Mineral wool is a popular and effective thermal insulation used for interior and exterior work in the arrangement of residential and commercial buildings. A feature of the material is its unique spatial structure, which ensures high performance. Violation of the order of the fibers leads to an increase in the thermal conductivity of the product, which requires the choice of a special technology for cutting the plates.
Characteristics and properties of mineral wool
You need to cut the insulation with the tools that are best suited to its type and technical characteristics.
For thermal insulation work, the following types of mineral wool are used:
- Stone. Consists of integrated dolomite rock fibers. Basalt is mainly used for manufacturing, which is characterized by high strength. The material is used as insulation and for the manufacture of acoustic panels. Cutting stone wool is easy as it is soft and pliable.
- Slag. Manufactured from waste from the steel industry. It is used more in the decoration of utility rooms, as it contains impurities of toxic materials, has a pungent unpleasant odor. Cutting mineral wool in slabs is difficult, as it is fragile and unstable to pressure.
- Glass. The raw materials for the production are cullet, lime and stone chips. Consists of many interwoven glass fibers that break easily. Supplied on sale in tightly rolled rolls. Cutting glass wool is easy as the material lends itself to any sharp tool.
The ease of installation and the quality of the final result depend on the quality of cutting the insulation.
Correct material handling
Since the material is porous, brittle and hygroscopic, it must be handled appropriately.
When transporting and storing mineral wool, it is recommended to observe the following rules:
- In the process of loading and unloading, do not throw packages, but stack them neatly, avoiding falling and strong squeezing.
- Transport bales in covered trucks, laying them horizontally on a flat bottom. Fix the insulation so that it does not hit the body walls.
- Store products in dry, closed rooms. If this is not possible and it is stored outside, cover it with a film or tarp to protect it from precipitation.
- Remove the slabs from the stack just before laying them. This will prevent moisture absorption and reduce the risk of accidental damage to the material.
The technology of insulation involves the installation of plates with spikes, with a compression of 1-2 cm on each side. Based on this, it is necessary to cut the mineral wool with an error in size of no more than 0.5 cm.
Cutting tools
In the production process, special stationary equipment is used to cut the material into fragments of the desired configuration.
At home, you can use the following tools:
- Stationery knife. Simple and inexpensive attachment with replaceable blades that are easy to change as they wear out. Thin steel fits well into the material based on basalt and glass, but is practically powerless over slag slabs.The downside is that such a product can only cut mineral wool up to 50 mm thick.
- Hacksaw for metal. An excellent solution if you need to cut slag or stone wool up to 100 mm thick. On sale there are single-sided and double-sided blades with small and large teeth. You can easily choose the most convenient option.
- Special knives. Products have narrow blades up to 34 cm long with prongs without setting. The handles are specially adapted for cutting at an optimal angle. Different models have blades made of cold rolled stainless or carbon steel.
- Bread knife. The device is a good analogue of a special tool. For work, you need to choose knives with serrated rather than wavy edges. The length of the blade must be more than 15 cm.
- Cutting machine. The equipment is quite expensive, but productive. Allows for precise and even cuts. It makes sense to purchase a machine if there is a large amount of insulation work to be done.
The choice of a device for cutting mineral wool is determined by your own priorities, building skills and financial capabilities.
How to cut mineral wool
The main technical condition of the process is the preservation of the structure of the material - the fibers must remain intact and maintain their position in space. In order for the division lines to be accurate and even, you should first apply the markings with a marker using a tailor's meter or rule. The slabs should be cut by placing them on the table so that the cutting line is suspended. After this, you should, avoiding excessive pressure, make translational movements with the tool.
You need to finish cutting by holding the cut fragment in weight so that it does not come off under its own weight.
Safe working conditions
The main component of mineral wool is thin and sharp fibers. In the process of work, they come off the base and rise into the air. The contact of these particles on the body causes a burning sensation of the skin, pain in the eyes and irritation of the respiratory mucosa.
In order to prevent harm to your own health, you must create the following working conditions:
- elimination of accidental entry to the place of work of strangers;
- removal of people and animals to a safe place if cutting is done outdoors;
- use of overalls, masks, respirators, sealed goggles and rubberized gloves;
- high-quality ventilation in the room, excluding the ingress of volatile substances into neighboring rooms;
- cutting across the grain to reduce the amount of volatile compounds;
- wet cleaning with preliminary cleaning of surfaces with a vacuum cleaner;
- covering the insulation with plaster, vapor-permeable or windproof film for the purpose of complete isolation.
After the end of cutting and installation, you need to take a shower, preferably under cool water, so that the fibers more easily lag behind the skin and hair.
Remains of mineral wool
After the thermal insulation is carried out, a certain amount of unused material remains. Given its unique characteristics, there is no need to rush to get rid of slab scraps. They can be used profitably in the household. If this is not planned to be done right away, the insulation must be hermetically packed and removed out of the reach of children and animals.
It is advisable to use mineral wool to insulate such structures:
- doghouse;
- barn for pets;
- blind area around the house;
- garage walls and ceiling;
- home workshop;
- basement;
- cellar for products.
You can benefit from the remnants of mineral wool by handing it over to a collection point for recyclable materials. The accepted material is sold to enterprises that make granules from it, which are used for re-production of insulation.
