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How you cut flagstone depends on the size and design in your project—you might chip it with a hammer and chisel, or you could cut it with a circular or wet saw. We'll help you figure out which technique is right for your project!
Steps
Cutting flagstone into irregular shapes.
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1Use a hammer and chisel to cut flagstone when accuracy of cut or straight lines are not important.[1]
- A hammer and chisel is best to cut or shape flagstone for small projects that do not require accurate cuts, such as a small garden path or a decorative step or bench top.
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2Set the flagstone on a solid surface.Advertisement
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3Measure and draw a line to cut.
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4Leave a distinct bold line, such as that provided by paver chalk or a piece of roofer's slate.
- The measurement must allow for the space made by joint or mortar.
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5Hammer sharply, but not heavily, on the chisel as you move it along the drawn line in order to score the line.[2]
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6Continue to score along the line with even pressure.
- Allow time for this process, or you may crack or break the stone unintentionally.
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7Continue to tap the chisel with the hammer along the scored line until stone breaks along the scored line.[3]
Cutting flagstone into regular shapes.
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1Use a circular saw with masonry blade to make regular cuts in the same size for small projects, such as a fireplace hearth.[4]
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2Clamp the flagstone firmly to a solid surface.
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3Measure and clearly draw the line to cut.
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4Begin to saw along the line.
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5Do not apply pressure to the saw; just allow the weight of the saw to score the stone.
- The intent is not to saw through the flagstone; rather, the purpose is to create a significant score in the stone along which repeated blows with a hammer and chisel will break the stone.
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6Prop the stone that has been scored by the circular saw at an angle on a tool or brick along the bottom side of the flagstone parallel to the scored line.
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7Tap chisel with hammer sharply along the scored line until piece breaks away.[5]
Cutting flagstone into accurate cuts.
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1Cut flagstone with a wet saw if you have a large job or a job that requires accurate cuts or design cuts, such as a patio floor, a pool deck, curves or edging where you want to repeat a color scheme.[6]
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2Buy or rent a water-fed saw with a diamond edged blade.
- Water is fed onto blade so it lubricates the cut and reduces the debris generated by the cut.[7]
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3Read the assembly and usage directions carefully.[8]
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4Measure and score the line desired.
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5Move the stone steadily along the line against the saw blade because on a wet saw the blade does not move.
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6Push the stone flat, steadily, and slowly through the blade until the cut is complete.
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7Clean and store tools.
Warnings
- A circular saw is not recommended because of the high risk of injury; the added expense of the rental of a wet saw is preferable to the risk.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Wear protective equipment, including ear plugs, heavy duty gloves, goggles, and dust mask.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Purchase a masonry blade with professional input; a bargain here can put you at risk of injury.⧼thumbs_response⧽
- Flagstone is brittle and will easily send shards or fragments flying.⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You'll Need
- Safety equipment including dust mask, goggles, and gloves.
- Lump hammer, a heavy 2 headed hammer
- Bolster chisel, a broad chisel used for straight cuts
- Pitcher chisel, a thick chisel used for trimming edges
- Paver marker, a chalk used to draw lines
- Masonry blade for circular saw
- Wet saw
References
- ↑ https://www.thesawguy.com/how-to-cut-flagstone/#Method_1_Hammer_Chisel
- ↑ https://www.dream-yard.com/how-to-install-flagstone.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA1Lta0iBhA
- ↑ https://www.thesawguy.com/how-to-cut-flagstone/#Method_2_Circular_Saw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsSTBlKbg2M
- ↑ https://www.thesawguy.com/how-to-cut-flagstone/#Method_3_Masonry_Saw
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsSTBlKbg2M
- ↑ https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/carpentry/how-to-use-a-wet-saw/
- https://www.familyhandyman.com/patio/build-a-flagstone-and-stone-block-patio/
About This Article
The right way to cut flagstone depends on how accurate of a cut you need. For irregular shapes, you can just use a hammer and chisel to break it up into smaller pieces. If you need to cut your flagstone into a regular shape, like a square, score the lines with a masonry blade on a circular saw and then break them with a chisel and hammer. For precise cuts, you'll need to use a wet saw with a diamond edged blade. For more tips, including how to mark your cut lines on your flagstone, read on!
