How do I cut granite countertops in the kitchen?

[TargaTony]

I am going to be doing a little DIY kitchen renovation (paint cabinets, new backsplash and quartz countertops). My wife wanted a farmhouse sink (existing is a standard undermount stainless steel), but the sink needs to be installed before the new tops are measured and the old granite removed. I want to cut the granite in place (don't care how it looks because it is temporary) to install the new sink. I need to cut about 3" around the existing sink.
Anyone have any ideas on how to do this to minimize dust?
Drill multiple holes and crack off the desired amount?
Circular saw with diamond blade and make a plastic tent?
Wet Saw?

[gregpark]

Circular saw with a diamond blade while running a small stream of water at the cut for dust. I've done it and my saw survived!

[sc_rufctr]

I drilled some holes in granite using a diamond tipped hole saw. The drill was mounted in a drill press on a table in the back yard. I ran the garden hose onto the hole saw to keep it cool.

It was a lot easier than I imagined but I don't know how you'd cut granite inside the kitchen without making a mess.

[cabmandone]

What greg said. If you don't have a circular saw but have a grinder, you can buy diamond wheels for a grinder. Personally I like your idea of drilling holes then breaking. Easy and you probably already have the stuff to do it.

[MikeSid]

Circular saw with diamond blade is the solution, but with the granite in place you will still run into a problem cutting the last couple of inches at the backsplash. The saw's fence will keep you from cutting all the way to the wall. So you will probably have to finish that up with a grinder and diamond blade. Alternatively, they do make diamond blades for recirculating saws as well.

Even with a worm drive, you'll need to make several shallow passes. Just take it slow and cool the blade with water.

[TargaTony]

Thanks for the ideas guys!
I think I am going to try a hammer and chisel first. I am really scared of the dust of using a saw. If that doesn't work, I guess I will tent myself in a plastic sheet and go for it

[908/930]

They do have blades for oscillating tools if you have one, it will be slow but keep a vacuum on it with the Vac exhaust going outside should be low dust. Grinder with diamond blade will be dust everywhere, no doubt about it.

[look 171]

You want to cut the old granite around the new sink?

Small grinder, diamond blade. Many times, my installers will hold a wet sponge and have that riding up against the blade to keep dust down. My suggestion is to tape as much plastic as you can around the sink area before you have a go at this. Diamond blade on a circular saw will work too.

Drill a small hole on the bottom of a small water bottle (hole on cap so it breaths), place it over the cutting path or on the blade as you cut to keep dust down. Its a mess but it will help some.

[MBAtarga]

Similar to other suggestions:
To install a slightly larger gas cooktop in our island, I put the diamond blade from my tile saw onto an old circular saw, used some plastic painters sheets and surrounded the island up to the ceiling, and had my wife spray water in front of the blade as I cut. Worked out perfectly! A good wipe-down when finished removed all the dust.

[red 928]

Originally Posted by TargaTony

Thanks for the ideas guys!
I think I am going to try a hammer and chisel first. I am really scared of the dust of using a saw. If that doesn't work, I guess I will tent myself in a plastic sheet and go for it

April 1st

[look 171]

May I ask why are you doing this and go through this mess?

[porsche4life]

I love a good DIY, but this is a place where it’s worth paying a pro. They will get it perfect and you won’t have to stare at your mistakes every time you wash your hands.

[Bugsinrugs]

I was going to suggest the wet sponge on blade method but Look beat me to it.

[dad911]

Alot of water or alot of dust. Either way will be a mess.

I would remove the old granite entirely, do what you have to do, and put some scrap plywood on top of the old cabinets to use temporarily.

[cabmandone]

I think I have the solution. Ask your wife to cut the hole since she wants the new farm sink. She'll hire a guy and save you a bunch of grief.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by dad911

Alot of water or alot of dust. Either way will be a mess.

I would remove the old granite entirely, do what you have to do, and put some scrap plywood on top of the old cabinets to use temporarily.

This is what I would do also.

[Bill Douglas]

And don't breath the dust. Silicosis.

[TargaTony]

Hammer and a chisel did the trick. It took about a half hour to cut the granite with minimal mess.

[cabmandone]

Nice! Don't forget a pic of the job complete with the new tops installed. Can't leave us hangin! My wife wanted a farm sink be we opted for a deep single basin quartz sink because of the amount of room we would have lost in the cabinet.

[HardDrive]

Yeah, I will gladly for stuff like that.