Diamond cutting blades for saws are strong, durable and designed for slicing and grinding through heavy-duty materials, such as metals, ceramic, masonry, stone and concrete. Diamond blades, which come in handy for a wide range of carpentry applications, are found on both professional construction project sites and in home workshops.
While the blades aren't constructed of natural diamonds, they are made with man-made crystals, which allow the tools to withstand a lot of stress and impact. As the blades are used, new diamond-type crystals are exposed as the old ones wear away, keeping the edges sharp. Diamond blades can be used in both dry- and wet-cutting applications.
To keep your diamond blades performing their best and to ensure that they last as long as possible, there are some general maintenance rules to keep in mind:
1. When you use a diamond blade in a saw, make sure it's properly lubricated to reduce friction on the cutting edge. Refer to the blade manufacturer's instructions to determine the type of lubricant, such as a water-soluble oil, to use with your specific blade. For extra protection, look for a lubricant featuring a rust inhibitor as well to keep the metal from degrading.
2. Throughout the diamond blade's life cycle, it should be reversed in the saw periodically to evenly distribute the edge's wear and tear. Using both sides of the diamond blade will allow you to get more mileage out of it.
3. If the blade's diamond edge appears glazed over and the tool isn't performing as well as usual, it may need to be sharpened to expose more crystals. This can happen after using the blade to cut through a dense material, such as concrete, over an extended period of time.
To sharpen the blade, simply run it through a softer, more abrasive material a few times.
4. When using the diamond blade to wet-cut through an object, make sure to provide adequate amounts of water. If there isn't enough water running over the surface of the blade, the tool can overheat and warp.
5. Clean off the diamond blade as often as needed. When you notice debris sticking to and building up on the blade, you won't use soap and water to clean it off. Instead, find a piece of cement, such as a concrete paver, and run the blade through it as full-speed. Hold the saw at different angles and run the blade through at a variety of depths to work all of the debris off.
For diamond saw blades, contact a company such as Web Granite Supplies.
