Cutting plaster coving with a power saw

[Mighty Magpie]

Hi, sorry if this has been asked before but would it be harmful or detrimental to the blade etc if I was to use a 240v mitre saw for cutting plaster coving?

TIA

[John Rumm]

It will make lots of dust, and you will need a fairly decent size of saw. Other than that it ought to be ok. I would use an old blade though since the plaster is abrasive and take the edge off the blade.

[George]

I think you're gonna need a fine toothed blade as well? my mind is telling me it will shatter the coving if the start cut is done on the fragile edges.

Best do a test cut first to be on safe side and if possible work outside as MrRumm said dust flying everywhere.

[Martin Bonner]

Wot he said, plus: Why do you want to use a power tool at all? I would have though a cheap throw-away hard-point saw would be best. Note that although a good mitre saw will cut very accurate mitres, I bet your walls aren't that close to square! (Err, unless you built them yourself.) You will need to patch up the join anyway.

[Andrew Gabriel]

I used a circular saw for cutting some plasterboard (needed lots of pieces 1" x 6'6"). The blade had no problems, but the dust got into every bit of the saw, and wrecked it (nothing slides or pivots as it should do anymore).

[Mighty Magpie]

Thanks to all who responded. You have confirmed what I probably suspected anyway and I am grateful for that

Cheers.