In order to cut with a stone saw, masonry saw or block saw, you’re going to need one or more stone saw blades, and not just any diamond blade will do. Not only do you need to ensure that the blade is high quality, you also need to choose one that is suitable for your particular cutting project. All professional masons know this, but other people may not realize that there are many different types of stone with certain physical characteristics that need to be considered when choosing stone saw blades.
To shed some light on this, we’ll look at what makes one type of stone different from another, how to choose the best stone saw blades for each type, and some recommendations from SIMA’s Plus and Premium ranges of stone saw blades.
Choosing the right stone saw blades
From marble to granite, from limestone to sandstone, there is an incredible variety of stone used in construction. Even within a single type of stone, such as marble, there can be substantial variation in the physical properties depending on its place of origin and composition.
When choosing stone saw blades, the two properties that you need to consider are the hardness and abrasiveness of the stone you are cutting. A material that is hard will dull the diamonds in the saw blade faster, meaning the metal bond holding the diamonds needs to be soft enough to be wicked away and reveal fresh diamonds to continue cutting efficiently. On the other hand, an abrasive material will tear through a soft metal bond before the diamonds have had a chance to wear down, which means wasted diamonds and a much shorter blade life. Softer, more abrasive types of stone, therefore, require a hard metal bond.
Hard stone includes most types of granite, hard sandstone and hard slate. Soft, abrasive types of stone include marble, limestone, coarse sandstone and certain types of brick. If you are planning on cutting concrete, you will need some information about the aggregates in it and whether it has cured to determine whether it is hard or abrasive.
The SIMA Plus range and Premium range of stone saw blades are designed to meet the diverse needs of every customer. SIMA PLUS diamond blades offer the best value with excellent quality for the price. The Plus range includes a general purpose blade as well as specialty stone saw blades for granite and hard stone types, marble and limestone, and sandstone. Turbo Slim and X-COOL general purpose blades are also available.
SIMA PREMIUM diamond blades are manufactured to have an extended blade life and high performance. This range includes a standard and Turbo general purpose blade, plus specialized high-performance blades for granite and other hard stones (quartz, basalt, silestone, etc.), marble and limestone, and ceramics.
Also be aware that many diamond blades are indicated for wet cutting only. For safety reasons and to protect your equipment, only dry cutting blades should be used for dry cuts.
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