Breeze blocks

[Toddy]

Thought someone here might know......

How easily can breeze blocks be cut ?
I need nine of them cut to about 30cms long, and since they come 44cms long I need to take a fair bit off them.
Before I buy them, is it easy to cut ? with hand tools ? what hand tools ?

Thanks
M

 

[Chiseller]

You need a stihl saw or 9inch grinder with a stone cutting disc. Or a tungston carbide tipped hand saw Mary. A metal disc wont cut block, but a stone disc will cut metal.

If they are the lightweight thermolite block? You can use an old wood saw :thumbup:

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[Joonsy]

Hi, if its those light breeze blocks and not those concrete blocks i have just cut them with an old wood saw, worked okay but will ruin saw so use an old knackered one and it doesn't need to be particulary sharp.

 

[Chiseller]

Or a bolster Chisel and lump hammer. Takes experience to get a clean cut though. Sorry i cant do them forvyou

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[Hugo]

For breeze block as Chiseller said an old saw will do the job.

 

[Toddy]

Excellent
I've got a couple of old cheap hardpoints, that were bought to cut a worktop, out in the shed. I don't mind using them up for this
Thank you gentlemen

cheers,
M

 

[WULF]

This got a little confusing chaps...
chiseller got it spot on,
only thermalite blocks can be cut with a standard hardpoint saw!!
breeze and concrete blocks cut with a lump hamer-score all the way round,or if you have a sthil saw or grinder.We have a diamond tipped blade but standard carbon blades will do the job.
We dont bother on site as our skin is like rhino skin but just be aware that breeze blocks can contain glass shards!!

 

[demographic]

As above really .
Breeze blocks are proper concrete and a hardpoint won't do.
You can take a bolster to them or even better a petrol stone saw.

Thermalites on the other hand (they look like they are made from grey aero bar material) can be cut with a knackered handsaw.

 

[Toddy]

Well I have and can use a cold chisel and lump hammer

I'm only going to be using them with planks to create a shelf stack under the garden tap, but it's a narrow space on the path at the side of the shed door, so I need to cut them. At present I've got a muddle of broken bits of brick doing the job, but it annoys me because it's not very tidy and attracts all sorts of woodlice, etc., to the spaces between all the broken edges and bits of brick. Since it's under the kitchen window, I'd rather limit the amount of beasties a bit.
These are the blocks I was looking at buying instead to tidy it all up.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/bricks-blocks+lintels/aerated-blocks/icat/bbblock/

cheers,
M

 

[Fat Rog]

That link doesn't work for me Toddy. Found these though: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/213632 Says in the customer review that they can be cut with an old saw. I usually use a Stihl saw or angle grinder though.

 

[WULF]

They are thermalite blocks in that link.

That link doesn't work for me Toddy. Found these though: http://www.wickes.co.uk/invt/213632 Says in the customer review that they can be cut with an old saw. I usually use a Stihl saw or angle grinder though.

 

[demographic]

Well I have and can use a cold chisel and lump hammer

I'm only going to be using them with planks to create a shelf stack under the garden tap, but it's a narrow space on the path at the side of the shed door, so I need to cut them. At present I've got a muddle of broken bits of brick doing the job, but it annoys me because it's not very tidy and attracts all sorts of woodlice, etc., to the spaces between all the broken edges and bits of brick. Since it's under the kitchen window, I'd rather limit the amount of beasties a bit.
These are the blocks I was looking at buying instead to tidy it all up.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/bricks-blocks+lintels/aerated-blocks/icat/bbblock/

cheers,
M

None of those are what I would call Breeze Blocks, I would call a 9" wide concrete block with two large hollows in it a breeze block.
Like on this picture I found on the net...

On the other hand I assume you are talking about the cheapest ones on the Wickes site?
The aerated ones? They will cut with an old hardpoint saw or bolster and hammer.

 

[Toddy]

Thank you

I googled brieze block and wickes (it's the nearest diy store) and that page was what came up, but breeze instead, so I just took it that those were it
Just as well I'm not building anything really with them

So, the cheap ones will cut without power tools, and should do for the stack

The help's appreciated thank you.

cheers,
M

 

[WULF]

If your going to buy thermalite blocks mary,get a couple extra!they are great for carving.I have one that i carved a head in many years ago with just a pocket knife............if you like that sort of thing of course i'll get a picture of what i carved tomorrow

 

[Joonsy]

I'm only going to be using them with planks to create a shelf stack under the garden tap, but it's a narrow space on the path at the side of the shed door, so I need to cut them.

could you not use them by standing them on the short side instead of the long side to avoid cutting them?

 

[maddave]

My mate buys the cheap solid ones and carves em into gargoyles n stuff with chisels meant for wood... They're quite soft

 

[mousey]

I've carved a few 'easter' Island heads from breeze blocks washed up on shore, and also from some sand stoney type rock [and also some others which were alot harder and had 'layers' to them so not so good for carving] - not that this comment is any use to you, just thought I'd write abit

I always thought you could cut breeze block with a saw - it turns out it has to be the right breeze block an a knackered saw.

 

[Fat Rog]

Well you can buy new saws that are made for the job:

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;j...111591?fh_search=concrete+saw&fh_view_size=20

but if you're only doing a couple of blocks an old knackered panel saw does the trick fine

 

[bushwacker bob]

The actual blocks you are looking for Mary are generically called aircrete blocks and are easy to cut. Market leaders are Thermalite but there half a dozen manufacturers blocks all made from aircrete (No aggregates just aerated Aluminium sulphide bubbles in a silica based slip) They are available in sizes ranging from 75mm wide to 260mm trench blocks. Durox, forticrete and Celcon are the other most common ones.
Breeze blocks are made from clinker and you will need an angle grinder to cut them, they are much harder and have a compressive strength of more than twice that of aircrete.

 

[Toddy]

Thank you for the replies much appreciated

One last question.....the blocks are the aircrete type that bushwacker bob mentioned......how frost proof are they likely to be ? My garden is sodden wet and though these are going to be standing on top of big slabs, they will get damp, and when we get cold, we get *cold*.

cheers,
M