Deeper Cuts in Concrete

If you’ve ever used a circular-style cutoff saw, you’re already aware of how essential that tool is for masonry work. On the other hand, you’re also likely aware of its limitations. The new Stihl GS 461 Rock Boss chainsaw is specifically designed to address those limitations by providing the ability to make deep plunge cuts. Just as a typical wood-cutting chainsaw can be used to plunge into a tree, the 16-in. bar on a Rock Boss can plunge directly through foundation walls up to 15.7 in. deep. Compare that to the less-than-5-in. cut depth of a 14-in. circular cutoff saw. The diamond teeth/segments on the chain will slice through concrete, 1⁄2-in. rebar, asphalt, soft stone, masonry, brick, and anything else that may stand in their way.

Egress openings for doors and windows, basement-addition access cutouts, and garage-door openings in block walls can be cut accurately and in one pass, with no more cutting on both sides of a wall to finish the job. Aside from saving time, cutting from just the exterior side of the wall means the engine exhaust and mess stays outside. Lubrication and dust control are maintained by a quick connector hooked to a local water source. The ­anti-vibration system and familiar chainsaw design make the tool comfortable to hold. It weighs only 16 lb. (about 5 lb. less than a 14-in. cutoff saw), which greatly reduces fatigue. The Rock Boss is not meant to be a replacement for circular cutoff-style saws, but for some jobs there’s no better tool. You can rent one for about $125 per day and purchase a diamond-cutting chain separately for about $600, or you can buy a GS 461 Rock Boss for $2350 with the chain included.

– Jim Speranza, a contractor in Rochester, N.Y.

Photo: courtesy of the manufacturers

From Fine Homebuilding #317

RELATED STORIES

• Cutting Into a Concrete Floor
• Cutting Tools for Stone, Brick, and Concrete
• Must-Have Concrete Tools

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