Diamond saw blades are the go-to tools for cutting hard or abrasive materials such as concrete, stone, and asphalt. The composition of the blade and the nature of its construction are crucial to getting a good outcome with the material the blade is cutting. This overview of the different applications for diamond blades will direct you to the right type of blade for the job you’re doing.
Grinding Material Away
When we think of a saw, we tend to think of a cutting motion. But diamond blades actually grind away material. This makes the match between the type of saw blade and the material crucial for the best outcome of any concrete, stone, or tile cutting project.
The Bond
Diamond blades consist of a steel core with segments, or cutting sections, attached to the blade through sintering or laser welding. The diamonds on the blade are synthetic to ensure they can be made in the proper shape, strength, and size. The material that attaches the diamonds to the blade is called the bond. Understanding the bond is important for the different applications for diamond blades because the wrong bond will cause the blades to wear too quickly or to not work at all if used for materials they weren’t intended to cut.
Bonds are either “soft” or “hard,” but their use is for the opposite type of material. For hard materials such as cured concrete and granite, the bond needs to be soft: this means it wears away as the saw grinds away the materials in order to expose fresh diamond pieces. Saw blades for hard materials may be continuous—meaning the edge isn’t divided into parts to do the chipping and grinding—or segmented. Segmented blades can cause chipping depending on the material, so continuous blades are good for hard materials that can chip.
By contrast, soft materials such as asphalt require a hard bond, which keeps the diamonds in place and cuts without wearing away too quickly.
Wet or Dry Cutting
The grinding action of a diamond saw blade creates friction, which creates heat. Diamond blades work best with a wet cutting process, using water to keep cool and to flush out the slurry created by the dust from the material.
Obviously, when you’re using an electric saw, you can’t use the wet cutting method. Some blades are made with features that promote cooling, such as holes in the core or more widely spaced segments. When dry cutting, it’s important to use a respirator that prevents the user from inhaling dust, which could cause lung disease.
Pro Blades Outlet offers a variety of diamond blades online to suit both the job and your budget. Shop now or contact us for a consultation about which type of blade you need for the job you’re going to do.
