The industry of diamond cutting has changed dramatically since the day it was discovered. More especially when the costs have decreased up to 90% over the last three decades. This has opened to the high potential market and more number of users, and eventually lead to increased volume. So, if you are a new user of diamond saw blades, you’re lucky enough not to experience the pains of the industry years before. While the costs are now low, you can still find a wide range of prices and quality for you to consider. But what exactly is a diamond saw blade and what are the facts surrounding the industry?
Diamond saw blades are cutting tools that can be found in almost every toolbox of a handyman. They are valuable tools used to cut into different stones like marble and granite, as well as asphalt and concrete. Despite the fact that diamonds are considered to be the hardest mineral here on earth, diamond saw blades still need replacement periodically. These cutting blades are so popular but here are the facts that you may not know yet about these tools.
- They can be made in three various forms, namely, circular, band saw, and gang saw. There are also three different methods to manufacture diamond saw blades - vacuum brazing, sintering, and electroplating. Sintering utilises a metal-bonded diamond while vacuum brazing welds the diamonds into the outside part of the blade. Whereas the process of electroplating embeds the diamond particles into metal coating.
- Among these various blades, sintered blades are the most common ones available on the market.
- Even if diamond saw blades are also considered as a cutting tool, they actually don’t cut but grind the material. They can be operated either dry or wet but work best using a wet cutting method because the water prevents the blade from getting overheat.
- In order to achieve proper cutting, diamond quality and grit are the two most important things to consider.
- Finally, the diamond particles used in saw blades are made in laboratories. They are not natural.