Diamond Blades & Tooling

How to Choose Diamond Blades & Tooling

1. Match the blade to your material
This is the single most important factor in blade selection. Using the wrong blade specification dramatically reduces blade life and cutting speed:

• Hard concrete (4,000+ PSI, hard aggregate): Use a soft-bond blade — the softer matrix exposes fresh diamond faster


• Green/soft concrete (<3,000 PSI): Use a hard-bond blade — prevents premature diamond loss


• Reinforced concrete: Use a blade rated for steel — standard concrete blades overheat on rebar


• Asphalt: Use an asphalt-specific blade with wider gullets for the softer, abrasive material

2. Wet vs dry cutting
Wet blades last 3-5x longer than dry blades in the same material because water cools the diamond segments and flushes cuttings. Dry blades must have adequate cooling slots (segmented or turbo rim). Never use a wet-only blade dry — it will overheat and lose segments.

3. Blade diameter and arbor size
Always match the blade diameter to your saw's maximum capacity and the arbor size to your saw's spindle. Common arbor sizes: 1" (most walk-behinds), 20mm (many handheld), 5/8" (small handhelds and angle grinders). Adaptor bushings are available for mismatches.

4. Segment height determines blade life
Taller segments = longer blade life but higher cost. For occasional use, standard segment height provides good value. For daily production cutting, tall-segment premium blades reduce downtime from blade changes.

5. Core bit selection
Core bit segments follow the same hardness rules as saw blades. Additionally, consider the thread connection (1-1/4"-7, 5/8"-11, Hilti BI) to match your drill motor. Wet core bits are standard for holes over 2" in concrete.