Stone Cutting Tools — Saws & Grinders for Stone Carving
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Before any real carving begins, you need to cut your stone down to size and remove the bulk of the excess material. Once you've drawn your design onto the block, everything outside those lines needs to come off. These are the four cutting tools I use — from the simplest hand tool through to power tools for faster, larger cuts.
Crosscut Hand Saw
A crosscut hand saw is your starting point — reliable, quiet, and easy to control. The key thing about a crosscut design is that it cuts on both the push and the pull stroke, which makes it far more efficient than a standard saw that only cuts in one direction. On Oamaru stone, a good woodworking crosscut saw cuts cleanly and gives you full control over where your cuts land.
Hand Tool
Sizing and straight cuts
Crosscut Hand Saw
A 20–26 inch crosscut saw with hardened teeth. Cuts on both push and pull so you're removing material on every stroke. Standard woodworking crosscut saws work perfectly on Oamaru stone — no specialist masonry blade needed.
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Keyhole Saw
A keyhole saw is essential if your design has any openings, hollowed-out sections, or negative space. You drill a hole first to create an entry point, then the pointed tip of the keyhole saw goes in and you cut away the material from the inside. It's what lets you create the kinds of shapes that no other saw can reach.
Hand Tool
Internal cuts and hollowing
Keyhole / Jab Saw
A standard woodworking keyhole saw (also sold as a jab saw) works well on Oamaru stone. The narrow pointed blade fits into a drilled hole and lets you cut in any direction from inside the stone. Essential for designs with through-cuts or openings.
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Reciprocating Saw
When you need to remove a lot of stone quickly, a reciprocating saw is the tool to reach for. It does the same job as the hand saw but at speed — ideal for larger blocks where hand sawing would take a very long time. Fit it with a bi-metal or masonry blade and it will cut through Oamaru stone with ease.
Power Tool
Fast bulk removal
Reciprocating Saw
A corded or cordless reciprocating saw for fast straight cuts through stone. Far less tiring than hand sawing when you have a lot of material to remove. Use with bi-metal or masonry-rated blades — standard wood blades will dull quickly on stone.
Buy on AmazonPrices vary — check current listing for availability
Accessory
Blades for cutting stone
Bi-Metal Reciprocating Blades
Bi-metal or masonry-rated blades last far longer on stone than standard wood blades. Worth buying a pack — they do wear over time but make a real difference to how cleanly the saw cuts.
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Angle Grinder
An angle grinder is one of the most versatile tools in the stone carver's kit. Fitted with a cutting disc it makes fast accurate cuts. Fitted with a grinding disc it becomes a shaping tool — removing large amounts of stone quickly and getting into curves that a saw simply can't reach. Once you start using one you'll wonder how you managed without it.
Power Tool
Cutting and shaping
Angle Grinder — 4½ inch
A 4½ inch (115mm) angle grinder is the most manageable size for stone carving — large enough to move material fast, small enough to control around a sculpture. Variable speed is a useful feature if you can find it.
Buy on AmazonPrices vary — check current listing for availability
Accessory
Discs for cutting and grinding stone
Diamond Cutting & Grinding Discs
Diamond-tipped discs are the go-to for stone. A cutting disc for straight cuts, a grinding disc for shaping and curves. They wear down with use but last well on soft stone like Oamaru — buy a couple of each to have spares on hand.
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💡 Shaugn's tip
Never cut right up to your design lines at this stage — always leave a few millimetres of stone to work back to with the chisel. The saws and grinder are for removing bulk. The chisels and files are for the detail. Get the rough shape right here and everything that follows is much easier.
⚠️ Safety with cutting tools
Cutting stone generates significant dust and flying chips — especially with power tools. Always wear a P2 dust mask and safety glasses before you start. Use a full face shield when operating an angle grinder. Work outdoors or in a well-ventilated space. See the Tools & Materials page for full safety equipment recommendations.