How to cut 6mm cement sheets?

[Mickey22031961]

What is the best way to cut 6mm cement sheets

[JacobZ]

Hi @Mickey22031961,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

You can use a Villaboard Knife to score and snap the sheets. This is effective if you are only making straight cuts all the way across a sheet.

You can also use Fibro Cement Sheet Cutters. They are a bit more work than scoring and snapping, but they can be used to cut notches from fibre cement sheets as well as make straight cuts.

If you don't have a massive job to do, a combination of these two products should get you through quite well.

If you have a lot to do, some trade-facing power tools brands such as Makita, Dewalt and Hikoki make powered fibre cement shears. 

I have used the DJS800Z- 18V Brushless 13mm Fibre Cement Shears to fit out a few commercial-sized bathrooms and they were brilliant. If you want to explore this option, they can be ordered through your local Bunnings' Special Orders desk or from our friends at Tool Kit Depot - Makita 18V Brushless 13mm Cement Shear - DJS800Z.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[Mickey22031961]

Hey Jacob,

Appreciate you touching base, I have a small battery circular saw, is there a blade I can purchase that will cut it & with minimal dust?

[JacobZ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Mickey22031961,

Yes, there are fibre cement saw blades, but they create a lot of airborne cement dust, and I wouldn't advise using them unless your saw has a dust extraction port to which you can connect an M-class dust extractor and you wear a P2 respirator or better.

It will be quicker than the alternatives that I've mentioned, but it adds an avoidable risk to the mix. The choice is yours, but you should be aware of the risks. Have a look at Silica | Safe Work Australia for further information.

Airborne cement dust should be avoided if at all possible and dry-cutting cement sheets will create a lot of it.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Mickey22031961]

Thanks Jacob, much appreciated