Selecting the right Diamond Blade for the job.
Before you begin, the contractor should decide which is more important: whether it's the initial cost of the blade or the cost per foot/meter. For smaller jobs or occasional use, you may prefer a lower priced blade. For larger more important jobs the cost per foot/meter is generally much more significant than the initial cost of the blade.
Identify what you will be cutting. This is the single most important factor. The majority of diamond blades cut only a specific variety of materials. For more efficiency (of cutting speed and duration), you should be sure to select the best type of blade for your application.
You must choose between dry or wet cutting. Using some equipment you may not be able to use water due to electricity. For floor saws (walk behind) it is preferable to use water to reduce dust levels and act as a coolant for the blade.
For high speed saws, dry cutting blades are recommended, however sometimes water may be used to control dust levels. While wet cutting blades and core bits must be used ONLY with water, dry cutting blades on the other hand can be used with or without water (depending on the job situations or the equipment).
Please review the charts below and don't forget to visit our safety and tips section here:
Saw Blade Tips
DIAMOND BLADE CUTTING DEPTH | ||||
Diameter | Depth of Cut | |||
12" | (305mm) | 4" | (102mm) | |
14" | (356mm) | 5" | (127mm) | |
16" | (406mm) | 6" | (152mm) | |
18" | (457mm) | 7" | (178mm) | |
20" | (508mm) | 8" | (203mm) | |
24" | (610mm) | 10" | (254mm) | |
26" | (660mm) | 10 - 5/8" | (270mm) | |
30" | (762mm) | 11 - 2/8" | (295mm) | |
36" | (914mm) | 14 - 3/4" | (375mm) | |
42" | (1067mm) | 17 - 3/4" | (451mm) | |
48" | (1219mm) | 20 - 3/4" | (527mm) | |
* Cutting depth may vary depending on the equipment.
VARIABLES WHICH AFFECT CUTTING SPEED AND DURATION. | |||
Variables | Conditions | Speed | Duration |
Blade Thinner | Thinner | Faster | Less |
Thicker | Slower | Longer | |
Amount of Water Used |
Less | Faster | Less |
More | Slower | Longer | |
Cutting Depth | Less | Faster | Longer |
More | Slower | Less | |
Hardness of Materials |
Harder | Slower | Longer |
Softer | Faster | Less | |
Abrasiveness of Materials |
More | Faster | Less |
Less | Slower | Longer | |
Reinforced Materials |
Less | Faster | Longer |
More | Slower | Less | |