Everything You Need To Know About Diamond Saw Blades

Understanding diamond saw blades is key to realizing their value.

When building structures must withstand the toughest factors, most merchants use concrete because it is versatile, durable and economical. Concrete is easy to form and color, and it is one of the safest building materials.

Concrete construction has been common practice since the Roman Empire. As a testament to the strength of concrete, the stadium has remained so far, but it took eight years to build. Today, concrete is still one of the world’s leading building materials, but the structure must be completed on a strict schedule and budget.

When working with rugged products, it is equally important to equip artisans with the best tools to make their work easy, efficient and safe.

Whether it’s sawing expansion joints, custom cutting decorative pavers, or precision cutting on existing concrete, high-quality saw blades must be used. Diamond saw blades have clear advantages over abrasive wheels when performing clean, professional concrete cutting.

Nuts and bolts-typical components of diamond saw blades

 

Diamond saw blades have four typical components:

1. Diamond Crystals-Diamond crystals are often synthetic rather than natural, allowing manufacturers to control shape and size. The synthesis process also allows engineered crystals to be used for specific applications. Cutting performance depends on the type, shape and size of these diamond crystals.
2. Metal Bonds-A mixture of various metals that hold diamond crystals in place. These mixtures determine the rate at which diamond crystals are exposed. Harder bonds reduce diamond erosion, which is designed for softer applications such as green concrete or asphalt. Softer bonds increase diamond erosion and are more suitable for harder materials such as granite or cured concrete.
3. Diamond Edge-Diamond crystals and bonding matrix are heated, shaped and attached to the blade core. The edge can have one of three configurations: segmented, continuous edge, or jagged. In each case, the diamond-shaped edges are wider than the core of the blade to reduce resistance to the blade itself, increase the removal of material waste, and reduce the chance of the blade incorporating material. These edges are fixed to the steel core by brazing, sintering or laser welding processes.
4. Steel Core-The core of the blade is made of high alloy, heat treated steel. Tighten the core so that the blade can rotate properly in the mandrel hole centered on the mandrel. The core can also be tensioned or adjusted to reduce stress due to high centripetal forces and impacts from cutting such dense materials.

How do diamond saw blades work?

Unlike most other blades, diamond blades do not cut material. Instead, they use the friction generated between the diamond-bonded substrate and the material being cut to work like a grinding wheel.

As stated in the description of metal keys, it is best to cut harder materials when the keys are softer. As the diamond particles dull and break, the bonds are released, so more synthetic diamond can be exposed. Conversely, it is suitable for cutting softer materials. The stronger bond ensures that the diamond is exposed long enough to be fully utilized.

Diamond Blade Cut Type

There are two main methods of diamond blade cutting, wet cutting and dry cutting. As with all blades, one factor that severely affects blade performance is heat – heat can cause loss of scallops, warping and cracking of core material, and the need for new blades.

This is why most diamond saw blades use water to dissipate heat and increase saw blade life. In addition, water helps retain dangerous dust that contains silica when cutting concrete. OSHA has many regulations that limit the amount of dust generated during cutting.

Dry cutting is rarely used, is usually used for smaller jobs, such as cutting paving stones, and should only be done outdoors. Diamond blade manufacturer MK Morse said, “Dry cutting blades need sufficient airflow around the blades to prevent the steel core from overheating. The best way is to cut the material shallowly and intermittently for “Free spins” to maximize the cooling process. “

The main difference is the way the diamond matrix is ​​attached to the core. Wet blades are brazed, while dry blades are usually laser welded. Laser welding has a higher melting point. In addition to welds, another difference is bonding. Dry blades usually have a slightly softer adhesion to facilitate cutting without the need to cool and lubricate the cut with water.

Segmented diamond blades and continuous rim blades

After readers have asked when to use segmented or continuous rim blades, we have added this section to the article. The answer is that it depends on many variables, including the material being cut, the speed of the cut, the quality of the surface, and the availability of water. Segmented blades are commonly used in dry cutting operations. Each segment is separated by a slit or esophagus. These areas play an important role-dissipating heat and removing debris. As a result, you can usually also see faster cutting speeds. Continuous rim blades are wet cutting blades, which run very slowly (relatively), but have the cleanest cutting results. This is important when very brittle materials are used or the cutting edges will be exposed. Both blades are suitable for cutting concrete, masonry, pavers, etc.

 

Using diamond blades with steel

Another consideration is when using diamond saw blades in steel concrete. Reinforcement is the backbone of concrete structures and the bane of blades and blades. If the steel is cut when exposed, the diamond saw blade can cut quickly, but the service life of the saw blade is greatly shortened. This is because, in contrast to other torn and torn blades, diamond blades are “cut” by abrasive material. When cutting concrete where it is determined that reinforcement can be found, it is usually best to use a continuous rim blade with water.

Diamond saw blade size, tools and cost

Diamond saw blades range in size from 4 inches to 36 inches and can be used in angle grinders. Think about it, when workers are trimming roads or sidewalks (they use diamond saw blades), you see those walk-behind saws.

Compared to grinding wheels, diamond saw blades are very expensive. Although the initial cost is enough to scare away some buyers, what matters is the cost per cut. Grinding wheels have a very short service life and do not work well when cutting harder materials. Users consume 50 times more abrasive than diamond saw blades.

Because diamond saw blades vary widely in price, you must consider the value they bring to contractors. Kia and Porsche are both cars, but Rio Tinto costs less than $ 20,000, while Cayman retails for more than $ 85,000. Porsche will also get you to the finish line faster. This is comparable to the difference between current products on the market. Investing in new technology, companies that use the highest quality steel and have higher concentrations of diamonds provide better saw blade cutting and longer life.

When buying tools, core drills or blades, I consider that each additional one will do my best to provide the best results to complete the task with the best results and the least amount of work. Time is money, but money is money.

Conclusion

Finally, diamond saw blades are a very effective tool, even the hardest materials can make them work short, and because of their long shelf life, if you use diamond saw blades correctly, you will eventually get a return.