Squaring off kits

[Iain]

Can't help but ask, after seeing the third recent pic in the Forum of a squaring off kit being used to integrate a flag circle into a random layout. Does anyone else find this uneasy on the eye or is it just me :p

[Tony McC]

The ones that make a square and are used within a larger body of paving have always struck me as attracting more attention than is desirable. For me, the whole point is that the circle should be the feature, not the bloody bits-and-pieces used to make it fit with the rest of the paving.

However, the bonding-in kits (Marshalls do one for their Polesden Lacey range) are superb and just the way it would have been done by a streetmason, if we'd ever been daft enough to get involved in a job where a circle was used, that is! Back in the old days, pre-cut circles were the exception, and if a job called for a circle we'd usually be expected to cut them ourselves from standard rectangular flagstones unless we had the budget to have it made-to-order at the quarry.

I really miss the 1990s!

[lutonlagerlout]

i agree wholeheartedly Ian,thing is it is a bugger cutting internal arcs
takes a clever bit of setting out to integrate a squaring off kit into a random layout
LLL

[cookiewales]

i find the best way is to lay through the circle with random or coursed paving you can set up a pin and line to the correct size to save paving to much adding two rows of setts to outside off circle realy makes the job throw away the sq kit or sell on ebay ps you need to be able to use a cut of saw and be competent and safe cheers cookie :;): ???

[DNgroundworks]

How did you cut such things back int old days Tony? did you have cut-off saws, or is that just plain cheeky lol!!!

[GB_Groundworks]

they did it with their teeth, was when men where men. haha if you weren't cheeky that was

[Tony McC]

Hammer and pitching chisels, along with a punch and a cold chisel.

This summer, I had planned to make a little video showing how flags were/are cut using hand tools, but a combination of crap weather and an incredibly hectic schedule have conspired against me. If we get a few nice days after I've finished the apprenticeship stuff, I might get it done......Might.....Maybe

[Iain]

Glad its not just me then, been away computer went CRASH, what a pain that was bloody kids and file sharing. Hand tools Tony !!! Won't you be liable for all those damaged hands going off to casualty.