How to Cut Marble Blocks

From ancient times up until the 18th century, marble was cut primarily with a hand-operated iron saw, aided by wet sand. Today, large blocks of marble are prepared in shops with expensive rail and gantry saws. If you have a small block of marble at home that needs cutting, however, you can use a marble cutting blade attached to your circular saw. Since the entire blade cannot be driven into the granite, you will only be able to cut a block that is slightly less thick than the total diameter of the saw blade.

Diamond-tipped marble-cutting circular saw blade
Circular saw
Hose
Respirator
Goggles

Instructions

- 1
  Pull back the blade guard on the saw. The saw should be unplugged at this time.
- 2
  Place the key included with the saw over the nut on the center of the blade. Turn the key firmly counterclockwise.
- 3
  Turn the key until the nut is off of the blade. Take the old blade off of the bolt that holds it to the saw.
- 4
  Place the diamond-tipped marble-cutting blade in the saw with its center over the bolt.
- 5
  Screw the nut back on and tighten with the key.
- 6
  Mark the line to be cut on the block. If the block is large, set the guide on the saw to allow as much of the blade as possible to be exposed. Make your cut mark along the top, sides and bottom of the granite if its thickness is more than the radius of the blade.
- 7
  Spray the rock down with water from the hose.
- 8
  Plug the saw in and put on the respirator and goggles.
- 9
  Cut into the marble at a slight angle, slowly pushing the saw into the material so that the guide rests flat on the marble. Continue slowly sawing along the line.
- 10
  Re-wet the marble with the hose if you see smoke or if the block begins to dry out.
- 11
  Flip the block onto its side, re-wet and cut again. Continue the cut along both sides and the bottom until you have cut through the entire block.

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