Making cuts through dense material such as concrete tile metal masonry porcelain or glass is a difficult If not impossible task for a standard blade. Best-quality Diamond blades are much stronger and more durable. While they are more expensive, they work faster and last longer. Contractors, fabricators, and construction workers may see a savings in the long run and appreciate the initial investment for quality equipment.
Diamond blades have an outer edge of bonded metal encrusted with synthetic diamonds that is welded or braised to a strong steel core. They are not actually cutting tools; they are grinding tools. The embedded diamonds in the bonded metal grinds the material away. As the edge heats up the diamonds fall away and new diamonds become exposed. This keeps the blade sharp over many uses. Some blades are designed with gullets that segment the outer edge and allow air or water to flow over the blade and keep it cool. Gullets also allow the blade to flex. Some blades have a serrated edge and either gullets or holes to guide air across the blade. A third type of blade is a continuous blade (a wet blade) that is great for glass and marble because it helps the material to not chip or crack and creates a more finished edge. Dry blades are good for making rough cuts fast in hard materials like concrete, masonry, tile or marble. Blades that can be used either wet or dry are suitable for a wide range of materials.
