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. we have a grading system to help you identify the different performance levels of blades.

Know the type and horsepower of the saw being used

There is a corresponding symbol for each, and these symbols are used throughout the catalog to help you locate the right blade. Blades that are to be used on power cutters have to be rated at higher rpms. All high-speed cut-off blades are rated at the appropriate, higher rpms.

Correctly identify what you’re cutting

Correctly identifying the material you are going to cut is the most important factor in choosing a blade. It directly affects the cutting speed and the life of the blade. You will find diamond blade recommendations charts throughout the catalog to help you locate the proper blade for your job. Most blades cut a range of materials. 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 nondiamond bearing segment bases necessary for the laser welding or brazing process. That is why we show 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 a blade segment height by itself is not a true measure of a 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 of the saw, and how well the blade specification is matched to the material being cut.