Plunge Cutting Without Overcutting

Words: Dan Kamys
/Public/News/20091215081500-1.jpg" width="530" height="298" border="0" alt="Concrete chain saws can help mason contractors achieve a perfect cut.">
Concrete chain saws can help mason contractors achieve a perfect cut.
Concrete chain saws offer masonry contractors the ability to make deep cuts in walls without disturbing the surrounding brick or block, without overcutting, and without the high cost formerly associated with the saws.

“You can get a perfect, 45-degree cut,” says Matt Shrater, regional account manager for World Diamond Source Inc., a Pompano Beach, Fla.-based diamond blade and concrete chain saw dealer. “You can make a cut in five minutes, verses 20 or 30 minutes to cut with a circular saw.”

Mike Reisert, regional manager for World Diamond, agrees, adding that concrete saws are perfect for masonry contractors who handle repair projects. “You can remove a single brick or single block for repairs,” he says.
Shrater says the cost of concrete saw cutting has dropped dramatically in recent years. Contractors can now make cuts for as low as $0.50 per foot.

“The price has definitely come down to where it’s more palatable,” Reisert concurs.

The new FORCE4 diamond chain from ICS, Blount Inc., in Portland, Ore., offers a stronger chain and improved diamond segment for a longer lifespan, Shrater says. Bar and chain lengths up to 25 inches allow contractors to make deep cuts with the chain saws.
Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma