GB2238979A

GB2238979A - Brickwork sawing tool

Info

Publication number: GB2238979A
Application number: GB9024932A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Ian Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-11-16
Filing date: 1990-11-16
Publication date: 1991-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-16
Also published as: GB2238979B; GB8925927D0; GB9024932D0

Abstract

A jigsaw provided with a long enough and wear resistant blade may be used for cutting material from walls. If cutting begins otherwise than at an edge of the wall, a pilot hole may be drilled into which the jigsaw blade may be inserted for starting the cut. The tool may be used for removing mortar between courses for the installation of a damp-proof course, or for removing bricks or blocks by cutting completely around them. <IMAGE>

Description

BRICKWORK TOOL This invention relates to methods and tools for removing material from brick or block walls.

The conventional approach to removing a brick or block or a few of the same from a wall - removing a spalled brick, for example, for replacement - is to chisel away the mortar around the brick. This is difficult and time-consuming. A faster technique is used for removing the mortar between brick courses for installing a damp proof course, namely using a large diameter grinding disc to cut through the mortar. This is effective, but also difficult and creates quite a severe dust problem.

The present invention provides a method and tool for removing material from walls which does not have the problems associated with these conventional techniques.

The invention comprises a method for removing material from a brick or block wall skin comprising cutting away the material to be removed with a jigsaw, the blade of which penetrates the thickness of the wall or skin.

The method may be used for removing mortar between courses for the installation of a damp proof course, or for removing bricks or blocks by cutting completely around the same. It can readily be used for removing half a brick or block or a smaller section thereof, say, by cutting through the brick or block itself.

A pilot hole or holes may be drilled through the wall or skin wide enough to introduce the blade.

A jigsaw blade according to the invention suitable for such methods may have a length at least 11 cm, the thickness of a standard wall skin, and preferably about 15 cm and may be made of a material such as tungsten carbide which is resistant to being rapidly worn down by the abrasive brick, block or mortar materials.

Methods and tools according to the invention for removing material from walls will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a brick wall skin and illustrates a first step in the removal of a brick from a wall; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same wall as Figure 1 illustrating a second step in the operation; Figure 3 is a face-on view of the wall of Figures 1 and 2 illustrating the completion of the cutting operation for removing the brick; and Figure 4 is a face-on view of a wall illustrating the installation of a damp proof course.

The method for brick removal illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises as a first step illustrated in Figure 1 the drilling of a pilot hole ila using a masonry drill bit 12 through the mortar 13 around the brick 14 to be removed. A second pilot hole llb is drilled at the diagonally opposite corner of the brick.

The pilot holes 11 are sufficient to accommodate a jigsaw blade 15 for the next step, Figure 2, which cuts along the top and bottom of the brick 14 and-up and down the end faces of the brick 14 to completely cut through the mortar surrounding the brick. The drilling of two pilot holes lla,llb avoids the need for turning the blade 15 around the brick corners, and enables a blade to be used which is wider and thus stronger and more durable than a conventional wood or metal jigsaw blade.

In comparison to chiselling, this is a quick and easy matter involving much less noise and effort and very little dust and chppings. The job cannot be done at all using an angle grinder, which is a conventional method for removing mortar from between courses for the installation of a damp proof course. A disc large enough to penetrate the wall or skin could not cut through the mortar on the end faces of the brick without damaging the bricks in the courses immediately above and below.

However, the method is also advantageous as compared to the angle grinder in the removal of mortar for the installation of a damp proof course, as illustrated in Figure 4 where limited length sections 41 of mortar between the courses above and below the intended d.p.c. are removed by the jigsaw blade as in Figure 2. The barrier 42 is introduced as each section 41 is opened up and the wall made good there before the next section is opened up, so, obviously, that the wall remains adequately supported throughout.

The cutting method is much more precisely controllable than the grinding disc technique and better adapted to accessing awkward places where the grinding disc is just too large and where resort is usually had to the chisel.

Ordinarily woodworking jigsaw blades are not usually long enough to penetrate a standard wall skin, and clearly it will be desirable to use materials such as tungsten carbide or special steels resistant to wear by the abrasive mortar, brick or block materials.

As an article of commerce, a pack containing a suitable jigsaw blade or blades together with a masonry drill for the pilot hole could have printed, illustrated instructions on the appropriate techniques.

Claims

1. A method for removing material from a brick or block wall skin comprising cutting away the material to be removed with a jigsaw the blade of which penetrates the thickness of the wall or skin.

2. A method according to claim 1, used for removing mortar between courses for the installation of a dampproof course.

3. A method according to claim 1, used for removing bricks or blocks by cutting completely around the same.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which a pilot hole is drilled through the wall or skin wide enough to introduce the blade.

5. A jigsaw blade suitable for a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having a length at least 11 cm.

6. A jigsaw blade suitable for a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or according to claim 5, of tungsten carbide or steel resistant to wear by abrasive mortar, brick or block materials.

7. A pack containing a jigsaw blade or blades according to claim 5 or claim 6, together with instructions in the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. A pack according to claim 7, containing a masonary drill for a pilot hole.