1.9 : Brick Cutting Techniques

Brick-cutting techniques involve various tools and methods to shape bricks for construction. A mason's hammer with a chisel-pointed end is used for basic shaping through sharp, precise strikes. For more complex shapes requiring higher precision, a power saw with a water-cooled diamond blade is used.

Cut bricks are categorized by size. Bricks cut to half their original length are called half-bats, while those cut to three-fourths their length are known as three-fourth bats.

Special types of cut bricks include queen closers and king closers. Queen closers have the same length and thickness as standard bricks but half the width. They are commonly used in the English bond pattern. King closers are shaped with one end cut to half the width, creating a slanted corner from the midpoint of two adjacent edges. This type is also used in specific bonding patterns.

Other forms of cut bricks, such as the beveled closer, quarter bat, and mitered closer, are tailored to specific construction needs. Each type of cut brick serves a particular purpose in achieving the desired structural and aesthetic outcomes in masonry.