Cutting Flagstone

[Sasquatch52]

Hey guys, just a quick question. I am building a flagstone patio, walk way leading up to steps and a large water fall at my house. I would like to get into this type of work so im doing it at my home first. My question is, how do you get semi-nice cuts for the flagstone. I tried doing some today, but no luck. The dang pieces kept breaking off where i didnt want them to break. I have a 2.5 inch mason chizel (sorry for the spelling, looong day!) and a mason hammer with a pointy end on the other end. Both of them do didley squat

Please help, Thanks

[chriscampbell]

Depends of the what kind of cut you need exactly but usually a few different size mason chisels work. FOr a clean cut us a handheld/tabletop stone saw witha 14" blade

[MASTERMOWER]

Did you score a line on the flagstone first? I've broken countless number of limestone blocks, but mostly for a retaining wall. Sometimes you can't break a piece exactly where you intended too, but that is just the nature of stone.

Some Tips:

1.While striking the masonary chisel score a line where you want the limstone to break. This means one or two wacks on the chisel then move it over, strike again, move it over, strike again, and keep repeating in this fashion untill the limestone is broken. This way the limestone is weakened below where you scored the line and it 'should' break below your line.

2.It takes time to break a piece, just don't wack at it hard.

3.Practice does make perfect, don't expect to be a pro at breaking flagstone right off the bat. I know when I was first learning I ruined a lot of limestone blocks......

4.Place the piece of flagstone you are splitting on a hard surface, such as atop a different peice of flagstone.

If you are wanting a clean, not rough cut, then as Chris said, you should use a concrete saw.