Cutting Concrete? Make Sure You’ve Got the Right Concrete Saw
It is important to use the right saw no matter what project you take on. Using the wrong concrete saw can lead to incidents and accidents, and when you’re dealing with cutting tools there’s no room for error.
Choosing the right concrete saw depends on the size, shape and the type of blade used on the concrete saws. Read on to see the best concrete saws that’s on the market and learn about the important features that help you find the concrete saw that fits well with your future projects.
Top 3 Picks
Editor’s Choice: XtremepowerUS Electric Concrete Cutter
The XtremepowerUS Electric Concrete Cutter can cut through wet and dry concrete. It also has extra safety features as well as a built-in dust port to make sure there’s no dust left behind.
Best Quality: Evolution DISC Cutter
The Evolution DISC Cutter is a high-quality concrete saw that also comes with three ergonomic handles making it even easier to use.
Best Bargain: Rockwell Compact Circular Saw
The Rockwell Compact Circular Saw is compact and lightweight. It can also have a left sided blade for easy use.
What is a Concrete Saw?
A concrete saw is basically a power tool that is used to cut hard material such as concrete, brick, asphalt, stone materials, tile and masonry. You can’t use another such as a drywall saw or handsaw to slice through these hard materials.
They’re definitely different types of concrete saws available, depending on the size and how big is the project, from handheld models to large ones that are as big as a lawn mower.
While the size of a concrete saw can be seen as powerful, the real power is really in the blade. A lot of concrete saws come with diamond saw blades, which is the most preferred, but there’s also other saw blades that you can see on these tools.
How to Use a Concrete Saw
There are many factors when it comes to using a concrete saw:
Timing
The reason why you should be mindful of the timing is because you have to consider the weather condition, type of blade, hardness, the size and the concrete mix design. If you start cutting too early, you will most likely experience raveling and if you start too late, you will see some cracking. That’s why you’ll want to make sure you’re starting the cut at the right time, especially working with concrete.
How to Cut
If you are already experienced with a concrete saw, you can go ahead and just use it as you normally would. But if you’re not, you’ll want to follow these tips to cut concrete.
Mark joints with chalk
You will want to mark the joints with chalk, so that you know exactly where to cut. You’ll preferably want to mark in the middle so that you can get accurate cuts.
Wet cutting
If you are going to be doing any wet cutting, this is now the time where you’ll want water running down the blade.
Allow the blade reach the needed depth
You will want to make sure that the blade reaches the needed depth so that you can get accurate cuts.
Don’t let the blade run unnecessarily
If you don’t need to use the blade at the moment, make sure it’s not running so that it doesn’t wear out.
Pros and Cons of a Concrete Saw
Pros:
- Provides Quality Work – Concrete saws can provide accurate cuts, especially if you choose the right one.
- Fast – Concrete saws usually have powerful motors and high RPM speeds that make the blade go very fast. So if you need to get the job done in a timely manner, you can rely on the concrete saw to do that.
- Dust Free – Some concrete saws come with a dust port (if they’re used for dry cutting only) and some come with a water line that keeps the water flowing on the blade (if you’re doing wet cutting). Either way, it will be dust free.
Cons:
- Can be dangerous – If you don’t take any safety precautions, it can be dangerous. For example, if there’s no safety near the blades, you run the risk of sparks getting on your skin or your eyes. That’s why you should definitely take safety precautions before using the saw.
- Expensive – While some models are affordable, the more expensive ones have added safety features and more to make sawing a breeze. But it means you’ll have to pay more.
6 Best Concrete Saw Options For Hard Jobs
Evolution DISCCUT1 Disc Cutter
The Evolution concrete saw comes with a 12-inch diamond blade that can cut through most hard materials. It has a maximum depth of 4 inches that can do either progressive or incremental cutting. It is corded but there is a powerful 15-amp motor that is on this saw as well as a very high torque. This extremely powerful concrete saw is powerful enough to cut through concrete of course, stone, brick, asphalt and reinforced concrete.
You will have to handle this saw with one hand at the rear handle, where there’s an easy to find trigger to control how much power the blade puts out. Your other hand can be used for support and guide the saw with one of the three ergonomic handles. There are also other handle positions that will enable you to handle the saw either vertically or horizontally. There is a safety guard that can be adjusted anytime during use to ensure safe operation, whether it’s vertical or horizontal.
Pros:
- Can cut through harder material
- Powerful 15-amp motor
- Easy to handle thanks to three ergonomic handles
Cons:
- It can be too heavy to use for long periods of time
- Some users reported it did stop working after some use
Stark Electric Cutter Circular Saw Concrete
The Stark Electric Circular Concrete Cutter has a 16-inch circular saw and a powerful motor of 15 amps. Its blade runs at 4300 RPM. This saw can cut wet or dry concrete, as it has a built in water line attachment that helps control the flow with a valve as the water line feeds water to the blade which means very little dust is produced and it would increase the blade performance. This concrete saw also comes with the standard GFCI. There is a dust port that can vent while cutting the surface so that you can have a clean workspace. There is also a metal guard design as a safety feature to protect you from the sparks when it’s operating. This concrete saw has enough power that can cut through granite, porcelain, both wet and dry concrete, and of course other stone materials with no issues at all.
Pros:
- 15-amp motor
- Can cut wet and dry concrete
- Metal guard design that protects user from sparks
Cons:
- Users have reported the concrete saw does stop working after some time
XtremepowerUS Electric Cut Off Saw
The XtremepowerUS Electric Concrete Cutter is a saw that can work with both wet and dry concrete. It is extremely lightweight and very powerful with a 15-amp motor. It is corded, so you’ll want to keep that in mind. The blade is a 14” circular saw and it runs at 4300 RPM. There is an ergonomic control grip that allows easy operation. There is a built-in dust port that helps keep the cutting area free of dust and debris. There is a double protection switch that helps prevent the machine from accidentally opening, so that there will be a safer cutting job every time you use this concrete saw.
As we mentioned, this concrete saw can also do wet cuts. That means you use the building water feed attachment and control the flow with the valve, the water line feeds water to the blade to make sure that there’s no dust in your work area and also increase the blade performance. Other than concrete, it can also cut through granite, porcelain, and other stone material with ease.
Pros
- Can work with wet and dry concrete
- 15-amp motor
- Built in dust port
Cons
- Water line doesn’t work as well as it should
Husqvarna Gasoline Grinder
The Husqvarna Grinder is a 14-inch circular saw that has a maximum cutting depth of 5 inches. It is fairly lightweight, and it uses 5 AAA batteries in order to operate the grinder. There is also an easy and optimal belt tensioning which means it has semi-automatic smart tension that decreases the risk of over or under tensioning. This saw comes with a cast aluminum which has a three-bolt joint to attach the cutting head, which provides more stability than the two jolt ones. There is a durable poly v belt that also has a maintenance free durastarter as well as the efficient filter system. This saw can cut through concrete and most stone materials as needed.
Pros:
- Made with high quality material
- Maintenance free durastarter
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Batteries are not included so it means you’ll have to purchase separately
Rockwell Compact Circular Saw
If you are looking for a concrete saw that can make small and precise cuts, this Rockwell Compact Circular Saw can help you with that. Not only is it affordable at just under $75, it is also very light weight that makes it easy to hold firmly on the grips while the blade is spinning. For comfort, it has an ergonomic, textured handle that has enough space to hold the saw with either one or two hands. There’s a trigger that is at the bottom of this saw, so it’s always within reach for one of your fingers.
The blade is 4 and a half inches, and the saw can cut a maximum depth of 1 inch. This concrete saw thankfully comes with a built-in vacuum port so that it can clean up the remaining dust that was left behind. It also has a 5-amp motor which is in the back of the saw, so that you can balance the tool better when you’re using it. The blade is on the left side of the tool so that it’s easier to see what you’re doing, especially if you are naturally right-handed. If you are left-handed, it might be more difficult and you’ll have to adjust every time you use it.
Pros:
- Very Affordable
- Blade conveniently on left side
- Built in vacuum port
Cons:
- Some users have reported that it breaks after some use
Metabo HPT Masonry Saw
Finally, we have the Metabo HPT Masonry Saw that weighs just 6.2 pounds which means easy to use and can get the job done efficiently. It has a 4-inch diamond blade, a 11.6 amp motor and 1 ⅜ inch max cutting depth. It is a corded saw that you’ll need to plug in which means you can only use it in one place while cutting hard materials. You can definitely do dry cutting with this saw as the no load speed is 11,500 RPM. There is a sealed armature coil which means it can protect the saw from dust and debris making it perfect especially if you are doing dry cutting. On this concrete saw, there is a metal seated ball bearing to make sure there is no damage done to the motor from the high temperatures and vibration, which is a huge safety feature that we like. Overall, this concrete saw can cut that through tile, marble, granite, concrete, brick and other stone materials.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Metal seated ball bearing for safety
- Easy to use
Cons
- It may be an inconvenience for some who wants more portability
How to Clean and Care for Your Concrete Saw
Clean Off Saw Blade with Water
After you are done using the saw, you’ll want to run the blade with water to make sure any and all dust is off.
Do Daily Inspections
Make sure nuts and tight screws are in place. Check that the cutting blade fits properly and is free of damage. If it is damaged, you’ll want to make sure you can replace it before your next use.
Weekly Inspections
On weekly basis, you’ll have to regularly check the drive belt. If it’s worn out, you’ll definitely want to get a new one before your next use.
Visually check for cracks or other damage to both the muffler and the vibration damping system. Make sure both are fastened correctly.
The carburetor might be the reason if the engine is powerless or not accelerating properly. Check first and change the air filter if needed. However, if this does not work, you’ll want to contact your closest servicing retailer to help you clean the carburetor.
You’ll also want to keep an eye on the starter’s cord. If it looks like it’s being worn out, you’ll want to replace it. You can choose to consult the manual from whichever manufacturer that you bought it from, or you can bring it to a servicing dealer to replace it.
Monthly Inspections
If your concrete saw is getting harder to start or other reasons, it’s time to look at the spark plug. If the spark plug is dirty, you’ll want to make sure that it’s cleaned. But if you do have to replace it, you’ll want to use the one that is recommended by the manufacturer that you’ve bought from.
You will also want to inspect the fuel hose, fuel cap and seal. If it needs to be replaced, you should do so as soon as you can. You’ll also want to check the fuel filter to see if it needs to be replaced, which you’ll have to do yearly anyways.
The air filter should also be checked during this monthly inspection because there may be a time while using the saw that you’ll experience less power. If it is in fact damaged, you’ll need to replace it as soon as you can.
Bottom Line
Choosing a concrete saw can be a daunting experience. You’ll want to make sure that it has all the features you need on it and if it fits your budget or not. We hope that in this article, you have anything that you need about concrete saws. We hope that you won’t face any sort of difficulty when you’re choosing the best concrete saw from the option that you’ve seen today.
Even if you’ve found another brand that’s better, refer to the guide on how to choose one so that you’ll make a decision based on what you need. If you’ve found this guide about concrete saws useful or if you need additional questions answered about them, please feel free to leave us a comment below if you like!