Cut Cap Blocks
Use scraps of wood as a template to trim and fit stone blocks along a curve.
In order to have a gap-free row of cap blocks on a curved retaining wall (which most are), the cap blocks will have to be trimmed to fit. Here’s how I plan these cuts: If the curve of the wall varies, the gaps between the cap blocks will as well, so I cut some scraps of wood to the length of the block and varying in width. Scraps that are 3 in., 4 in., and 5 in. wide will usually suffice. First, I set the blocks temporarily in place along the shape of the curve. Then I choose the scrap that most closely matches the size of the gap, center the scrap on both the front and back of the gap, and mark a cutline on each block using the sides of the scrap as a template. Once I trim the blocks down with a masonry saw, I set them in place and move on to the next. This process produces a cap row with smooth curves that match the course of regular blocks below it.
— Matt; @workingwithmatt. Drawings by Martha Garstang Hill.
From Fine Homebuilding #324
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