Diamond blade

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A red diamond blade

A diamond blade may be a circular saw blade used for cutting hard or abrasive materials. They are commonly used in the construction industry for building, remodeling and repairs. Other diamond blades are made for band saws to be used where shape cutting is desired.

Diamond blades are often used for cutting concrete, brick, block, stone and other materials with similar properties. A diamond blade may be composed of a steel core (unlike diamond wire) and powder metal which is combined with diamond crystals and then heated and pressed into a molding which form the diamond segments, also known as the "cutting teeth" of the blade. The diamond segments are then welded to the steel core. Alternate methods of manufacturing diamond blades include electroplating diamond crystal directly to a metal core, often a steel core, but occasionally other metals as well. And to a lesser extent, brazing is used to create single layer diamond blades. The method of adhering the diamond crystal will depend on the application intended.

The steel core can vary in design. Some of them have spaces (known as gullets) between each segment to provide cooling and slurry removal, while others have a single continuous rim for smoother chip-free cutting. The type of core that has to be used depends of the type of materials that will be cut.

[edit] Operation

A Diamond Blade does not actually cut. Instead, it grinds. They have rectangular teeth (segments) which contain diamond crystals on the tip of each segment for grinding through very hard materials.

The bond is a term used for the softness or hardness of the powder metal being used to form the segments and hold the diamonds in place. The bond controls the rate at which the Diamond Segments wear down and allow new diamonds to become exposed at the surface to continue grinding with a "sharp" edge. The most important step is matching a blade with the right bond to your specific cutting material.

[edit] Cutting with or without water

Diamond tools and blades work best when cutting wet. The water will prevent the blade from overheating, greatly reduce the amount of harmful dust created by cutting, and will remove the slurry from the cut. Diamond cannot withstand the forces involved at the elevated temperatures of dry cutting ceramic and abrasive materials, and will be subject to rapid tool wear and possible failure. Blade life is greatly extended by wet cutting. However, many blades are designed to operate either wet or dry.

When water cannot be used (electrical saws for example), measures should be taken so the operator does not inhale dust created by the process, which poses a very serious health risk. When doing dry cutting, the blade should be allowed to cool off periodically. Cooling can be increased by allowing the blade to spin freely out of the cut. This allows cool air to pass between the segments. Dry diamond cutting is dangerous for persons unfamiliar with the risks and process.