2 Q's re: splitting concrete wall blocks

[Dreamaloud1]

I'm doing a nice job next week which involves the putting in several bed areas totalling 90' linear of wall 2-3 courses high depending...some of which has to fit snuggly against a slanted sidewalk and needs to be cut.

I've already gotten 3 diamond wheels for my grinder and am planning on scoring the blocks and then using the chisel to split the blocks. So-

#1- These are the 4" thick blocks...How deep should I score each one before attempting to split it?

#2- Will the split line be clean enough that I can use it on the exterior portion of a corner or should I hide it?

Thanks!

[steve-o]

if you know a bricklayer with a saw , let him make the cuts for you. if not , go rent you a saw otherwise buy a few extra block for practice. you can score it with the chisel. it just takes practice. the saw will give you nice clean cuts. be ready to ruin a few block.

steve

[Dreamaloud1]

you can score it with the chisel.

That's why I got the diamond wheels! They can cut a nice straight line easier than I can hammer on in with the chisel.

Thanks for the advice though...I bought 10% over to cover breakage so I think I'll be OK.

[CCLS]

You really need a concrete saw to make the cut look professional. If you have any odd angles you cant chisel them out. The only thing we chisel is corners on retaining walls to get rid of the flat side

[Dreamaloud1]

Yeah I called around and Hoem Depot rents a killer wet set-up with diamond blade for 90 a day. Took a block through it at the store and it cut a full size block from corner to corner in about 1 minute.