Diamond Blade Concrete Cutting
© 1998 - (Emerald Key Software), all rights reserved
Category Construction Glossary
Knowing what factors that can affect your concrete cutting performance is
the first step.
Understanding your Aggregate and choosing the right diamond blade for
what you’re cutting.
Hard aggregates such as river rock require diamond blade with a softer
bond. Meaning the metals holding the diamonds are softer allowing the
diamonds to grind down and break away when they’re done cutting. You
should cut at slower speeds when the aggregate is hard.
Soft aggregates require diamond blades made with a harder bond, where
the metals hold the diamonds tighter and the soft aggregate assist in the
grinding of the diamonds. Cutting at faster speeds is advisable when cutting
soft aggregates.
Of course reinforcing steel can decrease your cutting rate and shorten your
blade life. When cutting through steel try reducing blade speed, decrease
your water flow, and apply more pressure. Never bounce the blade up and
down – diamonds don’t like impact. Operating your diamond blade at the
right speed can also affect performance. Speed will have to be adjusted
based on the type of aggregate or the amount of steel you encounter. You
should never operate a blade above the recommended RPM stamped on
the blade. Serious injury could occur! Blade cores are tensioned at a
prescribed RPM.
Depth of cut can drastically affect the life of your blades. Plunging all the
way to full depth increasing blade contact will wear your blades out
prematurely. Step cutting is advisable to prolong blade life. Make one pass
at a speed of 8 to 10 feet per minute allowing just enough contact and
maintaining RPMs. Make repeated passes until you’re all the way through.
Careful not to cut down to deep into the sub base introducing more
abrasive material to wear down your blade. Watch the color of your slurry!
When it turns a different shade you’re probably through the cut.
Cooling when cutting is one of the most important aspects of cutting
performance. Water or some other type of coolant must be used when
cutting with diamond blades 1/2 to 3 gallons per minute is a good range to
go by. Low water flow can present several problems including undercutting
or overheating. Too much water can work against you and the diamonds
don’t get enough contact on the material, this is know as “glazing”. Tip: Add
a small amount of liquid detergent to your water tank. (1 bottle to a 500
gallon tank) Liquid detergent helps lubricate the cut and makes clean up
easier.
Saw power should always match diamond blade power requirements. Over
powering your blade will make it cut faster but the blade will wear out much
too soon. Not enough power will cause diamonds to round and be
ineffective.
Applying some of these common sense techniques should help increase
your blade life thus reducing your cost per cut.
the first step.
Understanding your Aggregate and choosing the right diamond blade for
what you’re cutting.
Hard aggregates such as river rock require diamond blade with a softer
bond. Meaning the metals holding the diamonds are softer allowing the
diamonds to grind down and break away when they’re done cutting. You
should cut at slower speeds when the aggregate is hard.
Soft aggregates require diamond blades made with a harder bond, where
the metals hold the diamonds tighter and the soft aggregate assist in the
grinding of the diamonds. Cutting at faster speeds is advisable when cutting
soft aggregates.
Of course reinforcing steel can decrease your cutting rate and shorten your
blade life. When cutting through steel try reducing blade speed, decrease
your water flow, and apply more pressure. Never bounce the blade up and
down – diamonds don’t like impact. Operating your diamond blade at the
right speed can also affect performance. Speed will have to be adjusted
based on the type of aggregate or the amount of steel you encounter. You
should never operate a blade above the recommended RPM stamped on
the blade. Serious injury could occur! Blade cores are tensioned at a
prescribed RPM.
Depth of cut can drastically affect the life of your blades. Plunging all the
way to full depth increasing blade contact will wear your blades out
prematurely. Step cutting is advisable to prolong blade life. Make one pass
at a speed of 8 to 10 feet per minute allowing just enough contact and
maintaining RPMs. Make repeated passes until you’re all the way through.
Careful not to cut down to deep into the sub base introducing more
abrasive material to wear down your blade. Watch the color of your slurry!
When it turns a different shade you’re probably through the cut.
Cooling when cutting is one of the most important aspects of cutting
performance. Water or some other type of coolant must be used when
cutting with diamond blades 1/2 to 3 gallons per minute is a good range to
go by. Low water flow can present several problems including undercutting
or overheating. Too much water can work against you and the diamonds
don’t get enough contact on the material, this is know as “glazing”. Tip: Add
a small amount of liquid detergent to your water tank. (1 bottle to a 500
gallon tank) Liquid detergent helps lubricate the cut and makes clean up
easier.
Saw power should always match diamond blade power requirements. Over
powering your blade will make it cut faster but the blade will wear out much
too soon. Not enough power will cause diamonds to round and be
ineffective.
Applying some of these common sense techniques should help increase
your blade life thus reducing your cost per cut.