Bricks are among the most widely used modular elements in construction. Their diffusion is linked to several factors.
First of all, they are available in a wide range of formats and solutions: for example, on the market there are clay bricks, tuff bricks, solid or perforated. At the same time, these modules are very popular because they are versatile and widely adaptable to various situations and the most diverse needs.
Precisely for this reason, bricks are often cut in order to complete a row when building a wall or when you want to create a decorative element.
In fact, very often the need to offset the courses of the wall or to pass a pipe through the wall are the basis of the need to use bricks with non-standard shapes and sizes.
In this article we will analyze how to hand-cut a brick without the use of electrical tools.
This type of cut, precisely because it is manual, cannot necessarily be very precise; for this reason it is often used when you have to build a wall that will later be covered with plaster.
In the case of masonry fair-faced it is better to use an angle grinder on which we will have installed a special disc for cutting the bricks.
How to cut bricks by hand
Finding bricks that are very small in size (for example, that look more like a cube than a rectangle) can be very difficult, so the easiest and quickest solution is to cut one or more modules you already own to fit the space they need to occupy.
This operation must be carried out with care and great attention.
In fact, just a little carelessness or the use of an unsuitable tool is enough to ruin the brick.
A broken brick, chipped or of the wrong size cannot be used. Consequently it must be thrown away and the cutting must be repeated using a new brick.
This do-it-yourself operation turns out to be easy and fast to perform simply by adopting the right precautions. In this way it becomes possible to avoid unnecessary waste of material.
The procedure is slightly different in the case of perforated or solid bricks, however a tape measure, work gloves to protect your hands, a pencil to mark the line to be followed during the cut and protective glasses to protect your eyes from dust and any splinters that may be generated during the operation are always needed.
Where to start when cutting bricks
The starting points for cutting both solid and perforated bricks are quite similar.
These steps occur at the beginning and at the end of the cutting procedure. These steps are necessary to ensure your own safety during the operation and to ensure that the cut brick remains compact and does not lose splinters or dust.
First and foremost you should approach brick cutting wearing thick work gloves to protect your hands from scratches and abrasions. This is particularly true when cutting with a hammer and chisel. In fact, these are tools whose use can lead to damage to the skin of the hands, especially the fingers and palm.
Let me give you a tip: I prefer rubber gloves that are fairly snug. This is for two orders of reasons:
- First, they guarantee a better grip, both of the hammer and the cutting chisel;
- Secondly, they better absorb the inevitable impact generated by the hammer which, consequently, is transmitted less on the wrist.
At this point you must mark the line of the cut on the brick using a pencil and a tape measure.
It is necessary to check the size of the space in which the cut brick will later be inserted, keeping in mind that the application of lime and mortar to fix the module inside the wall and keep it in place will reduce it slightly.
This aspect should never be overlooked, otherwise you risk having a brick that is not suitable for your needs despite the fact that you have removed part of the material that makes it up.
At the same time, you should not cut the brick excessively. Otherwise, the new portion will not fit because it is too small.
The measurements of the space that the brick must occupy should be reported on the surface of the brick: just draw a precise mark on each side with a pencil.
This operation leads to have a precise trace to follow during the cut because it indicates the point where the two parts of the brick must be separated.
To facilitate the cut the brick of clay or tuff must be placed on a smooth and stable surface, so as to avoid that a sudden movement of the work surface can compromise the intervention.
At the same time it is good to spread a little sand on the table on which the brick is laid. Alternatively, you can lay the brick to be cut on a sandy ground. This is a measure aimed at preventing the piece from breaking in several places during the cutting phase.
Once the operation has been successfully completed, it is necessary to carefully wash the cut module under cold running water. In this way it becomes possible to remove from each surface all traces of dust that have been produced during the cutting operation.
How to cut hollow clay bricks
One aspect that must be taken into consideration and never forgotten when talking about cutting a perforated brick is that this work is at greater risk of unintentional splitting than with a solid brick.
In fact, this particular type of brick has a variable number of holes in it.
As a result, instead of simply breaking into two pieces following the cut line shown on its faces, it is likely to break in multiple piecies if you are not skilled enough during the work.
For this reason, it is preferable to have some experience in this field and sufficient manual skills before trying your hand at this task.
STEP 1. First of all, the marking phase is carried out in order to draw on the form the dimensions of the part you need.
At this point we move on to the actual cutting operation. The four faces of the brick should be carved using a small hammer, paying particular attention to the ribs, that is, the solid spaces that hold the inside of the brick together and delimit the holes.
STEP 2. They should be carved only after the corners. Then the brick is placed on a stable work surface and a trowel is used to give a sharp cut and break the brick following the lines drawn with the pencil.
How to cut solid bricks
The procedure for cutting solid bricks turns out to be easier and faster than with perforated forms.
STEP 1. First, a broad-tipped pencil is used to draw guide marks for cutting along the four faces of the brick.
STEP 2. At this point, place the brick horizontally on the ground and place the tip of a flat, wide chisel on the mark.
STEP 3. Holding the handle of the tool firmly, hit it with a hammer or a mason's hammer.
STEP 4. Keep repeating these well-aimed blows until the two parts of the brick separate along the mark.
The operation must be repeated until the brick is weakened to such an extent that a final blow, more decisive than the others, breaks it in two according to one's needs.