How Fast Can You Cut Slate Sandstone With a Circular Saw?

Thickness of the Stone

• The thickness of the stone is the primary factor in determining how fast you can cut through slate sandstone. While regular tile pieces can be cut through in a matter of seconds depending on the size of the tile, flagstone-sized slate sandstone can take several minutes depending on the size and thickness of the stone. The thicker the stone the longer it takes to cut.

Type of Saw

• The type of circular saw you use will also determine how fast you can cut through the slate. A smaller, hand-held circular saw such as a mini saw with only a 4-inch blade will cut slower than the 8-inch versions, and the commercial flagstone cutters that are similar in size to chainsaws require two hands to wield and cut through smaller stones in seconds, while larger stones require more time.

Natural Variances

• Natural variances in slate flagstone can speed up or slow down the cutting process. Slate is a natural stone, which means it has hard and soft spots in the makeup of the material. Harder areas are naturally more difficult to cut through and take longer, while soft spots can sometimes cut as easy as butter if you are using a high-powered saw.

Blade

• The type of blade you are cutting with affects how fast you cut through the slate sandstone. Non-serrated blades that are carbide tipped work well, but diamond-tipped blades generally cut the fastest and last the longest. Segmented blades can help speed things up, as they have built-in serrations in the blade to help chew through the harder natural stones.