Concrete Saws For Sale

About Concrete Saws

Concrete saws are powered equipment used to cut pavement, as well as asphalt, brick, rebar, masonry, and other materials. Also called “floor saws,” “joint cutters,” “flat saws,” “pavement saws,” or “slab saws,” these useful demolition and construction machines are handy for cutting expansion joints to prevent slabs of concrete from cracking. They’re handy for cutting curbs and rumble strips, as well.

This PavingEquipment.com equipment category is primarily concerned with ride-on and walk-behind models—the latter of which can be either the push-type or self-propelled—but there are many industrial handheld examples usable in certain applications. Ride-on models may include hydraulic drives for the blade and/or travel wheels.

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Wacker Neuson BFS1345 Walk-Behind Concrete Saw

Concrete Saw Features & Options

Concrete saws are often powered by gasoline or diesel engines, but there are also electric and pneumatic models available in the walk-behind category. The saws are advertised by their horsepower, cutting depth, and diameter of their blades, which are either abrasive or made of steel with diamond embedded in the cutting edge. Cutting depth is adjustable.

Most concrete saws include water hose connections or a reservoir to keep the blade cool during operation. The wet-cutting method also suppresses the dust generated by cutting concrete, stone, or masonry. Most saws can also be used for dry-cutting without water, although care must be taken to avoid overheating and damaging the blade. A model with vacuum ports can assist with dust collection in dry-cutting scenarios.

One term you may encounter while shopping for a concrete saw is “early entry.” This type of saw is designed to cut crack control joints in new concrete in the first hour or two after finishing, before the surface takes a final set.

Past & Present

In 1937, the Clipper Manufacturing Company invented the first masonry saw. (A “clipper” at the time meant a mason cutting stone with a hammer and chisel.) The electric saw kicked off several decades of saws capable of cutting concrete. After a pharmacist named Richard Felker invented the diamond blade, concrete saw operators could use either a pricey but long-lasting diamond blade or a cheaper carborundum abrasive blade with a much shorter lifespan.

In the early 1980s, new laser welding techniques enabled blade manufacturers to create diamond blades that could last a reasonable amount of time during dry cutting, unlike abrasive blades. The high cost of diamond blades has diminished significantly in the past few decades. As the industry began to appreciate the dangers of the silica dust and other breathable particulates generated during dry-cutting, manufacturers began to add vacuum systems to collect dust during the cutting process. 

Concrete saws are a bit like sharks in the fact that they haven’t evolved much over the years, but current models do enjoy modern features such as diesel emissions controls. Also, display monitors and electronic tracking controls make it easier for the operator to cut a straight line every time. Some control systems can remember user settings for re-use on later jobs.

Find The Right Concrete Saw

ALBA, Bartell, Cedima, Diamond Products, EDCO, Husqvarna, Merit, MK Diamond, Multiquip, Norton Clipper, Tomahawk, U.S. Saws, and Wacker Neuson are just some of the manufacturers of professional concrete saws around the world. Popular model lines include the Diamond Core Cut and Husqvarna Soff-Cut families. You’ll find a good selection of new and used concrete saws for sale every day on PavingEquipment.com.