SEGMENTS

The edge of the blade may be smooth or textured, continuous rim, or a segmented rim with smaller, individual sections.

CORE

The blade core is a precision-made steel disc and may have a continuous or slotted rim.

SLOTS

The slots (also called “gullets”) provide faster cooling by allowing water or air to flow between the segments. The slots also allow the blade to flex under cutting pressure.

Before You Get Started

Decide which is most important to you: the initial price of the blade or the cost per cut. For smaller jobs or occasional use, a low priced blade may be preferable. For larger jobs or regular use, a higher priced blade will actually be less expensive to use because it will deliver the lowest cost per cut. For really big jobs, the lowest possible sawing cost (cost per foot) is usually much more important than the initial price.

Correctly Identify What You’re Cutting

A Correctly identifying the material you are going to cut is te most important factor in choosing a diamond saw blade. It directly affects the cutting speed and the life of the blade. For maximum performance (cutting speed and life), the material should be matched to the blade as closely as possible. As a general rule, determine the material which will be cut most often, or the material for which top blade performance is most important.

Choose Wet or Dry Cutting

Choosing wet or dry may be a matter of user preference or job requirement. When using a power hand tool such as a power hand saw, it is not safe to use water because of the electrical power source. However, for concrete saws, wet cutting is usually preferred because you can cut deeper when using water as a coolant. For tile and masonry saws, either wet or dry cutting blades can be used. For power cutters, dry blades are more popular, but they are often used wet to control dust. Wet blades MUST be used with water. Dry blades may be used EITHER dry OR wet, as the job or equipment allows.

The Significance of Segment Height

Total segment heights may be misleading because of non-diamond bearing segment bases necessary for the laser welding or brazing process. That is why Latux shows you exactly how much of each segment has diamonds and can actually be used to cut.

Diamond blade segment height by itself is not a true measure of the blade’s value. Many other factors affect a blade’s performance and consequent value. Consider the diamond size, concentration and quality, the hardness of the bond, the cutting power (torque) of the saw, and how well the blade specification is matched to the material being cut.

Keeping Your Diamond Blade Cool to Extend Its Life and Improve Its Performance

Dry cutting diamond blades may be used dry, eliminating the need for water tanks, water hoses, or wet slurry clean-up. These blades depend on airflow around the blade to prevent excessive heat build-up during cutting.

Use dry diamond blades for “intermittent” sawing. After every 10 to 15 seconds of cutting, take pressure off the blade and allow it to run back up to full speed for several seconds. This “cooling” interval allows air to flow around the blade and dissipate the heat. Use dry diamond blades ONLY for shallow cutting (1-2” deep) or step cutting (making several shallow passes to reach the full depth required).

Latux dry cutting diamond blades are also designed to cut equally well wet, if the job or equipment permits. Wet cutting diamond blades MUST be used with water to prevent excessive heat build-up during cutting. Using water on the blade also reduces dust and helps remove cuttings.

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