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Angle grinder for paving slabs: depth, blades and dust

Updated: 22 October 2026

You need a straight cut on a paving slab, block or kerb, and you are deciding whether a handheld 230 mm grinder, a disc cutter, or hire is the sensible route. The failure mode on driveways is rarely not enough watts. It is the wrong disc, a slab that flexes and binds the blade, and silica dust you cannot see. This page follows the masonry use-case for our [9 inch angle grinder comparison](/hub/tools/9-inch-angle-grinder). Peter F. checked the paving notes against the amazon.co.uk listings on 19 October 2026. There was no laboratory test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You need a straight cut on a paving slab, block or kerb, and you are deciding whether a handheld 230 mm grinder, a disc cutter, or hire is the sensible route. The failure mode on driveways is rarely not enough watts.

Our top picks

Evolution Evolution R230DCT

Best overall

Evolution Evolution R230DCT
9.4/10about £119.95
View offer
Bosch Bosch GWS 22-230 P

Alternative

Bosch Bosch GWS 22-230 P
8.6/10about £156.07
View offer
Einhell Einhell TE-AG 230/2000

Best value

Einhell Einhell TE-AG 230/2000
8.0/10about £68.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.When a 230 mm tool is the one that fits
  2. 2.Diamond blade, not a metal cutting disc
  3. 3.Handheld grinder or wheeled cutter
  4. 4.Support the slab and control the dust

When a 230 mm tool is the one that fits

Measure the slab or kerb thickness against published depth, not hope. Screwfix's buying guide quotes about 70 mm guide depth for 230 mm handheld grinders and about 30 mm for 115 mm. Top7tools.uk uses a Makita 230 mm example near 68 mm. If your unit is thicker than a small grinder can finish without multiple passes, you need 230 mm class, or hire, even if you already own 115 mm. A 115 mm grinder can score a thin flag for a controlled break when the stone is well supported, but it is the wrong default for thick concrete pavers every weekend. The Evolution R230DCT in this comparison states 90 mm depth in its title. One UK reviewer measured nearer 3.5 inches on their machine. Treat 90 mm as Evolution's listing claim, not the Screwfix handheld figure, and still check your slab before you assume one pass. Size choice against a small grinder is on 230 mm vs 115 mm angle grinder.

Diamond blade, not a metal cutting disc

Paving needs a diamond blade matched to the material: general masonry, concrete, and often a different blade for hard porcelain. Match the blade to the stone and read the published depth for that blade and tool. A metal cutting disc is the wrong bond for block and it risks dangerous failure in grit. In this amazon.co.uk set, the Evolution ships a 230 mm diamond masonry blade. Einhell, DEKOPRO, Bosch, Hilka and JCB rows expect you to supply the blade unless a grinding wheel is explicitly included, and a grinding wheel is not a paving cutter. Budget the about £68.99 Einhell plus a decent diamond disc, or the about £119.95 Evolution with a blade in the box, before you compare shelf prices. Run the disc at legal speed with the guard set for cutting, both hands on the handles, and no twisting in the slot. FEPA guidance applies: do not side-load a cutting disc to widen the kerf.
Evolution Evolution R230DCT

Testsieger

Evolution Evolution R230DCT
9.4/10about £119.95
View offer

Handheld grinder or wheeled cutter

A handheld 230 mm angle grinder, such as Einhell, DEKOPRO, Bosch or Hilka, gives freedom on odd shapes and kerbs but demands steady support and a straight line you control. Einhell 2,000 W reviews in this file mention brick walls and slabs and also units that stopped in dust on first masonry cuts. Treat early failure reviews as a reason to inspect your disc, guard and technique, not as proof every unit dies. The Evolution R230DCT is a wheeled disc cutter: 2,000 W, 6,000 rpm, a skid plate, and 4.7 from 609 reviews. It is the top pick when you cut slabs and blocks often because the frame helps keep the blade square and the diamond blade is included. It is not a metal grinder. The guard does not swing like a side-handle grinder, and UK reviewers say the dust port did little even with an industrial vacuum. Choose Evolution when straight pavement cuts dominate. Choose a handheld Einhell or Bosch when you mix kerb, metal pegs and freehand work. The Hilka at about £54.95 appears in reviews cutting block with a buyer-supplied diamond blade, but only five reviews back the score. The DEKOPRO at about £45.89 shows long concrete sessions in comments alongside switch and handle complaints. Verify threads and switches on delivery.

Support the slab and control the dust

Bed the slab on sand, score with a straight edge, and support the cut so it does not close on the blade. Use extraction if the guard offers a port, but a port is not full dust control. HSE's chasing concrete page asks employers for M-class or H-class extraction and respiratory protection at APF 20 where respirable crystalline silica is generated. INDG463 gives a workplace exposure limit of 0.1 mg/m³ over eight hours. At home you still need water or vacuum plans, wind position, and neighbours in mind. Do not run a hose into the motor. One reviewer tried improvised cooling, and that is not a method to copy. Wear eye and hearing protection. Add a tight-fitting mask rated for fine dust when you dry-cut. Wet cutting reduces dust where the blade and material allow it. Check the blade manufacturer's guidance for wet use.

Common questions

Can a 9 inch grinder cut a paving slab in one pass?
Only if slab thickness is within the published depth for your tool and blade. Many domestic flags need one pass at 230 mm. Thick kerbs may not.
Do I need a diamond blade?
Yes for routine paving and block. Metal discs are for metal.
Is a disc cutter easier than a handheld grinder?
Often for long straight slab runs, which is why the Evolution row exists. Kerbs and tight curves may still suit a handheld 230 mm grinder.
How do I support the slab?
On sand or a stable bench, with the cut line supported so the disc does not pinch as it exits.
What about silica dust at home?
Treat it seriously. Ventilate, extract where you can, use respiratory protection for fine dust, and pause if you cannot see your line for dust.
Will a 115 mm grinder do a thin slab?
Sometimes, with multiple passes or score-and-break on thin flags. Check the published depth before you buy large.
Which listing in this set is the cutter rather than the grinder?
The Evolution R230DCT disc cutter, not the Bosch or Einhell handheld rows.

Related pages

Best 9 inch angle grinder

How to use a 9 inch angle grinder

9 inch angle grinder

230mm angle grinder buying guide: disc, speed, plug

230mm vs 115mm angle grinder: which size fits the job

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, used for this page in October 2026. Prices, stars and review counts are from the seven amazon.co.uk listings captured on 19 October 2026. PUWER, HSG17 and the silica limit apply at work. They are not a certificate for a domestic grinder. A dust port is not extraction on its own.

  1. HSE, PUWER overview (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. HSE, HSG17 Safety in the use of abrasive wheels (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. HSE, Chasing concrete and raking mortar (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. HSE, INDG463 Control of exposure to silica dust (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. HSE, Angle grinder bulletin (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. FEPA, Safety leaflet for bonded abrasives (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. Screwfix, Angle grinder buying guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Electrical Safety First, Angle grinders (retrieved 19 October 2026)