Only dry parts can be cut. And that’s why. The foam mass of the block can be cut well, but the partitions between the air bubbles are not cut, the tool breaks them and crumbles them. Because of this, a large amount of fine dust is formed, which remains at the cut site. If the block is dry, the blade pushes it to the surface as it moves. Then the tool moves easily and smoothly. If the aerated concrete is wet or frozen, the blade crumbles the partitions, but cannot remove the resulting wet dust. It sticks to the canvas, which “gets stuck” in the thickness of the foam concrete and cannot move.
The technology for laying aerated concrete involves precise cutting. Violation of the geometry of blocks is leveled by increasing the thickness of the seam. This is extremely undesirable since the performance characteristics of the masonry deteriorate and glue consumption increases. Let’s look at how to cut aerated concrete blocks to get a smooth edge.
The most affordable option. To cut aerated blocks, only a special type of hacksaw is used, which is called “for aerated concrete.” It has a special arrangement and sharpening of the teeth, due to which the tool copes with the densest material.
The tool resembles a jigsaw. It got its name from the external resemblance of the cutting blade to a saber. The electric saw operates from the mains, the user can adjust the depth of the pendulum stroke and control the cutting speed. The electric saw has a body with a comfortable handle into which a long cutting blade is inserted. After turning on the tool, it makes uniform pendulum movements. This allows you to make figured and simple cuts. True, to perform them well, you need some experience.
This professional power tool is equipped with two cutting edges arranged in parallel. When the motor is turned on, they move in opposite directions, which increases cutting speed and accuracy. The alligator chews its food in a similar way. This similarity explains the unusual name of the electric saw. Porous aerated concrete is sawn through very quickly and easily in this way. The worker does not have to put in almost any effort.
This tool is not designed to work with gas blocks. Therefore it gets very hot. The sprockets quickly wear down and fail. This is not a problem, since replacing them is a simple and inexpensive procedure. It is much worse if dust clogs the electric motor and it breaks. It will be impossible to restore it. Novice builders are interested in whether it is possible to cut aerated concrete with a chainsaw.
Structurally, tape equipment is more like a machine than a mobile tool. It has a body with a built-in electric drive, on which two pulleys are attached with a saw stretched between them. This design allows for oblique and straight cutting, making cuts at an angle, and cutting out parts of different shapes from blocks.
Thus, the best tool for small jobs is a hacksaw. It is affordable and very easy to use. For large volumes, it is worth renting or purchasing one of the varieties of electric saws. Perhaps the best choice would be an Alligator or reciprocating saw. They provide high accuracy and cutting speed, while the equipment itself does not fail for a long time. Using a chain power tool is risky and can break quickly. The band saw cuts perfectly, but this is professional equipment and its purchase is unlikely to justify itself.