Concrete Cutting Saw: How to Cut Concrete Slabs Safely

Concrete cutting is a necessary task in the manufacturing and construction industries. It holds major importance in building tough buildings with long lives. You can apply this task to concrete slabs, hallways, bridges, and floors. Old methods like Jack jackhammer or sledge sledgehammer were time-consuming for contractors. So, they got replaced with accurate cutting tools like cutting saws. 

Modern contractors use saws to adapt to the clients’ demands. They match these saws with appropriate Johnson Tools’ diamond blades. Their coherent working allows them to achieve project goals efficiently. Still, many contractors ask a common question: how to cut a concrete slab properly. 

Exploring Concrete Cutting Saws

One of the major tools used in concrete cutting is the cutting saw. It makes smooth cuts in hard materials, such as stone, marble, tile, cement, and concrete. 

The saw uses a diamond-embedded blade to achieve fine cuts. Their relevant work maintains an environment free of dust. Different cutting saws apply well in various conditions.

Categories of Concrete Saws

Types of Saws	Description of Saws	Applications
Handheld cut-off saws	Easy to handle and easy to carry	Applicable for minor tasks, cutting on material surfaces
Walk-behind slab saws	Large sizes fit well for smooth surfaces	Suitable for deep cutting in floors, walking aisles, and roads
Wall saws & wire saws	Mounted and structured system perfect for making deep cuts	Perfect for building renovation and trench tasks

Power Sources

The cutting saws are available in different power options. You can choose according to your goals.

• Electric saws: Suitable for accurate, cleaner tasks, and indoor site works.
• Petrol saws: Perfect for applying high initial force to cut through rebar, concrete, and steel in outdoor sites.
• Hydraulic saws: Applicable for complex tasks in industrial sites. 

Johnson Tools provides you with different types of cutting saws with different power options. You can choose from their vast selection of saws on the website, including circular saws.

Selecting An Accurate Blade for Cement and Concrete Cutting 

Choosing an accurate diamond-embedded blade is important to ace difficult projects as a successful contractor. You must choose the blade type according to the concrete cutting techniques, type of material, and project goals. If you end up choosing the wrong blades and saws, it will be a disaster.

Applicable Blades by Material Type

Type of Materials	Applicable Blade	Comments
Green or Fresh Concrete	Early-entry diamond-embedded blade	Protects materials from breaking and motivates the expansion joints reformulation and curing
Cured Concrete	Laser-welded long-segmented blade	Increases the life of the blade, resists heat and excessive use, deliver excellent results for a long period
Reinforced or Rebar Concrete	High-strength diamond-incorporated blade	Makes deeper cuts through the reinforced concrete, makes accurate deep cuts
Cement Floor	Turbo rim continuous blade	Achieves smooth cuts, leads to fewer amount of waste and debris

How to Cut Concrete Slab (Step-Wise Guide)

When dealing in concrete cutting, you must follow a structured procedure. It will help you get smoother cuts with accurate surface finishes on concrete.

Step 1: Prepare

When you start your project, you must check the sites. Make sure it does not contain any rebar, pipes, cables, or other dense materials. Otherwise, it will destroy your whole project.

Use a marker to mark the lines on the portion of concrete you want to cut. Do not forget to wear safety protective gear, such as masks, gloves, and glasses. 

Step 2: Set Up Appropriate Equipment

You must select an appropriate cutting saw for concrete work and precision cuts. If you want to cut smooth and flat surfaces or want deeper concrete cuts, use walk-behind saws. In contrast, if you want to conduct cutting on just the surfaces of concrete or other minor tasks, use a manual round saw. 

For both, you can follow these steps:

• Align your saw with an appropriate diamond-embedded blade according to the size and type of the material 
• Use a proper water inlet for wet cutting to minimize dust and debris, to minimize the environmental impact
• Plug in all power machinery and check their matching power with the tools

Step 3: Choose the Accurate Cutting Process

Start making accurate cuts on the surfaces of concrete. These shallow cuts have a 10-15 mm depth. They will give you a way to lead your project. You must maintain optimal pressure and force and avoid forcing the blade to work speedily. 

Supply water at a proper flow in a wet cutting method. When you are handling the thickest slabs, cut through concrete multiple times to reach the degree of cutting depth you require.

Step 4: Finish and Clean

Once you are done with performing the cutting process, is now time to clean all materials and equipment. Use a brush or cleaner to clean the edges and sides. 

Discard the slurry made in the wet cutting method and the debris accumulated during the dry method. Use a proper way to dispose of these materials. Also, you should check if there are strains on the diamond tools and if they should be replaced or repaired.

Wet and Dry Cutting: Which One Should You Apply?

If you are confused about selecting dry or wet cutting according to your requirements, focus on several factors. These factors include the project goals, complexity of the project, and the conditions of the process you are going to conduct the process in. Both cutting types have their own applications.

Wet Cutting

In wet cutting, you add water to the diamond blades after cutting. The water reduces the high temperature of the tool and cools it down.

Pros

• Reduces the temperature of the tools
• Avoids heat buildup in the system
• Increases the life of the tools
• Reduces dust and debris in the environment 
• Leads to safety insurance while working in tough conditions 
• Minimizes carbon footprint 
• Makes fine, accurate cuts

Cons

• Needs a constant supply of water 
• Requires a water inlet attached to the machine
• Less adaptable on sites away from local places
• Makes a slurry solution, creating a mess if spilled on the floor 

Dry Cutting

In dry cutting, you do not add water. Though it will conduct the process at a quick speed, it can cause wear on blades and saws. 

Pros

• Faster speed suitable for minor cutting tasks and cutting on just material surfaces
• Applicable for sites in outdoor areas where water is available in limited amounts

Cons

• Produces dusty environments 
• Causes heat buildup within the blade and the saw
• Reduces the life of the blade by causing wear on its surfaces

Professional Advice

If you want to cut concrete slabs, reinforced concrete, and floors, apply wet cutting. It will allow accurate cuts, control conditions, and follow safety protocols, including eye and ear protection. Are you dealing in concrete projects using wet or dry cutting? Whatever method you are using, use diamond-embedded blades from Johnson Tools for perfect results. 

Major Mistakes to Avoid During Concrete Cutting

The professional contractors often face problems while cutting concrete. There are several reasons for these mistakes. Let’s discuss these mistakes one by one. 

1. Using the Inappropriate Blade

If you do not select the right blade to cut concrete, you will get rough results. You should always select an appropriate diamond cutting blade according to your material and the depth you require.

2. Overheating the Blade

When you use concrete saws and blades without adding water, it will result in heat buildup within the tools. It will reduce the life of the tools. You must apply wet cutting and maintain optimal temperatures to counter this issue.

3. Forcing the Saw to Work

When you do not allow saws and blades to work independently and continue giving them high pressure and force to achieve results, it will end in tool breaking. It will also cause damage to the concrete surface. So, always allow the blades to do their work and run at normal speed.

4. Not Wearing PPE and Ignoring Safety Protocols

If you do not wear masks, gloves, ear defenders, and sunglasses, there are possibility of getting germs, contamination, and other safety hazards. You must follow all safety precautions to protect yourself and the other workers at the site.

5. Cutting in Adverse Conditions

The conditions at which you are cutting affect the cutting process a lot. You must avoid working in extreme hot and cold weather. If you do, you will compromise on the tool performance and get breaks on the material surface.

Practical Tip: If you want to ace the concrete cutting project, buy tools and blades from Johnson Tools. They claim long life, resistance against wear, and remarkable performance at normal conditions.  

Recommended Safety Practices for Cutting Concrete Slab

Ensuring safety while conducting concrete saw cutting is a must. Let’s discuss some of the suggested tips for you to protect against all types of hazards. 

1. Evaluate Before You Cut

When you are going to start the project, you must evaluate the concrete material if it’s reinforced or without rebar. It might contain tensile cables, plumbing pipes, or some other hard materials that can cause safety issues for your tool. If you do not examine properly, you will break your expensive blade. 

2. Use the Accurate Equipment

Before starting to work on your project goals, always check if your instruments align with the material and your cutting requirements. If you want to cut smooth surfaces or want cut deep, use walk-behind saws. 

In contrast, if you want to conduct cutting on just the surfaces of concrete or other minor tasks, use a manual round saw. Next, align them with accurate Johnson Tools’ diamond-incorporated blades.

3. Maintain Proper Cutting Methodology 

You should perform cutting while putting the material aligned with a firm stand. Also, maintain consistent pressure and force. You must allow the blade to work at its own pace. Moreover, if you are doing wet cutting, use the appropriate amount of water to maintain a dust-free environment. 

4. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All personnel should wear protective equipment to avoid safety issues. These include: 

• Use ear defenders to avoid noise hazards 
• Wear safety glasses to avoid the accumulation of debris in the eyes
• Use hand gloves to avoid feeling the vibration of machines on your hands and resist heat
• Wear dust-resistant face masks to protect your airway passages, especially during dry cutting.

5. Controlled Environment and Site Safety

Make sure you work at an indoor site where there is good ventilation of air. The dusty environment should be managed to reduce the carbon footprint. Moreover, you must clean the machinery and floor after you are done with cutting one portion of concrete. Discard your waste materials in a proper way to minimize pollution. 

Why Contractors Prefer Johnson Tools Diamond-Embedded Blades

When you are dealing with large projects, remember that tools must give accurate results every time they are used. Contractors related to construction and manufacturing industries from different parts of the world go for Johnson Tools due to several reasons. Let’s discuss these reasons in detail.

1. Manufactured for Performance

Different tools available at our company are manufactured with the idea of performance. Our team makes these tools with strong materials and welds them with lasers. As a result, they possess toughness and resistance against heat and wear. 

You can use these diamond-embedded cutting blades for hard materials, such as stone, marble, tile, and concrete. These tools can make smooth cuts in rebar concrete, also. 

2. Compatibility Across Different Power Machinery

Our equipment and tools work best with high-power machinery. The blades give excellent results when used with different concrete cutting saw companies. These include Hilti, Stihl, and Husqvarna.

You can get accurate results using any type of cutting saws and blades. Whether you are using a wet saw, a round cutting saw, or an angle grinder for dry cutting, you can pair our blades with different saws.

3. Built to Prevent Safety Hazards and Maintain Control

Each diamond-embedded blade available at Johnson Tools maintains controlled processing environments. When you are able to control the conditions, it will reduce unwanted movements and random breaking on the concrete surface. 

They also prevent contamination and the occurrence of safety hazards. By using these tools, you will be able to achieve a smooth cutting surface that will be germ-free. 

4. OEM/ODM Customized Services and Global Recognition

Apart from our standard products, we offer personalized services for different clients. These include OED/ODM client-centered services which help contractors to get tools according to their project requirements and site conditions.

We provide services to different contractors all over the world. They trust us with their large, complex project goals.

FAQs

Can I use a circular-shaped saw to cut a concrete slab?

Yes, you can use a circular-shaped saw to cut concrete. A round saw with a diamond-embedded blade will make cuts on the surface only. If you want to achieve cuts in depth, use a specific concrete saw. It will give accurate cuts and follow safety protocols. 

In how much depth can a concrete-specific saw make accurate cuts?

The deep, accurate cuts made by concrete saw depends on two factors. These include the size of the diamond blade and the cutting power of the tool. If you want to get the deepest cut, go for a walk-behind concrete saw. It has a blade of 14-18 inches and can make fine cuts till 300 mm. 

Why is the usage of water recommended during concrete cutting?

In wet cutting, you must use water. The addition of water cools the blade and creates a dust-free environment. It also prevents heat buildup within tools. As a result, it increases the life of the blade and allows it to achieve clean cuts with different methods of wet cutting.

How to avoid cracks and breaks when cutting concrete through saw blades?

You must create control areas through initial blades. Also, you must not cut concrete in extreme hot or cold weather conditions. Otherwise, you will end up getting random cracking all over the surface at random points.

Conclusion

As a professional contractor, you must understand the importance of appropriate power tools, methodology, and cutting blades. If you use Johnson Tools’ diamond-embedded blades and saws, it will help you achieve smooth cuts of longer life. Want to know more about Johnson Tools’ vast selection of diamond-incorporated blades and other tools?

Contact us today to learn about our equipment in detail! Our team specifically manufactures these to help contractors complete their projects efficiently.