Using a bandsaw to cut base rock....

[fishgate]

Has anyone used a bandsaw to cut base rock or will it destroy the bandsaw blade? I have a 10" bandsaw with a wood/metal blade.

This is the rock - CaribSea South Seas Base Rock - it is very light and porous.

 

[ArrecifeJunkie]

It will kill the blade but it will cut it. Just be careful. The rock can break apart unexpectedly.

 

[fishgate]

How many cuts do you think I will get out of a blade? This will be a brand new blade and I am cutting up pieces for a rock wall. So I will have probably 20-30 pieces total to cut.

 

[madean]

How many pieces you will get out of cutting some rock with a blade that was not intended for cutting rock is subjective. You might get one you might get 100. Its kind of hard to answer that because rocks also have different compositions. More than likely the blade will be trashed, so just decide to go for it or buy a more suitable blade. If I remember right, the saws that are marketed for fragging corals are diamond type cutting blades. Also you need to take a look at the blade and make sure to try and get most of the oil off of the blade. Many times companies put a light oil based film on their cutting products to keep them from rusting. Unless they are painted. But my last drill index i bought had a light film of oil material on all of the drill bits. So just be mindful of that before you start cutting. If you have that oil on the blade and you start cutting, you may transfer some of the oils into the rock. Im not saying that every cutting blade has this, many sawza blades are painted instead, just check it out to make sure the oil slick is not on the blade before you cut.

 

[acetoe]

No idea of the number of cuts you will get but if you can get a diamond / masonry blade and add a water flow to your cutting you will do better. At least adding the water flow will help with any blade cutting rock.

 

[zeebies]

Fishgate, did you ever cut your rock with the bandsaw? Contemplating the same thing as I just got another shipment of rock I need to cut down.

Other options might be using a Dremel, an angle grinder with diamond blade or dropping rock from second floor onto driveway.. :worried:

Anyone had success with any of these methods on dry rock?

 

[Gorgok]

Much of the rock is actually really soft, and i don't expect it to hurt the saw too much. I've never cut it with my saw, but done plenty of drilling a fault line into the rock and using a chisel to snap it.

It will be very clear if you hit a hard part of the rock, and might be easiest to just go around it if that does happen.

 

[fishgate]

No I never did I smashed it apart with a 1lb sledge with a flat head. Worked well probably took way less time. I good wack on most pieces. Wear goggles!