Asphalt Saw Cutting: 5 Key Points to Improve and Benefit Your Work

Asphalt differs from that of concrete, for which the cutting techniques also vary. You need to have the proper equipment that will help you in cutting the asphalt without much hassle.

Asphalt is considerably softer than usual concrete, for which the soft bonded blades are not ideal for cutting the asphalt with a clean finish.

In most industries, the experts use diamond blades with a strong bond to cut the asphalt for ensuring a cleaner cut. They are destined to release the grit easily without getting stuck while cutting the asphalt.

Not just that but there are many different types of equipment, such as asphalt saw for commencing with the cutting work.

After you have arranged the tools, you need to follow the ideal steps to commence with the asphalt saw cutting job.

In this article, you will know about some of the details associated with the asphalt saw cutting, along with an explanation of the use of different types of equipment.

asphalt cutting saw for sale

Contents

Regular Asphalt Saws

Different types of asphalt saws are available in the market, for making it easy to cut through the asphalt surfaces.

There are basically two types of saws available with the top brands such as Husqvarna & Stihl, namely walk-behind and hand-held asphalt saws. These machines are meant for the industries that handle road repair, electrical work, plumbing work, or others by cutting a section of the road.

Here is a detailed explanation of the two types of saws mostly preferred for the job.

Handheld Asphalt Saw

Handheld Asphalt Saws are smaller in size but are very much effective.

They are meant to be handled with bare hands with the utmost protection. You need to bend down to the ground, while you are gripping the saw with both your hands. One hand would rest on the rear side of the asphalt saw, while the other will be on the top, to push the saw blade down and forward on the length mark.

You can run the blade back and forth to ensure that the cut is deep enough.

After you are done cutting one side of the section, you can use the top hand to release the blade from the ground and lift it to reposition it on another length.

In this way, the handheld asphalt saw is implemented for cutting the road surfaces at ease.

Walk Behind Asphalt Saw

The walk-behind saws are also known as the road saws, which do not let you bend all the way down for handling the machine all by your hands. It eventually makes the asphalt saw cutting work easier as compared to the handheld saw

It has a control panel on a dashboard like structure near the handle area, and a lever attached to give directions to it. This helps the operating person control the path of the cutting.

It has a water nozzle continuously spraying water to the blades to control the excessive heat generated in it.

The person walking behind can push it forward and also pull it back to ensure that the cutting is correctly.

After one section is done, the operating person will lift the blade handle, and reposition the road saw to the next length that needs cutting and repeat the process again.

How to Do Asphalt Saw Cutting

Here are the steps that you need to follow while you are using a handheld or walk-behind type:

Cut Asphalt with Handheld Saw

For cutting the asphalt surface with handheld saw, follow these steps as mentioned below:

Use all the protective gear before handling the saw.
Prepare the saw by choosing the right blade for cutting the asphalt surface. People usually prefer a diamond blade with a hard bond for cutting the surface.
Clean the surface to eradicate all the debris or dirt from the area.
Make the cutting marks before proceeding with the cutting process.
Hold the saw with both your hands (one on the rear end and the other on top holding bar)
Position the saw on the first length and turn it on.
Now, use the hand on the top to push the blade down and slowly follow the marked line.
Take it out, and reposition for a second length and repeat the process.
After all, sides are done, remove the section for further work.

Cut Asphalt with Walk-Behind Saw

For cutting the asphalt surface with the walk-behind saw, follow these steps as mentioned below:

Make sure you are equipped with all the protective gear.
Choose the right blade for cutting the asphalt surface.
Clean the surface properly before you can start cutting.
Mark the cutting length with a piece of chalk.
Stand behind the saw by handling the long blade controlling lever.
Position the saw on the mark and then start it.
Now, rolling the wheel down to engage the blade onto the surface.
Follow the mark and push the saw forward, and you walk behind it.
After one length is done, rolling the blade up to disengage the blade with the ground.
Position it to another marked length and repeat the process.
Once all sides are done, you can remove the section for further work.

Basic Asphalt Saw Cutting Steps

Before you go ahead and read about the available equipment for cutting the asphalt, you need to know about the three basic steps that you must always follow, irrespective of the type of cutting equipment you use.

The three basic steps include:

Clean the Asphalt Surface

Before you touch the saw on the asphalt surface, you need to make sure that there is no debris or dirt present on the surface. It is so because, due to the presence of dirt, debris, stones, or pebbles, the cutting job will be obstructed, and it might also damage the blades.

You need to start by removing all the bigger and visible stones, pebbles, and debris from the surface. After that, you can go ahead and clean the area by sweeping it properly.

After you have properly done the cleaning job, you can go ahead asphalt saw cutting jobs.

Note: Cutting the asphalt with debris on the surface will result in inappropriate cuts, and maybe damage the saw blade or operator.

Mark the Lines

After cleaning the surface, the next step that you must take is to mark the cutting paths. You do not want to run the saw blade blindly to give it a random cut.

As per the requirements, mark the cutting path on the asphalt. Mark the lines a little wider to provide yourself with a chance of reviving if the saw cuts slightly in a different tangent. You can use chalk for marking the lines directly on the surface of the asphalt.

After you have done that, you can go ahead to the next step, which is cutting.

Cutting the Asphalt

Irrespective of the saw blade you are using, you need to follow the above two steps on priority to ensure that the cuts will be refined and clean.

You need to cut the asphalt in a strategic way to ensure that you do not over cut the asphalt stone. Cut one length and then lift your saw to reposition it for cutting another length of the stone as per the marks. If you turn the blades from one length to another while it is still cutting, you would eventually damage or break the blade.

After you have cut all the sides according to the mark, you can remove it.

Choosing the Right Saw Blade

For executing a perfect asphalt cutting job, you need to choose the right blade that can withstand the load of cutting the surface.

People usually prefer diamond blades that have a hard bond for cutting the asphalt surfaces. But still, people need to consider a few factors to choose the best saw blade to fit their needs and requirements.

The factors include:

Size- Consider the size of the blade in terms of the diameter that will be suitable for your cutting application.
Material- You need to decide on the material out of which the blades are made. Soft bonded blade materials are not ideal for cutting asphalt, so you need to pick one with a harder bond.
Type of Equipment- The blades vary for handheld and walk-behind saws. So, you need to pick the blades that are ideal for your equipment.
Cutting Depth- Knowing the depth of cut that you are going to execute will help you decide on the blade diameter you need for the job.
Cost- In the end, you need to check on the blade’s cost to buy an affordable yet quality product for getting the job done.

Overall Cost Factors

The overall cost of the asphalt saw cutting depends upon several factors.

The price tags vary from brand to brand, depending upon your choices of specifications. The cost basically depends upon RPM, Cutting Depth, Wheel Diameter, and other such aspects as per your selections.

So, you need to decide on the specification you need with your asphalt concrete cutting saws and get in touch with the providers to check the pricing for the same.

Conclusion

Hence, this is a complete review, how the different asphalt cutting saws are destined to make the cutting job, easy for the respective industries or teams for diverse jobs.

Choosing the right & convenient asphalt saw along with the blade is the topmost priority to expect a better cutting result.