About diamond blades

Quoted text begins.RE: " preferences on (low end) brands . . . what about wet/dry?"
End of quote.

Hi Richard,

Like anything else, with diamond blades you get usually get what you pay
for. Going cheap on diamond blades is false economy - if you want to go
cheap use throwaway silicon-carbide masonry abrasive discs at $2-3 each.

That said, for a bit over $50 you can usually get a good dry-cut sintered-
type diamond bladesuitable for sandstone, and for perhaps $20 more you can
get it mounted on a flange for making flush-cuts.

For a really nice cut on limestone, alabaster, marble try to find an
electroplated diamond blade ? but even soft sandstone is a real killer on
electroplated blades. If you get a electroplated-type blade DO NOT USE IT ON
SANDSTONE or its life will be measured in minutes.

Here is a link to my website's supplier linkpage which lists various
suppliers that specialize in tools for the sculpture and stone-working
industry ? but note that sculpture supply houses usually carry a minimal
variety of types of diamond blades compared to the industry suppliers:

http://dondougan.homestead.com/LINKPAGE4-suppliers.html

I have used all the suppliers listed on the page, and they are all good (at
least when last I ordered from them!). But sometimes visiting a supplier
and seeing the tools in person is better than relying on a catalog or
telephone descriptions. This is why I frequent a Gran Quartz which happens
to be local to me which is where I buy diamond blades, but similar
industrial suppliers (both of which I have used but have yet to add tomy
linkpage) are:

EASTERN MARBLE & GRANITE SUPPLY
P.O.Box 392
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
201 322-6567 orders:800 643-8818
http://www.easternmarble.com
Tools for the stone-working trades: diamond cutting/polishing tools &
supplies, 4"/7" ZEC & 5"/7" SAIT discs, sealers, and adhesives.

VIC INTERNATIONAL
P.O. DRAWER 12610
KNOXVILLE TN 37912
615 947-2882 800-242-1141
FAX: 947-2634
http://www.vicintl.com
Industrial power tools for the trade - diamond saws, grinders, polishers.

All of these suppliers (and many others) will sell you the right kind blade
if you tell them what you are going to be cutting. They also will sell the
wet- cutting tools and attachments ? but if you are on a tight budget you
may need to forego the $$$$ wet tools and simply drool. ;-)

Good Carving to You,
Don

http://www.dondougan.homestead.com/indexdd.html