Tips to Make Diamond Blades Last Longer

Diamond blades get beat up in a lot of ways and get stuck, burned, bent or broken. It’s not practically or economically ideal and to make them last for a significant time requires reliable workmanship. 

Bomba Diamond Tools manufactures and provides service for diamond saw blades, core bits and specialty tools for customers in Toronto and across North America. We serve customers in a wide variety of industries such as stonework and construction.

Whether you’re using it on an electric hand saw, gas-powered saw or walk-behind saw, a few relevant tips can increase their life. 

Factors That Affect Longevity

How long diamond blades last depends greatly on various factors which can be classified into the three following categories:

• Diamond Saw Blade Itself

1. The concentration of diamond

There is an acknowledged standard for weight concentration in the diamond saw blade industry. The concentration will be 100% if there is a 4.4 karat diamond in one cubic centimetre of the segment. It will change to 75% if there is a 3.3 karat diamond.

Volume concentration should also be considered as well. The weight concentration will be 100% if the volume occupies 1/4th of the combined volume of the segment. Increasing the diamond concentration can increase the life of the blade as well.

2. The grit size

30/40 to 60/80 is the most popular grit size range. Fine diamond grit will allow the diamond blades to be used longer but you must consider the hardness of the material before selecting the grit size. If the blade has to cut granite, it’s better to go for 60/70 or 40/50. If the material is concrete, 30/40 will be better.

3. Bond hardness

The bond will be composed of various metal powders used to wrap the diamond grit. The resistance is better if the bond is harder and to enhance this, tungsten or cobalt is usually added.

• The Materials

Cutting hard material needs a different blade than the ones used to cut soft and abrasive materials. Harder materials need diamonds to be quickly exposed and a softer bond for holding the diamonds to the segment.

• Cutting Parameters During Operation

1. The linear speed

In practice, the blade’s linear speed is confined by the blade quality, cutting materials and the equipment. Considering the blade’s cutting efficiency and lifespan, the linear speed should be different for different materials.

2. Cutting depth

Diamond cutting depth is a key element to cutting performance, cutting material and diamond wearing. Generally, the cutting depth should be set smaller if the linear speed is high. As per the current technology, the current depth of the diamond should be between 1mm ~ 10mm.

3. Feeding speed

The feeding speed affects the impact force on the blade, cutting efficiency and the cooling of the cutting area. An appropriate feeding speed should be set based on the cutting material’s nature. For soft materials, the feeding speed should be slower to get a bigger cutting depth while the same should be higher for tough materials to prevent the diamond grit from wearing out easily.

Tips for a Longer Life

Considering the above variables, there are still certain things that can be done to maximize the lifespan of diamond blades such as discussed below: 

• Selecting the right blade for the job

There are various types of blade materials such as asphalt, granite and concrete, specifically designed for different applications. While general-purpose blades can be used for a variety of cutting tasks, application-specific blades are designed to meet the needs of particular tasks.

• Follow the instructions on the blade

If the blade is supposed to be used when it’s wet, then it is a mistake to use it while it is dry. Alternatively, every dry blade can be used when it’s wet and this increases the blades’ lifespan. The water also helps eliminate dust and heat.

• Don’t bury the blade

This is another mistake where the blade is buried all the way to the flange. Forcing the blade through the material will negatively affect the saw by burning up the motor, increasing the amperage and overheating the blade. This will cause damage and premature wear.

The metal in the diamond rim can become so hot that it wraps the diamonds. Glazing over diamonds can turn the blades dull and affect cutting, even if there’s life left on the diamond.

• Install the blade properly

Be attentive to the directional arrows that are labelled to confirm the blade is installed properly to spin in the intended direction. The blade wears out easily if spun in the wrong way.

• Be careful with the turns

If directions are going to be changed, remember to turn off the saw machine and lift the blade. The blade can easily bend and break if the machine turns directions while the blade remains in the cut.

Let Us Help 

Bomba Diamond Tools have been providing sales and service of diamond tools for over 40 years. We promise realistic completion dates for all our services. We also take over emergency requests for our clients. 

For information on cleaning diamond blades, read our blog post HOW TO CLEAN YOUR DIAMOND BLADE.

Call us to learn more about our services.