Block Splitters

How a block splitter works

A block splitter separates an element by squeezing it between two blades — an upper one lowered by a lever and a fixed lower one. The material is not sawn but riven along the line of pressure, so the process produces neither dust nor slurry and needs no power supply. In mechanical models the force comes from the operator through a long lever; in hydraulic ones from a hydraulic circuit, which allows thicker and harder elements to be split.

That difference decides the application. Cutting with a diamond blade gives a smooth face accurate to the millimetre, but calls for a saw, water or dust extraction, and power. A splitter gives a riven face, uneven by a few millimetres, but works anywhere — in residential areas, inside buildings and wherever noise and dust are a problem. With decorative paving and walling, the riven texture is often chosen deliberately, since it matches factory-split units.

A splitter also has limits: it will not handle reinforced material, large-format slabs wider than the blade, or accurate angled cuts. Those call for a saw with a diamond blade.

Mechanical or hydraulic splitter

The choice comes down to the thickness and hardness of the material and to how many cuts are made per day.

The hydraulic AL-43/SH-21 develops a splitting force of 21,000 daN and handles elements up to 200 mm high — a range covering kerbstones and thick kerbs that a mechanical model will not split. The trade-off is 150 kg of weight and work from a fixed station. For typical 6–8 cm blocks and slabs up to 12 cm, a mechanical model is sufficient and far easier to move around the site.

Block splitters available at NORWIT.PL

The key selection parameters are cutting width (the maximum element width) and cutting height (its thickness).

The 330 mm versions cover standard blocks and most pavement slabs; the 430 mm versions take wider elements, including patio slabs. For cutting curves — needed at roundabouts, driveways and lawn edgings — the RSA adapter guides the element against the blade along a set radius.

Choosing a block splitter

Start from two material dimensions. Standard paving blocks are 6 or 8 cm thick and usually up to 20 cm wide — within reach of every model in the table. Pavement slabs of 50 × 50 cm need a 430 mm cutting width or two passes. Kerbstones and kerbs over 140 mm high already belong to the hydraulic class.

The second criterion is site conditions. A mechanical splitter of 35–60 kg is carried by two people and set up right next to where the paving is laid, which shortens material handling. A 150 kg hydraulic model stays in one place and has elements brought to it — sensible on large areas and hard materials, less practical on scattered work.

The third point is blades. They are a wear part: a blunt blade stops producing a clean split line and starts crumbling the edge. On continuous work it pays to keep a spare set. Once cut, elements are bedded with a paving hammer, and heavier ones moved with a mechanical clamp.

Frequently asked questions — block splitters

Block splitter or saw for paving?

A splitter separates blocks by blade pressure, with no dust, water or power — which suits residential areas, work inside buildings and decorative paving, where a riven edge texture is the desired effect. A saw with a diamond blade gives a smooth, accurate face, handles reinforced material and angled cuts, but needs power plus water or dust extraction. On a typical paving job both tools are used side by side, depending on the location and the type of cut.

Which block splitter should I choose?

For standard 6–8 cm blocks and pavement slabs, a mechanical splitter with a 330 mm cutting width and a weight of about 42 kg is enough — for example the Probst AL-33-EASY. Patio slabs and wider elements call for the 430 mm version (AL-43, STS-43, 57–60 kg). Kerbstones and kerbs over 140 mm high require a hydraulic splitter with a splitting force in the region of 21,000 daN. Always check both dimensions: element width and thickness.

What thickness of paving can a splitter handle?

Mechanical splitters separate elements from 10 to 120 mm high, and reinforced models for blocks and kerbstones up to 140 mm. A hydraulic splitter covers 20 to 200 mm. Standard paving blocks are 6 or 8 cm thick, so they fall within every one of these ranges; the limit only becomes an issue with kerbs and kerbstones, where the hydraulic version is required.

Can a splitter cut granite?

Granite and other natural stone can be split, though harder material calls for more force — which is why thicker granite setts are handled by the hydraulic model at 21,000 daN rather than a mechanical one. The result is a riven face, usually desirable with natural stone because it matches the texture of factory-split units. Cutting granite smooth requires a diamond blade for stone.

Does a block splitter need electricity?

Mechanical splitters need no power supply at all — the splitting force comes from the operator through the lever. Hydraulic models also work without electricity in the hand-pump version. This is the splitter's main advantage over a saw: it can be used on a plot with no connection, in a basement, in a building before handover, and anywhere the noise of a petrol engine would be a problem for neighbours.

How do you cut paving along a curve?

Curved cuts — needed at roundabouts, driveways and lawn edgings — are made with a guide adapter; on Probst splitters this is the RSA adapter, which positions the element against the blade at a set radius. Without an adapter, a curve is produced as a series of straight cuts marked out on the material beforehand, for instance with a line-marking tool. Each element is then cut separately at a slightly different angle.

How often do splitter blades need replacing?

Blades are a wear part, and replacement frequency depends on material hardness and the number of cuts — they last considerably longer on vibro-pressed concrete than on granite. The signal to replace them is a deteriorating split line: a blunt blade stops riving cleanly and begins to crumble the element's edge, which shows up as more waste. On continuous work it is worth keeping a spare set so the job need not stop.