How to choose a diamond blade for a masonry saw or tile saw. GUIDE

To the uninitiated, the sheer amount of options when it comes to choosing a diamond blade for a masonry saw or tile saw can be enough to make your head spin. It’s easy to give in to “analysis paralysis” when faced with too many choices, and just reach for the closest “all-purpose” blade.

However, putting a little bit of effort into choosing the best diamond blade for your project will be well worth it if you plan on getting any serious use out of it and your masonry saw. This is because having a blade that is specifically indicated for the type of cutting you are doing will result in better, more efficient cuts, a longer blade life, and a much more user-friendly experience overall. So, in this article, we have a simple guide to helping you decide which diamond blade to buy for your masonry saw.

Contents

Buying a diamond blade for a masonry saw: the basics
Buying a diamond blade for a masonry saw: materials, hardness and abrasiveness
Guide to choosing a suitable diamond blade

Buying a diamond blade for a masonry saw: the basics

It should go without saying, but the first thing you need to do before buying a diamond blade for your masonry saw is know the technical specs of your machine. After all, if the blade is the wrong size, or doesn’t fit on the saw’s arbor, it will be completely useless.

When you have a specific project in mind, it is also helpful to consider the thickness of what you will be cutting. This way, if your saw can accommodate a range of blade sizes, or if you haven’t yet purchased your masonry saw, you will be able to tailor the blade to the cutting depth that will be needed.

Finally, you will want to know in advance whether you will be wet cutting or dry cutting. Most applications are better for wet cutting, and this is also easier on your blade. But, if you absolutely have to dry cut, it is vitally important that you buy a diamond blade labeled for dry cutting. Usually, dry cutting blades have slats cut into them, but always look to the manufacturer’s specifications for the final word.

Buying a diamond blade for a masonry saw: materials, hardness and abrasiveness

This is the part where people tend to get overwhelmed, so we will try to make it as simple as possible. There is a huge variety of materials that can be cut using a diamond blade on a masonry saw or tile saw, and some of them require different qualities than others when it comes to buying the right blade.

For most casual users, the most important aspect of the blade to consider is the strength of the metal bond that holds the diamonds in place. The hardness and abrasiveness of whatever you are cutting will determine how strong this bond should be.

Hard materials require a soft bond. If the bond is not soft enough, the diamonds will go dull and the blade will need to be sharpened to continue cutting. Conversely, softer, abrasive materials require a harder bond. If the bond is not hard enough, the stone will wear away at the blade too fast, significantly reducing your blade life.

Guide to choosing a suitable diamond blade

Below is a quick guide to choosing a suitable diamond blade based on the material you are cutting.

These suggestions are designed to give casual masonry saw users the most general use possible while still maintaining good cutting quality.For example, the Granite blade is recommended over the Sandstone blade for hard stone because the Granite blade is able to cut sandstone better than the Sandstone blade cuts granite. However, if you know that you will be working exclusively with sandstone, then the Sandstone blade would be more appropriate for you.