, when I have enough hardcore or run out of bricks I'll think again ;-) Turkey, I'm in the West side of Surrey. Thanks dougclay |
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Post by dougclay on May 26, 2012 20:46:58 GMT
Well the brick got bashed today and I was quite impressed with me self until I noticed I'd cut along the wrong line. So apart from a few bits that split of while I was marking the line with little taps, the cutting went well... just got a keystone with 2 different angles :-( doesn't quite look right...
Thanks for all the tips... I'm confident enough to have another go tomorrow... all of my spare bricks are currently propping up my half finished arch...
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