I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut 
some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove 
around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying any 
number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best 
way, or is there another? Many thanks,

Danny

Danny wrote:

> I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut 
> some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove 
> around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying any 
> number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best 
> way, or is there another? Many thanks,
> 
> Danny 
> 
> 

===================
Your proposed method is perfectly OK although many people find a brick 
hammer easier. However it's probably not worth buying a brick hammer for 
a single job like a barbecue.

It's not a good idea to cut all the required 'half' bricks in one go. 
The reason for saying this is that unless your bricklaying is perfect 
you will need different sizes of filler bricks ('half' bricks) depending 
on the variations in your mortar gaps. Cut the bricks to correct size as 
and when you need them.

Cic.

"Danny"  wrote in message
news:42bfa0a6$0$6471$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...

> I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut
> some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove
> around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying
any
> number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best
> way, or is there another? Many thanks,
>
> Danny
>
>

An expert brick layer just hold the brick in one hand and hits the brick
with a brick hammer in the middle to get two halves.Then trims it using the
flat end of the brick hammer. The other way is to use a 4" or 100mm wide
bolster chisel and a lump hammer. Place the brick on a solid base, make a
grove all the way round on the brick with the bolster and hammer. Then place
the chisel on the face of the brick, in the grove, and hit hard until it
splits into pieces.
If the bricks or of the type full of holes or slits, then the only option is
an angle grinder with a suitable blade.

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:46:20 +0100, "Danny"  babbled
like a waterfall and said:


>I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut 
>some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove 
>around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying any 
>number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best 
>way, or is there another? Many thanks,
>
>Danny 
>

Buy a blade for your hacksaw that cuts brick. They are cheap and do a
reasonable job with not too much effort.

Didn't know you could get them. Are they widely available? B & Q, etc? 
Sounds like a good solution for me. Not if you were building a house, 
though!! :-)
"EricP"  wrote in message 
news:pgrvb1pr4bcqp68tnbq6q2u37jes4sln59@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 07:46:20 +0100, "Danny"  babbled
> like a waterfall and said:
>
>>I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut
>>some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove
>>around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying 
>>any
>>number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best
>>way, or is there another? Many thanks,
>>
>>Danny
>>
> Buy a blade for your hacksaw that cuts brick. They are cheap and do a
> reasonable job with not too much effort.
>
> 

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 16:29:14 +0100, "Danny"  babbled
like a waterfall and said:


>Didn't know you could get them. Are they widely available? B & Q, etc? 
>Sounds like a good solution for me. Not if you were building a house, 
>though!! :-)


I had my last one from B&Q last year. They look like a wide hacksaw
blade but covered in little rough bits instead of teeth. They go
through a brick nicely but you can cut a little bit into the brick and
then just break it with a bolster. I used it to do some facing bricks
in a prominent position. I even cut the front off several bricks to
just use as a veneer to save chopping the old brick right out.

(Not much use for concrete blocks with stones in though)

HTH

Thanks Eric, just the job.

Danny

"EricP"  wrote in message 
news:0v60c19vr1onn2b34mm3703u2soa5dlofc@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 16:29:14 +0100, "Danny"  babbled
> like a waterfall and said:
>
>>Didn't know you could get them. Are they widely available? B & Q, etc?
>>Sounds like a good solution for me. Not if you were building a house,
>>though!! :-)
>
> I had my last one from B&Q last year. They look like a wide hacksaw
> blade but covered in little rough bits instead of teeth. They go
> through a brick nicely but you can cut a little bit into the brick and
> then just break it with a bolster. I used it to do some facing bricks
> in a prominent position. I even cut the front off several bricks to
> just use as a veneer to save chopping the old brick right out.
>
> (Not much use for concrete blocks with stones in though)
>
> HTH
> 

Angle grinder with a diamond blade is much easier and more accurate


"Danny"  wrote in message
news:42bfa0a6$0$6471$cc9e4d1f@news-text.dial.pipex.com...

> I'm about to build a brick BBQ and notice in the plans that I have to cut
> some bricks in half. I've been told to use a bolster to create a groove
> around the brick, before tapping it for a clean break. Before destroying
any
> number of good bricks, I wonder if anyone knows whether this is the best
> way, or is there another? Many thanks,
>
> Danny
>
>