sandstone cutting

[angrybird]

I have some very large pieces of sandstone ,so big I don't really know what to do with it!
The only idea so far is to use it on a patio.How easy would it be to cut into paving slabs? and can I hire a machine to do the job ?

 

[MatthewC]

Exactly how big? (Photos?) If it's already cut fairly rectangular with good faces but very large, I'd see if my local reclamation yard would give a good price for it
or would even swap it for something you want.

 

[LadyArowana]

Oh no, it would be a complete waste to slice it up and make a patio. What you should do is build a plinth out of them and then buy one of these http://intuelephantparade.co.uk/elephants to put on the top. If access to our courtyard garden wasn't an issue I would be offering to buy the blocks to use myself, His Lordship really wants one.....

 

[Penners]

How easy would it be to cut into paving slabs?

That depends on how large the blocks are and how large you want the slabs to be.

You can certainly hire a petrol-powered stone/concrete cutter from a hire centre, but remember that the maximum depth of cut is likely to be considerably less than the width or length of a typical paving slab, and unless you can cut your slab in one "hit" you'll inevitably get ridges where your cuts don't quite line up.

These machines are also quite dangerous in untrained hands.

I wouldn't attempt it myself.

 

[a twig]

You can whip through sandstone with a hand saw pretty easily... Just buy a couple of >£10 saws from your local hardware store, and bin them when you are done as they will be blunt as hell afterwards!

 

[Penners]

You can whip through sandstone with a hand saw pretty easily

Doesn't that depend on (a) the type/quality of sandstone, and (b) how long ago it was quarried? As the "quarry sap" dries out, the stone gets harder.

Worth a try though.