How Long Does a Tile Saw Blade Last and When to Replace It?

How long does a tile saw blade last?

You have already made an investment and bought a proper wet tile saw and the right diamond blade, and you want to make the most of it. Naturally, you want your cuts to be soft and accurate, but in order to get that professional finishing in your materials, you have to keep the proper maintenance on your blade. That is the reason why we will explain some essential aspects such as how to tell if a diamond saw blade is dull, how to change a diamond blade, when you should replace it, and in general, how long does a diamond blade last. Last but not least, we will tell you all about dressing the blade.

How to know when to replace a tile saw blade

If you want to know how to tell if a diamond saw blade is dull, check these signs:

• Odd vibrations or thumping noises when you turn on the saw
• Slower cutting speed than usual
• Visible steel core
• Obvious symptoms of damage

Keep an eye on the material you are cutting. If it gets damaged when it shouldn’t, it means that the blade is dull. But try to avoid this sign to prevent yourself from wasting materials. A soft grind is not enough reason to replace the blade as it can probably still work a few more hours, it does not need to be abrasive. You can keep on until there is obvious damage or some of the signs above.

Remember to clean the blade before replacing it, because sometimes some materials such as tile get chipped and leave particles stuck on the blade.

By dressing the blade, you can make the most of your diamond blade even when you think it is done, so keep on reading the article to discover how to properly do it.

How long does a diamond tile saw blade last?

Do you want the truth? It depends.

Yes, a diamond blade will always last longer and cut through harder materials than other types of blades. But its life expectancy will depend on the quality of the blade, the materials you will be cutting, for how long do you use it without stopping, if you apply more or less pressure, the rpm of the saw and of course, if you are dry or wet cutting.

To give you an example, if you buy a low-quality diamond blade but the circumstances are ideal (wet cutting, taking pauses, cutting soft materials, etc.), it can last circa 12 hours. If you work with the same low quality diamond blade under poor conditions (cutting the hardest materials without knowing the technique, dry cutting, etc.), it could be half or less.

By using a professional quality diamond blade, the best tile cutter, under normal conditions, it can reach over 120 working hours.

How to improve the blade life on a tile saw

The high-quality blade will guarantee a longer life expectancy, but there are a few tips you can follow to make it last even longer before needing a tile cutter blade replacement:

• Use a specifically designed blade for the material you will be working on. There are different compositions and types of bonding metals in every diamond blade, depending on the material they are destined to cut. Some are designed to be cut more abrasive materials, and others are softer, meaning that not using the proper blade could shorten the life of your diamond blade.
• Never dry cut with a wet cutting blade. On the other hand, we recommend you use a dry cutting blade while wet cutting.
• Don’t apply much pressure on the blade thinking it will make it cut faster.

What is “dressing the blade”?

Technically speaking, you are dressing the blade when it has gone dull, and you sharpen it again. The reason why the blade goes dull is basically that the soft metal bond that keeps the diamonds of the blade in place melts over the diamonds. When these diamonds are covered, they can’t cut through any material (concrete, tile, stone, etc.). But if you sharpen it again, you can extend its life expectancy. Shortly, to sharpen a diamond saw blade is to run it through a rough enough material that will abrade the metal away in order to expose the diamonds again without damaging them.

If you are not a professional or you simply have never done this before, your best option is to use a diamond blade dressing stone or rubbing stone. It is moderately thick, narrow bar of stone with a specific level of hardness and abrasiveness. A grinding wheel or a tool made of silicon carbine can work too, if you happen to have one at home. For example, fire bricks are usually made of 90% silicon carbide, and an obsidian can be used to freshen up the blade to prevent it from getting too dull. In some cases, you can use a cinder block as a makeshift dressing stone.

How to change a wet saw blade

Double check the previous signs that your blade is dull and dressing the blade is no longer an option. Now, you are ready to replace your diamond blade, and this is how you should do it:

1. Unplug the saw.
2. Loosen the central bolt on the blade backing plate by using a hex key and a box wrench. Do not forget that it has been designed in reverse order to prevent the bold coming undone when working. In other words, it could be the opposite of right-tight and left-loose. How can you know that? You will find the letter ‘L’ on the bolt. That is why it is easier to loosen the bolt by using both wrenches at the same time.
3. Examine how the backing plate is settled and put aside the blot and backing.
4. Remove the damaged blade.
5. If there is an adapter ring around the blade’s arbor hole, keep it.
6. Reverse the steps you followed but provide it with a brand-new wet tile saw blade.
7. If there was an adapter ring, push It into the arbor hole of the new blade.
8. You will find small arrows or angle brackets on the blade and on the saw. Match these direction indicators.
9. Diamond blades are designed to cut in only one direction.
10. Mount the blade again onto the arbor shaft and put the backing plate back as it was.
11. Screw in the central bolt. Start with your fingers and then keep on with the two wrenches. Do not forget that it is left tight, right loose.
12. Check that everything is in place and properly working with some waste material before trying to cut expensive materials.