Post by stoner on Jan 13, 2006 11:30:05 GMT -5
Hi all. Since so many people are getting into the cutting aspect of this hobby I thought it might be nice(and cost effective) to point out the nature of diamond blades.
First, diamond blades do not cut like a saw blade made for wood. Rather, they grind the material away. So even though they don't "cut", one should still use common sense around them and give your saw the respect it deserves. You can still get hurt.
Second, because they grind rather than cut, they can get clogged up with softer material making it seem as though they are dead. Not true. A diamond blade is not dead until the entire area on the edge of the blade that contains the diamond is gone. Or, in the case of a mishap, the blade ends up dished, warped, bent, a chunk missing, etc. And even in the case of a dished blade, if it is 10" or larger and is of a good quality and relatively new, it may be salvaged by having it professionaly repaired.
So if your blade starts to seem as though it's getting Dull, grab an old silicon carbide grinding wheel and make a few cuts into it andit will cut like new again. You can also use a brick or a nice hard agate of some kind.
When the rim that contains the diamond is gone, the blade is Dead.
Hope this helps some of you save some money by not buying blades unnecessarily.
Ed
First, diamond blades do not cut like a saw blade made for wood. Rather, they grind the material away. So even though they don't "cut", one should still use common sense around them and give your saw the respect it deserves. You can still get hurt.
Second, because they grind rather than cut, they can get clogged up with softer material making it seem as though they are dead. Not true. A diamond blade is not dead until the entire area on the edge of the blade that contains the diamond is gone. Or, in the case of a mishap, the blade ends up dished, warped, bent, a chunk missing, etc. And even in the case of a dished blade, if it is 10" or larger and is of a good quality and relatively new, it may be salvaged by having it professionaly repaired.
So if your blade starts to seem as though it's getting Dull, grab an old silicon carbide grinding wheel and make a few cuts into it andit will cut like new again. You can also use a brick or a nice hard agate of some kind.
When the rim that contains the diamond is gone, the blade is Dead.
Hope this helps some of you save some money by not buying blades unnecessarily.
Ed
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew