Sharp Diamonds: Five Tips for Keeping Diamond Saw Blades as Sharp as Possible
Posted on: 22 September 2015
If you have recently acquired a diamond saw blade from a company like Crozier Diamond Tools Aust Pty Ltd, you need to focus on keeping it sharp. Sharp diamond blades can do the work you need quickly, and they are also less likely than dull blades to cut or hurt you. Here are some essential tips on keeping your diamond blades as sharp as possible:
1. Wet the material you are cutting.
When working with ceramics, stone or other materials, don't cut it while it is dry. The abrasion of hitting a dry surface will dull your diamond blade faster than normal.
Instead, wet your material slightly before or while cutting it. You can spray water on it with a simple spray bottle, or you can train a hose on it so that the material is constantly being moistened as you work.
2. Avoid cutting steel.
As your diamond blade cuts so easily through a range of materials, it can be tempting to try it on hard metals. However, that can be hard on your blades. Steel, in particular, is one metal you should avoid cutting with a diamond blade. Unfortunately, the iron in the steel can interact with the carbon in your diamond blade.
Essentially, the natural connection between these two substances can create a lot of heat. The heat, in turn, can erode the diamond blade. Ideally, before using your diamond blade on any material, you should check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure that material and your diamond blade are compatible. If not, you risk damaging your blade.
3. Use Cubic Boron Nitride blades as a backup to your diamond blades.
In situations where your diamond blades tend to overheat, make sure that you have CBN blades to use as a backup. On an elemental level, CBN is naturally more stable than the carbon in diamonds. As a result, that means that CBN blades can stand up to the high temps created by cutting steel or other hard materials that diamonds cannot.
Having CBN blades on hand allows you to give your diamond blades a break as needed, especially when cutting very hard substances.
4. Have patience when sharpening diamond blades.
One of the ways you can sharpen diamond blades is by cutting into another material. Have patience throughout this process because it can take a while. In most cases, you need to cut several centimetres into the sharpening material before your diamond blade will become sharp.
As you are cutting into the sharpening material, it will flake off and mix with your diamond blade, and it will ultimately create a slurry that sloughs off the old, worn out bits of the blade so that new, sharper diamonds can be revealed.
If you get discouraged while sharpening your blade, use the blade itself as a guide to see how much longer you need to sharpen it. Ideally, you want to sharpen it until you see a new layer of diamonds poking out of the blade. Keep in mind you may need to wipe excess bits of debris off your blade as you sharpen it to make your efforts more successful.
5. Use an aluminium oxide dressing stick.
Another tool you can use to sharpen your diamond blades is a dressing stick or a grinding wheel dresser. Dressing wheels or sticks knock abrasive materials off the edges of your diamond blade. That prevents the blade from being blocked or dulled.
However, you need to choose your dressing stick carefully. If its material is softer than your saw blade, it won't effectively clean it. Because of that, you want to use a diamond dresser or an aluminium oxide dressing stick -- both offer the strength you need to keep your blade as sharp as possible.
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