The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:55 pm**

I'm landscaping my back garden and have become a bit stumped with the steps I want to build - I have it in my mind to have nice stone treads with a neat bull-nosed edge. Some of the step treads have two or three edges. I havn't been able to find any pre-made materials to match the sandstone patio and paths that I've built and I've been looking on and off for almost a year. Recently I came across some adverts for stone profiling tools that will attach to an angle grinder (a VTS Hand Router M14 Profile from www.stonetools.co.uk) - they seem quite expensive (Â£100 up) but if one does the job then it will be a very flexible solution to my problem. My questions to the Brew Cabin are:

Are these tools any good?
Are there any cost-effective alternatives for sourcing/making bull-nose step treads?
Are there any pitfalls that I should watch out for in buying and using such a profiling tool?

Posted: **Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:16 pm**

1 - Quality: not the best, but not the worst either. A good mid-range tool that should be fine for DIY and occasional contractor usage

2 - alternatives: have a local stone mason undertake the work. It might seem costly when you first get the price, but it will seem like a pittance when you're covered in dust, aching arms and back, and struggling to create an even profile

3 - pitfalls: accept that you WILL bugger up a number of flagstones just practising and becoming familiar with the tool and how it handles

The companies that provide a bull-nosing service often allocate it to one of the junior members of staff and let them hone their skills (the puns just keep coming!) for a few weeks before allowing them onto something more complicated.

The Brew Cabin

Cutting bull-nose profiles - Request for advice about power tools