Diamond blade

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A diamond blade is a circular saw blade used for cutting hard or abrasive materials. They are commonly used in the construction industry for: building, remodeling and repairs.

1 Diamond saw blade
2 How do Diamond Blades cut?
3 Selecting the correct diamond blade
4 Cutting with or without water
5 External links

[edit] Diamond saw blade

A red diamond blade

Here’s an example of some the materials that diamond blades can be used for cutting: Concrete, Brick, Block, Stone and other materials with similar properties. A diamond blade is composed of a steel core (unlike diamond wire) and powder metal which is combined with diamond crystals and then heated and pressed into a molding which form the diamond segments, also known as the "cutting teeth" of the blade. The diamond segments are then welded to the steel core.

The steel core can vary in design. Some of them have spaces (known as gullets) between each segment to provide cooling and slurry removal, while others have a single continuous rim for smoother chip-free cutting. The type of core that has to be used depends of the type of materials that will be cut.

[edit] How do Diamond Blades cut?

A Diamond Blade doesn't actually cut, instead it grinds. They have rectangular teeth (Segments) which contain Diamond Crystals on the tip of each Segment for grinding through very hard materials.

The bond is a term used for the softness or hardness of the powder metal being used to form the Segments & hold the diamonds in place. The bond controls the rate at which the Diamond Segments wear down and allow new diamonds to become exposed at the surface to continue grinding with a “sharp” edge. The most important step is matching a blade with the right bond to your specific cutting material.

[edit] Selecting the correct diamond blade

First thing you should know is how hard, or abrasive, the material you wish to cut is. Each Diamond Blade is unique in its combination of: bond, diamond concentration, diamond sizes/shapes, width, segment design, core design, etc.

To get the most efficient cutting you should always try to match the type of blade to the specific material it's designed to cut.

[edit] Cutting with or without water

It is better to use water whenever possible. The water will help prevent the blade from overheating, greatly reduce the amount of harmful dust created by cutting and will also help remove the slurry from the cut.

When water cannot be used (electrical saws for example), you should always take protective measures so you don’t inhale the dust created by the material you are cutting. When doing dry cutting, you should allow the blade to cool off after every few cuts. You can speed up the process by allowing the blade to spin freely, out of the cut, for a few moments. This will allow cool air to pass between the segments.

Always take safety precautions when using any type of power tools: Wear safety equipment. High levels of dust or improper usage of diamond blades can be harmful.