How to Cut Stone With a Saw

Diamond blades have diamonds attached on the edges to cut through hard materials.

When it comes to shaping and cutting stones, diamond-wire or diamond-blade saws are among the tools used.

1. Mark a line on the stone where you'll cut, using a pencil. Make the line as precise as you can and draw it all around the stone if possible. It is important to have a clear guideline when cutting stone with a saw.

2. Place the stone on an even and firm surface. It is best to lay the stone in the sand, even a few inches buried. That way the stone will be supported on its entire surface, making it a firm and secure workspace. If you don’t have a sand surface, use a few solid and steady, flat pieces of wood and arrange them as stands for the stone. This way you will have easier access to the cutting guideline, in between the two pieces of wood.

3. Start cutting the stone with a circular diamond blade saw, also known as masonry saw, slowly and patiently. This type of job requires quite some time, if you want to get a clean and straight cut. Using an angle grinder, a power tool with a diamond-tip blade saw is by far the easiest and safest way of cutting stone. Other discs for cutting may disintegrate and break, causing serious damage and even hurting people. But a diamond-tip blade, which is actually a steel disc with welded-on diamond segments, is the most durable hand tool available.

4. Apply only light pressure on the saw while cutting. Too much pressure might affect the quality of the cut. Continue cutting the stone until you are finished.

Tip

If you don’t mind making a mess out of your backyard, you can rent a wet saw for this task.

Warning

Always wear a dust mask when cutting stone, since the fine stone dust can cause respiratory problems if inhaled.