Faced with the bewildering choice of Diamond Cutting Blades now available in the market its no wonder that some customers struggle to decide which blade to buy and use. Especially when making your purchases on the internet and there's no-one to ask for the best blad for the right job.
Here are a few simple pointers to help anyone who is unsure about which Diamond Blades they should be using.
Size:
There are two measurements you need to know when ordering a Diamond Blade, the first is the diameter of the blade and the second is the bore size (hole in the middle). The most popular blade diameters and the type of machine they are used in are listed below:
115mm and 125mm commonly used in mini grinders.
180mm, 200mm and 250mm commonly used in tile cutting machines.
230mm commonly used in angle grinders.
300mm and 350mm commonly used in hand-held stone saws.
350mm and above are used in specialist floor saws and masonry saw benches.
Check the bore size you require by measuring your old blade or by measuring the arbor on your machine.
Material to be cut:
Diamond Cutting Blades are now available to cut just about every material you might come up against so which blade should you choose?
If you are going to be cutting the same or similar material many times then choose a blade that is specifically recommended for that material.
If you are going to be cutting different types of material then choose a multi purpose blade. It won't cut anything as well as a specialist blade nor will it last as long cutting the same material over and over again but it will give you the flexibility you require. All the major manufacturers now produce a full range of general purpose or multi purpose diamond blades.
What type of cut?
Diamond Cutting Blades come with three main types of cutting edge: -
Continuous Rim Gives the cleanest cut with the smoothest finish. This is the fastest type of cutting blade and is recommended for use on hard materials.
Turbo Rim: - The turbo segments pull air into the cut to clear debris giving a smooth fast cut to slightly softer more aggressive materials.
Segmented Rim: - A slower cut compared to the other two types of rim but giving longer life. These blades are used for softer more aggressive materials such as concrete and tarmac.
What quality of blade do I need?
Just like everything in life, with Diamond Cutting Blades you get what you pay for. But the recognised best brands for quality and endurance would be Duro, Marcrist, Spectrum and Technidiamant.
Whatever brand you choose always watch out for the segment depth of the blade, this will vary between 7mm and 20mm, the deeper the segment the longer the blade should last. Most reputable manufacturers offer several ranges of different quality blades. The better the quality of blade you buy means you will get more cuts per blade but perhaps more importantly each cut will take less time and we all know "time is money".
Finally once you have purchased your diamond blade make sure the blade is mounted correctly on the machine and that the material to be cut is secure and the cutting tool is held steady. Gently move the blade back and forth along the cut and do not apply excessive pressure. Shallow cuts result in faster cutting speed and longer blade life. Don't push too hard, let the blade and the weight of the machine do the work.
One last thing:
Always you make sure you wear personal protective equipment: - ear defenders, goggles, gloves, mask and safety footwear.
