Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Score the line by tapping the chisel and moving it along the line that you created. Place the tip of the chisel at the point on the stone where you want to make the break. There are three main ways to cut flagstone. Not all flagstone is formed from the same type of stone. To cut a paving stone with a hammer and chisel, you’ll need to follow three simple steps. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Allow time for this process, or you may crack or break the stone unintentionally. Full affiliate disclaimer here, [contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url”][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea”][/contact-form], The Saw Guy – Saw Reviews and DIY Projects. Get expert advice. The measurement must allow for the space made by joint or mortar. With these two simple tools, you can cut rocks as hard as flagstone. How you cut flagstone depends on the size and design in your project. The most common edge “treatment” isn’t really even a treatment. 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. However, this only works with certain types of rock. Knapping: cutting flagstone with a rock hammer. Lay your flagstone on a flat surface where it will not move when you use the chisel. The line is the cut line. A powerful masonry saw will actually pull the flagstone through it at its own pace as it cuts. Cutting paving stones can be daunting, but it isn’t difficult. Finally, the masonry saw method is the best for making more accurate, exact cuts as well as making thicker or longer cuts. This type of flagstone cut is good for when you have a few inches, or less, of stone … Once you find that position, put the chisel at an angle and hit the chisel with your hammer across the line. But in most cases, you'll have to cut them Use a ruler, tape measure or other straight edge to mark a cut line on the stone -- you can draw the line with chalk, which shows up on the flagstone but is easy to wipe away if you make a mistake. I like to write and let people know that working with your hands and tools does not need to be intimidating. For this method of cutting flagstone, you will need a hammer, chisel, and something for marking on the flagstone. Because of the style that most flagstone walkways and patios utilize, you usually don’t have to make super precise cuts. Purchase a masonry blade with professional input; a bargain here can put you at risk of injury. Use a chisel to cut the flagstone if the project is small and only requires approximate sizing, such as a garden path. 2 Score the cut line with a brick-set chisel and a mason’s hammer or small sledge hammer. To add additional details or to finish off the flat edges of the stone, a chisel and hammer will be used to strike the edge to give it the total rockface edge all around. Third, place your chisel where you want to split and swing your hammer Once you understand that this is a time-consuming and dirty job, it will work best if you know how to cut flagstone. As artists have begun to embrace technology in order to streamline their work, the Dremel rotary tool is becoming a popular option for carving stone, replacing the hammer and chisel in many cases. For more tips, including how to mark your cut lines on your flagstone, read on! It’s actually really easy to learn how to cut flagstone. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. 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. Last Updated: May 23, 2020 Cut a Line Across Your Stone Now you’ll need to cut a line across the area of the stone that you want to break or cut. Set the chisel at the beginning of the scored cutting line, perpendicular to the rock's surface. Use a masonry saw or water fed masonry saw for larger projects that require accurate cuts for a variety of visual effects, such as a pool deck or patio. striking hammer. Hit the chisel once or twice before moving on down the pencil markings. Step 2: Use chalk and a ruler or tape measure to make your measurements on the flagstone. Instead, it works much like the hammer and chisel method to create a deep score or groove on the flagstone. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Cut-Flagstone-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Cut-Flagstone-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Cut-Flagstone-Step-1.jpg\/aid1389520-v4-728px-Cut-Flagstone-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"