Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

@ To the admin and sir jarod,

Sir may I suggest that you create a new forum let say something like HEALTH and MEDICAL informations.

You are right there when doc v and sir willy were already discussing about medical infos on this thread which is already out of this thread and yet these medical informations are so valuable to all of us DIYers to just pass up.

You suggested that they open a new thread on this topic but it got me thinking, how can they open a new thread when there is no mother or main forum for it. Will the thread be under woodworking or metalworking, or maybe car painting section or garden section. I hope you see what I mean, diba parang malayo sa mga existing forums. I firmly believe that it should have its own forum since we have a DOC V aboard this ship, I think doc v will be very happy with this and I'm sure he will be the pioneering contributor on this forum.

On another hand may I also request that you consider opening a forum about concrete working since there are lots of DIYers that are involve in concrete constructions, concrete tools, technical infos on building and constructing houses and fences etc. I think this way we can attract new members like engineers, contractors, architects and probably designers wherein they can contribute their knowledge on these fields not just always on woodworking or welding or metalworking.

I personally think DIYing is so wide that it has to expand here at PHM. These are just my honest personal views as a form of contribution for the betterment of this DIY community.

Hope you could give it some thought and consideration. Thank you.

@Rosy
Anytime on the tip help. Just fire away with your questions and if I can point you to the right person or direction as well as technique I'd be glad to help as much as i can.

@Rosy & Jarod

Amen to the Med thread, A lot of these threads are tool talk. Why not include medical bulletins, advisories and tips as well as warnings or precaution on some of the materials we use in our projects that may pose hazard to our Health. We can even include Material safety data sheets for components like Varnishes or glue. We can call it The Health & Safety thread, BMAM advisory;), etc. What do you guys think?

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hi Rosy,

Thank you for your suggestions. Regarding the new thread, there is the Gazebo forum for that. This is where the small threads may begin and may have its own forum when it is already substantially enough to have its own. Same goes with the masonry projects as we cannot pre-meditate on what forum to prepare and the fact that the main forums isn't that big at all.

Just as we did with the creation of sub-forums whose threads are already a handful, we may create it when it is already necessary. There is always a place for everything, temporary or permanent.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hitachi HardiBlade in action. Lots of fine dust, worse than cutting wood, even with the dust collector running. Both saws could cut multiiple stacked sheets, but the more sheets in the stack, the more dust. At 3 sheets and more, dust collector was clearly falling behind.

Cuts made by the HardiBlade of 3.5 mm Hardiflex. I was not able to take picture of the cuts made by the 4" blade for concrete. After cutting one sheet with the concrete cutter and seeing the difference, HardiBlade was used from then on.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

The equipment you are referring to is a concrete and tile cutter w/c actually looks like a portable CS in 4" disc platform. You may get them locally and the reliable ones are METABO and MAKITA.

Concrete/Tile cutter - specifically designed to cut cementitious and stone or aggregates, Straight cuts w/ ease and control. Cost effective with ample cutting power even for 18-20mm stone slabs. Safer and predictable.

Makita costs 8k amd Metabo @ 4.5k. For your use get the Metabo. Mine is still German. It slices 18mm easily and has similar power as the Makita.

Update to original topic of cutting fiber cement boards. Metabo tile cutter, P4.8K was out of stock at Mach Tools at the time (last March) so I got the Makita masonry cutter instead, around P5.1K.

Comparison of Hitachi HardiBlade 7.25" 4T diamond blade on Bosch circular saw with Bosch 4" diamond blade for concrete on Makita masonry cutter:

Some comments:
Both do straight cuts well. The HardiBlade cut is noticeably cleaner. The 4" blade cut has a little more fuzz on the board edge (specifically on the corners of the edge, not the face of the edge), requiring some sanding to remove.

I don't know why masonry cutters have different position of motor and blade compared to circular saws. This goes for both the Makita and the Metabo. For a circular saw operated with right hand, your body/arm is out of the way of the blade and flying debris. For a masonry cutter operated with right hand, your body/arm is in the way of the blade. Anyone know why the orientation is like that?

In second pic above, black streak marks can be seen on the sawboard fence and near the sawboard edge for the Bosch GKS 190 circular saw. This is paint that has come off from the baseplate of the Bosch saw and stained the sawboard. Apparently, the black paint on the Bosch baseplate is not that durable.

The Makita cutter with 4" blade for concrete cannot cut wood. It just burns wood. So to customize a wooden sawboard for the cutter, you cannot affix the fence then make an inaugural cut to finalize the edge. You have to finalize the edge first then affix the fence.

Sawboard above customized to 608 mm width (to produce 4 equal width sections from 8 ft sheet, allowing for 2 mm kerfs).

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hitachi HardiBlade in action. Lots of fine dust, worse than cutting wood, even with the dust collector running. Both saws could cut multiiple stacked sheets, but the more sheets in the stack, the more dust. At 3 sheets and more, dust collector was clearly falling behind. Better integration of collector with blade cover would probably help.

Again you can see the streaks of black paint that came off from the Bosch saw baseplate, staining the fence and edge of sawboard.

Cuts made by the HardiBlade of 3.5 mm Hardiflex. I was not able to take picture of the cuts made by the 4" blade for concrete. After cutting one sheet with the concrete cutter and seeing the difference, HardiBlade was used from then on.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hi GUAD,

Nice pics! Did the MAKITA come w/ a drip hose and bleeder valve? Most concrete/tile cutters come w/ drip hoses to minimize dust emission while cutting. What i usually do is wet the FICEM before cutting. It also depends on the brand of ficemboard your using. Hardiflex has more pulp in their boards thats why they bloat once they get in contact w/ water. I use FLEXBOARD.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Yes, hose and valve included with Makita 4100NH.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hi there guad,

So finally you have decided on what to use for cutting your fiber cement boards. Now with regards to the other cutter you purchased, the Makita 4100nh, I have one too which I use to cut concrete pavers and tiles, this kind of cutter really does not cut plywood, its diamond blade cutter is for concrete, tiles or stone slabs, unless of course you change the blade used for cutting plywood. :p

But my main concern here is when I saw you using your circular saw with a different blade which is for fiber cement boards, this got me thinking, may be if I buy too another heavy duty circular saw maybe a Makita or a BOSCH brand and fit it with a diamond cutting blade, this will ease my dilema in cutting concrete brick pavers, I'll be making only one pass during cutting and will be producing clean cut surfaces. 🙂 😀

This idea has been hovering over my head this past few months and I prefer this method than using a large angle grinder free hand which is also similar to what sir willyfernando recommended on the Hilti concrete cutters. :rolleyes: Hmmmmm e medyo mahal din ang mga Hilti concete cutters.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

even though tile cutters are equipped with water hose and valve, it wont keep up with the speed cutting the fibercement boards..it (water hose) will be useful cutting tiles because the cut is slower.

i also see some makita CS with the fence on the right side..you are exposed to the blade and dust...take a look at makita 5606B.

i would have preferred this orientation but with a 99% efficient dust collection port.

Re: Using TCT saw blade on fiber cement

Hi there guad,

So finally you have decided on what to use for cutting your fiber cement boards. Now with regards to the other cutter you purchased, the Makita 4100nh, I have one too which I use to cut concrete pavers and tiles, this kind of cutter really does not cut plywood, its diamond blade cutter is for concrete, tiles or stone slabs, unless of course you change the blade used for cutting plywood. :p

But my main concern here is when I saw you using your circular saw with a different blade which is for fiber cement boards, this got me thinking, may be if I buy too another heavy duty circular saw maybe a Makita or a BOSCH brand and fit it with a diamond cutting blade, this will ease my dilema in cutting concrete brick pavers, I'll be making only one pass during cutting and will be producing clean cut surfaces. 🙂 😀

This idea has been hovering over my head this past few months and I prefer this method than using a large angle grinder free hand which is also similar to what sir willyfernando recommended on the Hilti concrete cutters. :rolleyes: Hmmmmm e medyo mahal din ang mga Hilti concete cutters.

@Rosy & Guad,

Dust emissions usually are controlled by both Dust collectors and water drip hoses. The volume of dust emissions produced in cutting FICEM or any other material (tiles, cement, stones, etc.) are also dependent on the thickness of the material you are cutting. Drip hoses are effective up to 1/2" thick substrates. That's why for larger and deeper cuts a DC port incorporated cutter like the HILTI would be your best bet, or at least other models w/ the same concept, not to mention effective motor power to match the depth and hardness of the material you want to cut. Blade life is also shortened w/ dry cuts more than wet so get a blade specified for both cutting conditions. Good luck!

It would be a waste to sacrifice those good branded blades that you've mentioned since they are only for wood use. Sayang naman yuong mga talim ng mga blades mo.