How To Cut Granite Countertop

[@jdgower1]

The reason the blade says that it's not for use on portable circular saws is because those saws turn in the opposite direction that the blade is designed to run. Check the blade face for rotation indicators for proof. Purpose built granite saws always use a "climb cut", which is the opposite direction of wood cutting circular saws. There are a couple of reasons for this - 1; it eliminates the possibility for chip out on the polished edge of the cut, and 2; it makes for better use of the cooling / clearing water because you are supposed to flood the blade with water where the blade enters the stone on the cut direction of the blade. The cut direction side of the blade is where the lions share of the work is being done, and getting water to be carried with the blade into the stone greatly improves the efficiency of the blade by flushing out the dust as it is made, along with cooling the blade much more efficiently. Theoretically, you could still "correctly" use one of those blades on a regular circular saw, but you would have to move the saw backwards instead of the conventional direction they are built to be used in. Of course that's going to introduce some problems with the blade guard at the start of the cut since you are going to be cutting with the back of the blade instead of the front, as well as the guard blocking the water that would need to be directed at the back of the blade; and it would also make it difficult to see and follow your cut line. For that last problem, you could clamp some straight edges to the stone and ride your footplate against it to keep a straight cut, though.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Wow! Excellent explanation! I might pin your comment as that information makes perfect sense. Thanks for taking the time to explain!

[@jdgower1]

@@BenjaminSahlstrom Glad you liked it. I've been working on granite cutting and fabrication machinery for over 10 years now as a service and repair guy, so I've picked up on a few of the nuances of the machines as such.

[@Ratlins9]

Wow, learned from the video as well as a commenter, thanks to you both.

[@augustesdupin7967]

@@jdgower1 I use a worm drive with a drip line and 12 ft square tube. I step.cut so it takes me 4 rips but chip out is usually polished out.

[@jdgower1]

@@augustesdupin7967 Like i said above, chip out is just one of the considerations for the climb cut, but I should have explained that it's not the main consideration. Getting the water into where the actual cutting is key. If you'll notice, most stone cutting blades have several axial slots along their diameter. Those slots have a couple of functions, but one of the biggest of the reasons for them is to trap a little bit of water in that gap that is slung out to where the cutting is being done. If you are doing step cutting while sufficiently flooding the cut area with water, you are essentially doing all the things to check all the boxes. What I was talking about above was the 'one pass' full cut method.

[@timwillett9121]

At last a guy that can show a job with a conversation directly to what he was doing . Great info. Cheers.

[@AhilMohan]

ProTip: Instead of tape, use an edge guide by clamping a length of wood to guide the saw. Perfect lines every time.

[@AP-mk4dq]

sorry, can you please explain this in a greater detail, any link to that technique would be greatly appreciated., found it thanks kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5LRapZ3e62XjqM

[@lewintaquiso9458]

How do you do that?

[@jacobsmith7102]

​@@lewintaquiso9458 "by clamping a length of wood"

[@Scruffie440]

​@Jacob Smith obviously they need a better explanation or visual, no need to be a dick 😅

[@mrjohnnyjohnster3940]

​@@lewintaquiso9458 instead of using masking tape, clamp a length of timber or steel bar to the granite down its length a set distance away from the line you want to cut on. That way the edge of your circular saw butts up against the timber and guides the blade. 👌

[@ron1martens]

After reading lazy d, I took note on the rotation of grinders, circular saws etc. Both my angle grinder and wet angle grinder runs clockwise. This also my friend told me who has worked in the building industry since he was a teenager same as myself. I picked up two granite slabs one being 2.4 metres long and the other 3 metres long. I have a metabo angle grinder which fits onto a template so it can run on a guide rail fence and also runs on wheels for wall chasing and fitting to dust collection. I have a festool 2.7 metres fence and a festool gecko suction clamp. So on one end I fitted a clamp and the other end the gecko clamp as it did not reach the end of the work piece. I couldn't find insert bars that slide in the fence so I can do the whole run and clamp either end. I have a continuous rim blade and fitted it to the angle grinder and tried a mock run. As it was going rather well I cut the whole length of 3 metre and in places not cutting all the way through as the depth of cut was 20mm. As I started cutting not any dust at all came from the grinding all was collected. I then used a cup of water and poured on top of the granite. To my surprise no water splashes or struck the angle grinder as I had dust collection. My cut from one side to the other was 1mm out. Not really happy about that although not important for the job I have at hand. I had filters still on the vacuum and it didn't get wet. I also had a bag in the metabo vacuum which seemed to fair fine. Afterwards I cleaned the vacuum hose which did have a lot of sludge in the hose. I would have preferred buying a granite blade which has a type of pattern so the water can disburse through the whole work piece. The end result is I did have some chipping in the top in places although a smoother cut than the other edge where the previous installers has cut the granite. Unfortunately the fence may have moved slightly so when you look along the line it's a little out. In saying this the work is satisfactory astute cut will be against a wall. I will use my wet polisher to make smooth. The angle grinder witb dist collection and starting from the beginning did not even create any dust at all. I did however where ppe. Respirator, glasses, ear protection along with water and dust collection. As I poured water in front of the cut the vacuum sucked the water.

[@OrtizWoodworks]

Awesome! Although water is great keeping the dust down, I would highly recommend using respiratory protection as well.

[@gungadinn]

Do not waste your time using painters tape. The adhesive system will not stand up to water. 3M electrical tape works great. I typically have 3M #35 tape in multiple colors and it will stay in place. For any cuts on granite, quartz or Corian, clamp a straight edge to the surface, then use the foot on the saw against the straight edge.

[@jotk5978]

Isn't it hard to draw line on insulation tape?

[@IAW888]

Great advise thanks

[@donnimetropolis9899]

@@jotk5978 umm you use the edge of the tape as the line. Marker the line, place tape along the line

[@donaldbouchard2452]

I followed these instructions to the letter and the cut was very good. We had a new stove delivered and discovered the opening was slightly narrower. Thank God I could cut these pieces, thanks so much for a great video.

[@signsofautumn1]

Great video for a dummy like me. A lady without any experience, but I must say, the best part of the video was, the dog carrying the old tattered blanky💕🐕 definitely loves the blanket😄

[@alidi4144]

Love the dog carrying around a shirt

[@samkostos4520]

Great job. Random fact: Ancient Egyptians cut Granite using Silica sand as the abrasive material beneath soft metal saws. Sand has really high hardness which I think exceeds most hard stones. (Not diamond of course)

[@Xassaw]

Thank you, great video. I can’t afford to buy my son a head stone so I decided to make one for him myself. I thought this would be the way to go but I do appreciate you confirming it.

[@richardturner8215]

How would you quarry a 100 ft high and 14 ft wide granite Obelisk? Would you need a 16 foot diamond blade? 🤔 how are the diamonds set in the blade?

[@nohphd]

Quarries actually use a steel wire embedded with carbide teeth to cut large blocks. Sorta like a bandsaw cutting wood.

[@badmanskill1112]

It's amazing how the Egyptians and others cut huge granite blocks so precisely with iron saws, sand, and water. And some were polygonal. It's almost as if they didn't and some prehistoric civilization did it and was wiped out.

[@blender_unleashed]

@@badmanskill1112 spoiler alert they didn't use sand water and *copper saws to cut the millions of multi ton granite blocks that make up the pyramids and other structures

[@badmanskill1112]

@@blender_unleashed Spoiler alert: what did they use?

[@blender_unleashed]

@@badmanskill1112 that's the question isn't it. But considering there's similar megalithic structures to Egypt in turkey, Peru, Easter island, really all over the world, all of which having striking similarities, and always BENEATH newer, cruder architecture, I'd say it's some form of ancient lost technolog. There was a mass extinction 12 thousand years ago called the younger dryas, which wiped out all the mega fauna, even in some cases flash freezing live wooly mammoths, killing them so quickly they still had food in their mouths. I believe this event is the reason much of this knowledge was lost. The unfinished obelisk is a perfect example of how in the fuck would we, even today, quarry and lift and place such an absolutely enormous object without it snapping? I refuse to buy the story that every ancient structure is a tomb that was built with millions of slaves. Think about it, if you had a million slaves, you don't think they'd just revolt? I mean there's a million of them

[@WoodworkingBusinessmen]

Nice job Ben! I did something similar with our kitchen granite, but I had to free hand it with an angle grinder.

[@jason-ge5nr]

right. well I never cut granite but I've cut much concrete. The purpose built saws for cutting stone or concrete have the water falling on the saw blade. I reckon to just flush the chips out of the kerf and keep the blade cool.

[@routefive2231]

] pl

[@SB-kw5cg]

Granite and guns my kind of channel.

[@threecreationleather6596]

At 11:30, I think that dog stole something !

[@MaryCosme-w3j]

Haha. I saw that!

[@heyb6268]

For experienced people just wanting to know: -yeah just get a diamond blade for your circular saw and keep it wet

[@Larpology101]

No one noticed the dog in the background carrying something dead? Lmao Love golden retrievers.

[@ryanl3935]

I noticed right away 😂

[@boba-fox-twitchgaming8407]

Great video. Very informative. Thanks for being thorough and informative, yet short and precise with this video.

[@michaellawrence2512]

Great job managing water with the circular saw. Since you have a hose and blades, grab a flex grinder or circular saw with a water feed. Easy investment

[@johnharrison5615]

Is there anything you can't do! Excellent video and keep them coming!

[@peterpetrusa3131]

Nice job pal. Cheers from 🇨🇦!

[@KenPrice-vj6ih]

I thought doggy had an alligator at first. Nice job and Im gonna give it a try

[@davidmckinney6577]

Good job buddy 👍 Ben I love your channel and your brother Reuben you all are a very good hard working family super cool 👍.

[@jadagostino17]

How do you adjust the thickness of blade?

[@PacesIII]

If the blade is too thick, grind it down. If it's too narrow, add welds until it's just over thickness then grind flat. Seriously, though, I'm sure you meant blade height or depth. Use the lever on your saw corresponding to the depth, not the angle.

[@lazarousjam]

Awesome job man. Thanks for sharing

[@lb9970]

Does the blade fit properly on the shaft of the skil saw?

[@holtrussell]

Ben, great video! What’s the average savings buying from Menards and self cutting vs buying from a common granite dealer?

[@stevefifield1207]

He would have got this at a steep discount because it would have been a custom piece someone else didn't end up taking / return / defect / etc... which is why he had to cut it down from it's intended use as a countertop. Issue is that isn't a dependable price in any way and you can't determine the granite type/color - it's just whatever someone else happened to return. Our Menards seemed to come in about 30% cheaper than Lowe's/Home Depot when we used them as the common dealer for quartz countertops, very happy with the product.

[@milesharlan1]

Ben..Just wondering if you had put a straight edge board up clamped on both side you might not have to worry about the tape? Make your own rip fence like on a table saw. I LOVE the video..It might give me the idea to get scrap pieces of granite and experiment with.. If Ben can do we can do it!! Thanks and keep up the good work!!

[@donnimetropolis9899]

That's what I would've done

[@RaymoondoSchwartz]

Why do you add the partial cuts first on each side that don’t go all the way through before lowering the blade to cut through?

[@leftitbythecurb8350]

4:59 Puppy gets away with murder.....

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Hahahaha

[@jessedover6175]

Dinner.

[@LilRomeoPAUTA]

Exactly mi thought lol

[@johnford3761]

How did you polish the edges?

[@jonrjd912]

I am impressed with Ben! Where did you learn all that you video Ben?

[@ricardobernardo2603]

Thanks for sharing

[@Carmen_Ragusa]

this is very satisfying to watch lol

[@slgranites]

Circular saw are having lower rpm than granite cutters, does that have any effect while cutting granites.

[@lalamet00]

THANKS!! I have a used piece and I now I know it can be!

[@jamesbyrne2004]

Thank you for doing this video. It is going to help me out a great deal

[@marbleinfoumairali]

We only give dry marble and granite very easily🎉❤❤❤

[@BestDamnInstructorEver]

The dog is hilarious in this video. He just watching and strolling

[@mikearroyo4599]

you're like a genius kid. Thank you.

[@Karaon]

that's called 'prodigy'

[@GroovyMisfit]

Is the water used to keep the dust down or keep the blade cool?

[@legendoftrust5778]

It'll do both, its not needed but helps. Just be aware that it'll splash dusty water everywhere if you're indoors. Another option is to use a shop vacuum for the dust if cutting indoors.

[@wadopotato33]

both

[@realprojecttools9127]

Who wouldve though, circular diamond blade can also be mounted on circular saw. 🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

🤣

[@Jaze2022]

how do you transport a piece of granite like that? will it crack if it's lying down in a minivan? Someone is freeing a 34" x 8' granite but not sure how I can get it home in one piece.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

You really need to carry it on edge. Laying it down flat might not end well.

[@noorahmednoorahmed5394]

Thank you brother helpfull information ❤️ nice job.

[@dutchpunch]

How much does it cost to cut a slab like that size?

[@johntsan742]

A handyman or a stone fabricator will properly charge $75-100 for an 8 foot cut and most prefab counters are 8-9 foot long and 26inches deep

[@tanwirkhan78611]

How do u stop the saw from sorting with that water

[@ShelleyVideo]

I was wondering about that too. Back in the 1970s I was working as a house framing carpenter and when it started raining we would sometimes get a shock when the circular saws got wet! Ben mentioned the power supply was on a GFCI circuit which would prevent him from being shocked because it would instantly cut the power if the water caused a short circuit.

[@thegapsthatneedfilling2024]

Thank you so much

[@georgemalesky9462]

Thanks!

[@pctight]

What is that on your water hose at 8:07? I like how it shot a stream of water directly to the blade.

[@arminius301]

Never mix water with electricity! At the very least make sure to plug the saw into a GFCI receptacle or you might end up with a cardiac arrest. Aside from that you've obviously been shown some very useful tips on accomplishing this task. Thanks for posting!

[@youmustcreateachanne]

He said he plugged it into a GFCI outlet in the video b/c he was mixing water & an electrical tool.

[@alanburnett7359]

Clamping the hose to a 2x4 makes it much easier and safer to adjust

[@angeladangela500]

Thank you for the great video, but your beautiful, magically-appearing, Goldie stole the show at the 5:00 mark

[@jasemali1987]

Only in America, a gun shown for no reason in a granite cutting video.

[@carolynelrod9994]

apparently only in America can you be in your yard working and have a cougar, bear, or moose just walk up on you. or maybe he lives near our completely unsecured border. if you're triggered, don't look.

[@YTubeScandalScrambledMyHandle]

👍👍 🫡​@@carolynelrod9994

[@kevinritchie2661]

This is excellent; thank you.

[@mountain-roots]

Great note on the gfi.

[@gigglesaregood]

This is a great video and thanks for giving me the confidence to do this myself. Please wear a respirator next time though, your poor lungs. Cheers.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

At least I was outside. :)

[@fredob7207]

How do you smooth out the edges you just cut

[@legendoftrust5778]

If the cut edges go against the wall then it stays as is. Otherwise you polish those sides.

[@axecuttimber8307]

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

[@koshilanmoodley586]

Well done really appreciate the video

[@n8loux]

O-Lights are great

[@randalltomes]

Get yourself some noise canceling headphones when cutting. You’ll never go back. Protect your hearing while you’re young.

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Good advice. Unfortunately my left ear rings all the time thanks to one of my uncles having me shoot their black powder pistol when I was probably 17. I even asked him if I needed hearing protection and he was like "Nah, it's not loud!" haha

[@dondobbs9302]

I'm tempted to try but, I like my saw.

[@Mojo27564]

Great I'm doing the same next week

[@danwittels5542]

At 11:36 what was the dog carrying?

[@frlouiegoad4087]

SO NICE! My little home is a DUMP! My home is not of this world.

[@marcinm.7674]

Hi guys, I am lost. How can I make long and perfectly straight, 8mm wide and 6-8mm deep cut along the step tread? I want to insert a stainless steel anti-slip bars in the groves. 3 on each step

[@legendoftrust5778]

I'd use a square to mark the lines then use the blade to cut a slit into the stone to insert your stainless steel anti-slip bars in the grooves. I'd fill the extra space inside the slit with glue matching the same color as your stone. Use one of the 220 sanding papers to smooth out the glue on top and you're all set.

[@USERMEX1000]

Great! Congrat.

[@chuckklump6488]

Nice video. Love the Trump bumper sticker !!!!

[@nate3356]

Doughy kid with a Honda Fit and a Trump bumper sticker posting a "tutorial" video, showing people how to cut granite incorrectly with a circular saw. A microcosm of Trump's ignorant, deluded base.

[@nav33ra]

Oo this looks like Luna Blanca granite countertop. Is that correct by any chance?

[@mattmccoy2410]

Dude very helpful

[@spider5054]

I didn’t realize you could use a wood saw for wet work. Is that what you’re using? I need to cut some granite.

[@tomlazer1124]

great job thanks

[@cinforammi8543]

You should always cut all the way through both ends before making the cut to prevent snapping off the corner like you did on the first cut

[@davidmortensen5709]

Are you saying make a partial depth pass the entire length of the cut, then make a second cut to full depth?

[@cinforammi8543]

@@davidmortensen5709 go all the way through at the start make a score or partial cut the length of the cut and at the other end go all the way through then go back and cut all the way through. Don’t drag the blade backwards that’s How mistakes happen.

[@DG-od4si]

nice video, thanks

[@commanderstud2417]

How long does a blade last

[@johntsan742]

two factors, the materials you are cutting and how you use your tools. There's a fine line of how much force you can use to push the saw. With that said, he was cutting granite so 12-15 countertops but you can cut way more when cutting marbles, the are way softer.

[@가가링]

Hi , Benjamin Sahlstrom ! We are the production crew of the program called for Korean broadcasting station ‘tvN’ . We are going to use your video to make a program. We leave a comment wondering if we can use your video. Please leave a message under this comment Thank you

[@timothyroberts8445]

how terrible would this have been to do with just the angle grinder? I dont really want to buy another circular saw lol.

[@jasonthurston799]

Cuts faster than a skilsaw but is difficult to make the edge square unless you have a some sort of guide bracket for the angle grinder. For me the skill saw kept drifting, even with a 2x4 clamped on either side. It would drift and bind up. Shallow cuts would help with drifting.

[@russellalbers3804]

I work for a stone company and all we use is the angle grinder and I highly recommend that you do not use it because of lack of experience. Cutting stone with a Skil saw is much safer for some who has never cut stone. The angle grinder gives you alot of freedom because it is a open face blade, but with that being said, it is very easy to tilt or curve the blade and bind it, and 5000 rpm kicks harder then shit. It takes a strong man with really quick reflexes to catch an angle grinder after it kicks in a bind

[@hectorjaimes8835]

Not difficult if you know what you’re doing , takes way to long setting up clamping a straight edge to just push the saw while I can mark and cut freehand with an makita angle grinder and leave it exactly the same as the straight edge

[@hectorjaimes8835]

While they’re still setting up a straight edge my cut is done

[@donnimetropolis9899]

@@hectorjaimes8835 a DIY person is looking for accuracy and not speed.

[@bobbydelamar606]

Great video! Me and my wife are have a granite shop. I like the Ford hat as well. #Letsgobrandon

[@michaelbreslin2403]

Hey Bobby, you may need more time learning how to write a coherent sentence and less time worrying about cheering on Brandon.

[@bobbydelamar606]

@@michaelbreslin2403 Aww did the lefty get triggered by a misplaced word (that my phone accidentally did). You people are to sensitive, I'm surprised you are able to read at all. I mean especially since it's not in crayon.

[@michaelbreslin2403]

@@bobbydelamar606 I’m responding to an adult man named Bobby. That feels slightly triggering. Maybe it’s a family name so no judgement. Proofread what you just sent to me and then claim your phone misplaced a word. I am not saying you are stupid. You’re probably very clever in your own way. You can’t write English properly. It’s okay. Don’t be mad at the lefty who points out your blind spots.

[@bobbydelamar606]

@@michaelbreslin2403 Proofread, 😂 I'm not writing an essay. Hey liberal you do know actual work is being done on this channel. Go watch your CNN or The View.

[@bobbydelamar606]

@@michaelbreslin2403 I'm not mad, 😂 you must be a kid cause you think everyone is triggered. Especially now your trying to make fun of an obvious name. Grow up and pull up your p ant**s. Its okay I'll refer to you as, they or them.

[@augustesdupin7967]

Better off using the angle grinder away from your line and grind it afterwards. Quartz eats up quick.

[@augustesdupin7967]

Nevermind I see the garnet now

[@todaystopic3527]

Could probably use the long piece you cut off as the back splash.

[@solangecastillo93]

What is the name of this granite?

[@jkjk354]

Looks like ‘moon white’ or ‘andromeda’ but granite vendors call the same stone different names to say they have “unique” colors.

[@edward-x3s6f]

👍

[@wadopotato33]

Standing in water with an electrical tool is bad news. Cutting any stone product without a mask is hazardous. Please don't teach anyone else these bad ideas. If you can't afford a saw designed to cut granite, then go with formica. Contact cement only makes you high, not dead.

[@cureit9161]

Use a stone hammer and copper chisel, much easier, just ask the Egyptians 😊

[@amazegh2000]

Water with electricity man that is dangerous

[@Mike-fu4bc]

Bro.. tell me u fix those wires from Blake and Decker saw.. isn't a good combination special if u using water.. But who I'm i to tell u that u probably know and u already fix that.. 😂 Take care !

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

That was a very crummy saw to use but it got the job done!

[@SegaSnatchers]

And we must believe Eqyptians cut perfect stones with vastly inferior tools for the Pyramids.

[@dragonknightofamiraka3636]

Why the use of water?

[@jkjk354]

Cool the blade down.

[@BomJimmy]

water water water it is very important for every inch

[@theodorranebo2909]

doesn´t the water get in to the motor of the saw? Why not use a real stone saw with a sealed motor?

[@dpk9993]

Great vid! How much granite is lost to cutting? I have a tight fit.

[@jdrs4214]

That’s not a Skilsaw brother. That’s a Black & Decker. .....more like a DeWalt.

[@Huddsruleall]

Electricity and water is not advised even with GFCI. And wear safety protection

[@swm-sm6cu]

True. If the power can go into the saw to make it run it could go through you as well.

[@felixtruman662]

Takes longer to build all those jimmies then to actually cut.

[@frankarcos6355]

there isn't a t in across!!!

[@tabupopoth9422]

Why are you alone ? Because this job you can't be alone working with.

[@MrTooTechnical]

yo

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

Hey!

[@picometer472]

Why not erect a fence to guide the saw?

[@exrezcnm]

It does not matter if you are using water or not you must wear a mask when you are cutting granite

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

And everywhere else according to many these days! ;)

[@BenjaminSahlstrom]

@tim g Agreed. I was intentional to stay "upwind" of the dust as much as possible but I agree that a mask would have been smart. Thanks for your comment!

[@stevesether]

Very much agreed. Silicosis is nothing to screw around with. People get paranoid about a lot of things that are overblown. Radon, radiation, and just about any organic chemical are things that often get taken out of proportion, and while these are actually dangerous at certain levels of exposure, people take this stuff to sort of ridiculous extremes. While an occasional exposure to a cloud of dust from cutting granite is unlikely to cause silicosis, the effects are cumulative, and the body doesn't heal itself. So the younger you are, the more you want to avoid exposure,. It's also very cheap to protect yourself from this stuff. A proper respirator and a P100 filter is under $40, and will last for years (they don't expire). They also have the added benefit of being just about the best defense against covid that exists.

[@ReubenSahlstrom]

That granite could have come from COVID China!! You should be masked up to protect yourself from communism. I mean Covid.

[@donnimetropolis9899]

@tim g facts