Wire Sawing for Dept. of Water Affairs

• Wire sawing project commenced in July 2004
• Cut opening in floor at bottom of dam wall
• Cut 42.5 square meter concrete
• Remove 54 tons of concrete and rock
• Work done within 10 days

• Holes drilled though block, spaced 1.2m x 2.5m deep to feed wire
• Center holes drilled to sling blocks

• Wire sawing equipment set up
• Planning of cutting work to minimize crane standing time

• Diamond wire cutting saws in action
• Cutting outside perimeter

• Diamond wire cable used during cutting process
• Wire runs at 35 meters per second
• Cutting rate of average 1.6 hours per square meter