I have a stacked stone fireplace in my dining room with a gas insert. It has two flat stone pieces that extend out further than the rest of the stones that you would use to sit something on. The two pieces are offset from each other and at different levels. I would like to get rid of these two stones by basically cutting off the part that protrudes out so that the whole fireplace face is flush. I this possible? If so, what is the best way to do it?
Stacked stone fireplace
cuttingstone
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Ok, those aren't paving stones, those are wall stones (as the Lowes page confirms) - as in retaining wall stones. The lip is designed to hook to the stone underneath and prevent slipping when pressure is applied from the rear.
Which isn't to say you cannot use them, but you'll find removing the lip much easier if you use a good masonry/stone chisel, like such:
Put the cutting edge of the chisel at the base of the lip, holding the chisel near parallel with the brick surface, and strike the other end firmly with the hammer. The chisel will create a very focused point of pressure which will chip the lip away.
Finally, since its a simple fire pit, use stone adhesive to fix the blocks in place. You shouldn't have to worry about the kind of back pressure these bricks are usually designed to withstand.
The characteristics and composition of firebrick also called refractory brick make it suitable for high heat applications. Conventional pavers will fail quickly when exposed to heat. I can't testify about pavers but I have had concrete explosively spall (small pieces of concrete shrapnel) while cutting steel anchors with a torch. So you really need bricks that are designed for use in a fireplace.
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Best Answer
Modifying a dry stone wall is a tricky operation. Normally you need two kinds of chisels, a pointing tool and a pitching tool. You can buy them from a masonry supplier like Micon. I would get PKM-19 and SM40-R. Get a mallet too (1031-A).
Grave a deep furrow where you want to break off the stone, set the pitching tool in the furrow, then give it whack. If everything goes well, the stone will split clean off. There is a certain amount of feel that is required. Making sure the furrow is nice and deep will help ensure success.
Why you don't want to use an angle grinder. (In response to comment) The immediate problem with a grinder is that it will make a very unnaturally smooth face that will look nothing like the faces of the other stones, so the ones you cut off will stick out like a sore thumb and look even worse than they do now. The other reason is that cutting rock with an angle grinder, especially indoors, is a bad idea at multiple levels. First of all, if the rock is somewhat hard, like slate, it will take forever. You could have a diamond blade and be standing there cutting for 15 minutes and make it through 1" of stone maybe. Meanwhile you will be surrounded by plumes of dust and toxic fumes as shards of slate go flying in all directions at literally bullet-like speeds.