4" Diamond Blades

["Simon Brown" <moonsong@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Dear mmorse,
In my experience- sometimes cheaper is better! It depends on the stone you
are cutting, whether it is soft and abrasive, or hard and liable to heat the
blade quickly. Different blades for different materials: it's a matter of
trial and error after researching the manufacturer's recommendations.

Have you tried wet cutting? The water helps to keep the blade cool, and
washes away abrasive slurry. I shouldn't recommend this for electric power
tools, but even a wet sponge (held against a dry blade as it is cutting)
cools the blade and reduces dust.

Overheating causes the diamonds to either fall out of the segment matrix, or
to get coated with the matrix material. When a blade becomes 'glazed' like
this it won't cut, and heats up even more.

I have had good results in re-dressing a blade by taking a concrete masonry
block and 'wiping' the blade gently across the surface of the block while
the machine is running. It is a good way to even up a blade that has
developed a burnt spot, and to expose diamonds from the cutting edge.

I know the saw manuals tell you to plunge cut into softer abrasive
materials, but it only wears the blade at the sides of the segments, and
causes further heating at the periphery.

Simon