How To Select Your Diamond Blade
Cut further, faster by selecting the right diamond blade for your cutting application! The best way to stay efficient on your job site is by minimizing downtime. If you have to stop and change your diamond blade every few cuts, you lose a lot of valuable time. Choosing the correct diamond blade to put on your cut-off saw makes you efficient by allowing you to cut longer and faster. Cut with confidence by asking yourself these 5 questions before selecting your diamond blade:
- What Material Are You Cutting?
- What Equipment You Are Using?
- What is Your Depth of Cut?
- Are you Wet or Dry Cutting?
- How Long Do I Need This Blade To Last?
1. What Material Are You Cutting?
Diamond blades are made with different styles of bonded segments. The segment bonds range from hard-bonded, which is used to cut soft aggregate materials like asphalt or sandstone, to soft-bonded segments, designed to cut hard aggregate materials like concrete or trap rock. To get the most out of your diamond blade, the segment bond hardness and blade should be matched to the material you are cutting. Identifying the type of material to be cut and the aggregate of the material extends the life and speed of your diamond blade drastically.
Aggregate Map- Diamond Tools Technology
2. What Equipment Are You Using?
Your diamond blade's recommended operating speed should match the RPM of the saw you are using. The recommended RPM the diamond blade should be running depends on the diameter of the blade. Blades should always be run at their recommended RPM for optimal performance, and never over their max RPM. The blade you select also depends on the saw being used for the job at hand. Horsepower and motor type (electric, gas, diesel, etc.) play a major factor in choosing your diamond blade and optimizing the performance of both the blade and the saw. Check out the Diamond Blade Operating Speeds chart below to see what your blade's recommended operating speed is.
3. What is Your Depth of Cut?
Use your required depth of cut to determine what size blade(s) will be needed to complete the job. For example, a 10” thick slab will require a 26” blade to cut all the way through that slab. It may be cost-effective to first use a smaller blade, such as an 18” or 20” blade, then cut the remainder with a 26” blade. It’s also important to avoid using a blade larger than 26” to avoid cutting too deep. Finally, ensure the saw being used can safely handle the right size blade for the job. Using modified equipment to accept a larger blade than normal is unsafe and can lead to a multitude of blade and equipment failures. Check out our Maximum Blade Cutting Depth Chart to see what diameter blade gets what cutting depth.
Max Cutting Depth: 4 in
Max Cutting Depth: 3 in
Max Cutting Depth: 2.75 in
Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 4 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 3 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 2.75 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
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Max Cutting Depth: 1.5 in
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4. Are You Wet or Dry Cutting?
Knowing whether you need to use water when making your cut is important when selecting a blade. Diamond blades that are designed to cut wet MUST be used with water, while blades that are designed to cut dry can be used to cut both wet and dry. The following quote is from Phil White, one of the many diamond blade experts at Esch Supply.
-Phil White, Diamond Blade Expert at Esch
5. Can I get more longevity from my Diamond Blade?
The life of your diamond blade is determined by many different variables. Some factors include the quality of the diamond blade, the material being cut, the equipment being used, and the experience of the operator. We recommend taking the time to ensure you have the right diamond blade for the job, which can be done by following the steps listed above. Once that has been achieved, give your blade its greatest chance to succeed! Do this by following a few easy steps during the cutting process.
First, do not apply too much pressure to the blade while cutting. Let the blade do the work and dictate how fast you can cut. Second, we recommend that step cutting is used during the cutting process. That means only taking a few inches per pass in concrete until you have cut all the way through the slab. In asphalt, it’s efficient to cut a little deeper per pass, but step cutting should still be used in asphalt thicker than 4”. Finally, we recommend using water whenever possible to get the most out of your diamond blade.
Final Tips for Longer Life
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- Use water whenever possible to get the most out of your blade while keeping dust to a minimal.
- Let the saw do the work! Step cut instead of buring the blade.
- Make sure the diamond blade is installed on the saw correctly.
- Find the right Diamond Blade for your application using our online store
- Call Esch to make sure you are using the right blade for your cutting application.