SAW BLADE TIPS
You may use the following charts and information to establish a safe work environment and increase productivity.
RECOMMENDED CUTTIGN SPEEDS |
Diameter |
Recommended: RPM* |
Maximum: RPM** |
4" |
(102mm) |
9,075 |
15,000 |
4.5" |
(114mm) |
8,063 |
13,300 |
5" |
(127mm) |
7,260 |
12,000 |
6" |
(152mm) |
6,050 |
10,080 |
8" |
(203mm) |
5,000 |
8,000 |
9" |
(229mm) |
4,540 |
7,640 |
10" |
(254mm) |
3,630 |
6,115 |
12" |
(305mm) |
3,025 |
5,095 |
14" |
(356mm) |
2,270 |
3,820 |
16" |
(406mm) |
2,270 |
3,820 |
18" |
(457mm) |
2,020 |
3,395 |
20" |
(508mm) |
1,815 |
3,055 |
22" |
(559mm) |
1,650 |
2,780 |
24" |
(610mm) |
1,515 |
2,550 |
26" |
(660mm) |
1,400 |
2,350 |
28" |
(711mm) |
1,300 |
2,185 |
30" |
(762mm) |
1,210 |
2,040 |
32" |
(813mm) |
1,135 |
1,910 |
36" |
(914mm) |
1,010 |
1,700 |
42" |
(1067mm) |
865 |
1,455 |
48" |
(1219mm) |
760 |
1,275 |
|
RECOMMENDED CUTTIGN SPEEDS |
Diameter |
Recommended: RPM* |
Maximum: RPM** |
12" |
(305mm) |
6,300 |
6,300 |
14" |
(356mm) |
5,400 |
5,400 |
|
How to maintain your Diamond Blade and easy fixes to problems you may encounter:
Uneven wear of the Segments
Problem.
The segments wear down on only one side, reducing the lateral tolerance. The common cause is a badly aligned blade or the lack of sufficient water on one side of the blade.
Fix.
Verify the alignment of the equipment. Clean the water system making sure the water is evenly distributed along the border of the flanges (blade supports). Check to make sure the pump is sending enough water evenly to both sides.
Problem.
The blade is wearing down badly due to worn bearings, worn shaft, an orifice on the blade's arbor which is bigger than the shaft of the saw, dirty/damaged flanges or excessive blade wear.
Fix.
Replace the bearings or the shaft. Examine the flanges to see if they are damaged.
Cracks in the Core
Problem.
Excessive cutting pressure or jamming the blade in the cut can bend the segments and crack them.
Fix.
The operator must apply moderate pressure and be sure not to turn the saw while the blade is in the cut. Try to avoid uneven surfaces when cutting.
Problem.
Your blade may be overheating due to lack of coolant or inappropriate use of the dry cutting blades.
Fix.
Use the correct amount of water when using wet cutting blades (2 to 5 gallons per minute on walk behind saws). For high speed saws, allow them to run freely for about 15 seconds after a few minutes of cutting so the air can act as a coolant.
Problem.
The metal bond of the blade is too hard for the material being cut.
Fix.
Use a blade with a softer bond.
Segment Loss
Problem.
The material slips during the cutting which causes the blade to jam or throw a segment.
Fix.
Make sure the material being cut is held in place correctly before cutting.
Problem.
Worn flanges aren't providing enough support which causes the blade to slip.
Fix.
Replace both flanges.
Problem.
Again, this can be due to overheating. This can be easily detected by a bluish color underneath the segments generally limited to the area of the lost segment.
Fix.
Check to see if the water system is being clogged. Make sure the water pump is working correctly. For dry cutting it may be necessary to cut lesser depths and allow the blade to spin freely every few minutes to allow the air to cool the blade.
Problem.
Bond is too hard for the material being cut, glazing over the diamonds which causes a pounding on the material resulting in segment loss.
Fix.
Use a softer bond.
Cracked Segments
Problem.
The bond is too hard for the material being cut. The hard bond retains the diamonds which are rounded off and instead of cutting the material the segments become smooth and lose their cutting "edge".
Fix.
Change to a softer bond which can wear down faster, allowing new diamond crystals to be exposed to continue cutting.
Overheated Diamond Blade
Problem.
Most likely this is due to the lack of sufficient coolant.
Fix.
Check the water system for clogged nozzles. Use dry cutting blades only for superficial cuts (2-5 cm).
Problem.
When using a blade that has worn out diamond segments.
Fix.
Always check the segments when the blade is nearly worn out. With laser welded blades there is a small laser welding pad of approximately 1mm. For example a laser welded blade with 10mm segments has approx. 9mm of useful segment height and should be discarded once the laser welding pad is reached. This can avoid damage and prolong the life of the saw.
Diamond Blade Will not Cut
Problem.
The bond is too hard for the material being cut. The segments become smooth. (Example: Using an asphalt blade for cutting hard Cured Concrete)
Fix.
Consult your provider for the appropriate blade to effectively cut the material. If the segments become smooth and no longer cut, you can re-sharpen the segments by cutting an abrasive material such as asphalt or cinderblock until the segments are rough once again.
Visit our safety section for additional information:
Safety