Introduction
Cutting a brick or bricks to the required size and length is one of the professional technical skills I have as a builder. This article describes how to cut a brick into three quarter bat. A three quarter brick is the brick where a quarter of the brick is cut off.
In brick cutting, no matter what pattern is followed when cutting the bricks. It can be done with a circular saw or grinders fitted with a masonry blade. But for my case, I prefer to cut the brick by hand tools such as cold chisel, a broad-bladed chisel and a brick hammer. I have chosen this method because it is the common and affordable way in most sites and it is a less dusty alternative. The cold chisel should least be 3/4 inch wide; the broad-bladed chisel some time known as a brick set should be at least 3 inches wide.
Tools needed for the exercise
Cold chisel, broad-bladed chisel, brick hammer, a ruler of 30cm or more, tape measure (2.5meters or more), handle gloves, eye glasses and earplugs
Safety precautions
Just before starting the work, I put on safety glasses to protect and safeguard my eye, hand gloves to protect hands and earplugs for the safety of the ears in case of any unexpected noise during the process of cutting.
Steps to be followed
First, measure the brick with a tape measure or may be a 30cm rule to determine the targeted position for cutting
Mark cutline on each side of the brick using a pencil and a set square some time the builder square can also be used.
Place the brick on the ground or a sand bed, Score the cutline by tapping a cold chisel gently at about a 60-degree angle; striking straight on or with a full swing could prematurely split the brick and leave an uneven break. Alternate the angle of the chisel from side to side until you’ve made a 1/16-inch-deep groove all the way around the brick.
Hold the brick set upright in the score line. Face the set’s beveled edge toward the scrap side of the cut, and then tilt the blade slightly away from that side. Give it a solid blow with your hammer; the brick should split along the score.
Chip (cut) away any excess material with the chisel end of a brick hammer. Some time, removal of the excess material can be done by the use of a brick trowel.
