Choosing The Right Concrete Cutting Blades

Choosing the right concrete cutting blade in Sydney for your application can be a difficult task. There are many different types of blades available and each one has its own unique features, benefits, and drawbacks.

Luckily, we’ve created this guide to help you make an informed decision about which concrete cutting blade is best for you. If you’d like to learn more about choosing the right concrete cutting blades, feel free to continue reading our article below as we tackle the following:

• Types of concrete cutting blades
• Weighing up the pros and cons of each type
• Considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right concrete cutting blades

Types Of Concrete Cutting Blades

A cutting blade is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a concrete cutter’s arsenal. While there are several different types, there are two types that you will often come across: carbon steel blades and diamond blades. 

Carbon steel is a very strong and durable material making it perfect to cut through hard materials such as metal, brick or other structural tiles. These products are manufactured with a variety of edge profiles that can be customised to the user’s needs and the type of activity they will perform on-site, whether it’s slicing or sawing through concrete.

Meanwhile, diamond blades are capable of cutting through concrete when used with a concrete saw. Diamond blades are also highly durable and long-lasting, making them the perfect choice for people who work in demanding environments or need their saw to function reliably day after day.

Weighing Up The Pros And Cons Of Each Type

Weighing up the pros and cons for each type of concrete cutting blade is an important step in the decision-making process of choosing the right concrete cutting blade for you. With that, let’s go through the pros and cons of carbon steel blades versus diamond blades.

Carbon steel blades are a great metal option for cutting concrete. They’re tough, durable and will last a long time with little to no maintenance needed. Its pros and cons are as follows:

Pros

• Does not necessarily need professional resharpening. Sharpness can be maintained with an occasional honing on stones found around construction sites like granite slabs from demolished buildings and broken up asphalt roads. 
• More affordable than diamond blades.
• More durable than other types of metal blades

Cons

• Can be prone to rusting.
• While carbon steel blades can have an iron-carbon alloy that coats the surface to reduce corrosion, this coating also affects how well a blade will cut through concrete. This is because it gets in between the metal teeth as they contact each other while spinning, eventually leading to premature wearing out of those teeth.

On the other hand, diamond blades have been a staple for construction workers and engineers who need to cut concrete, and are also the best option if you’re looking for something that will make light work out of tough jobs. The pros and cons are as follows:

Pros 

• Diamonds stay sharp all day long without needing any maintenance or upkeep. Meanwhile, other materials such as metal may dull after only a few uses and require regular attention until they become usable again.
• The diamonds are embedded in the blade surface so it does not wear down over time as other types of abrasive blades do. Diamonds are also the hardest material on earth, so they can make precise cuts easily. 
• Unlike steel blades, they are less likely to break from excessive pressure and can last up to five times as long due to their durability.
• Can slice through steel with little effort due to their hardness. This makes them ideal for tough tasks like hacking away at old mortar joints from brick structures where reinforcement bars have corroded.
• Can produce more of an even, polished finish than steel saws and can be used with diamond wet or dry grinding wheels to remove the rough edges left behind by other tools such as jackhammers and grinders.

Cons

• Inability to operate effectively when faced with soft material like wood.
• Can be expensive.
• Requires specialised knowledge to sharpen and care for the blade.

Considerations To Keep In Mind When Choosing The Right Concrete Cutting Blades

With all the choices of blades out there, it can be hard to pick which one is right. Manufacturers offer various types of blades that are designed with different cutting needs in mind so make sure you have a good idea of what kind of concrete you’re going to cut before making any purchases.

In order to choose the right blade for your needs, we suggest focusing on four aspects: blade design and construction, safety considerations, blade care and maintenance, and the cost of blades.

1). Blade Design And Construction

Do you want to cut through concrete like butter? If so, then the design and construction of a blade are very important.

It is crucial to consider the design and construction of each particular type. You’ll need to take into consideration what you’re cutting, how big it will be cut out to size, whether or not you want all parts cut evenly (if so consider using an undercut), as well as any other details that could affect which type of blade would work best for your specific needs.

There are also other factors that go into a blade’s construction, including material type; shape and size; teeth style or number per inch (TPI). For instance, if it’s important to have a durable but delicate surface on completion then carbide blades should be avoided because they can leave an abrasive finish when used incorrectly. 

A carbon steel saw won’t produce as clean a cut in some cases because they’re not designed for certain jobs that other blades might be. In fact, there are even types of diamond concrete cutting blades that you need to be aware of such as dry-cutting blades or wet-cutting blades. Take all of these things into account when making your decision!

2). Safety Considerations

Safety features are another important consideration to keep in mind. For example, do you want a saw with safety features like rounded edges or special guards? Will it be able to cut through the surface easily enough or will you have to get down on my hands and knees just so you can make progress? And how well does the edge stay sharp after extended periods of usage and how will it react when interacting with both sides even at high stresses?

You need to be mindful of the different safety features when investing in a concrete cutting blade. You will need a concrete cutting blade that’s sharp but also won’t break or bend easily so you can get your project done without any dramas.

One of the most important features when purchasing a blade for these purposes will be its ability to keep sparks from prematurely igniting flammable objects in close proximity to the cutting site. It should also be sharp enough so that you’re not having to work too hard with downward force and other aspects of maintaining control. 

3). Blade Care And Maintenance

Cutting through concrete is a job with an up-keep cost. If not properly taken care of, blades can dull quickly and put an extra strain on both time and budget. They also might cause damage if used incorrectly due to their fragility during use (accordingly with materials).

To keep your blade in the best shape, you need to take care of it by cleaning, sharpening and storing them right away after use or when they start looking duller than usual because there’s always more work for blades out there!

4). Cost Of Blades 

A blade can be the difference between a long-lasting, efficient cutting tool and one that’s ready to break down at any moment. Therefore, the cost is an important factor in this decision because you don’t want to spend more money than necessary on something just for it to wear out quickly. These are just some of the basic considerations to keep in mind when choosing the right concrete cutting blades.

Summary

Concrete cutting blades are an essential tool for any contractor in the construction industry. The right blade can make a huge difference in the efficiency and quality of your work, so you want to choose wisely from the start. We’ve put together this guide to help you find the perfect concrete cutting blades for your needs – pick one that best fits what you need today!

If you are looking for a concrete cutting company that is trustworthy and reliable, then don’t go past Sydney Sawing & Drilling. Please call us today on (02) 9158 6101 or leave an enquiry.