Diamond Blade Troubleshooting

Remember, just like any other tool, it’s highly likely you will encounter issues with your diamond blade at one point or another. The most common problems result from:

• Using the wrong blade for the job

• Using the blade improperly

• Equipment problems

Below are some helpful remedies to make your job easier.

Insufficient coolant (water) at the cutting surface of a wet cut core bit or blade.

Increase the flow of water and check for proper direction of the water to the cutting surface.

Insufficient cooling (air)

Allow the blade to cool every few feet of cut by running it at full speed outside of the cut.

On stone or masonry blades the material might not have been held firmly which allowed the blade to twist or jam.

Material must be held firmly.

Overheating due to an inadequate supply of water. Look for burning or discoloration near missing segments.

Provide adequate supply of water.

Undercutting which wears away blade core and weakens the weld between segment and core.

Increase water supply and if material being cut is very abrasive switch to wear-resistant cores.

Blade is too hard for material being cut causing excessive dullness and the segment separates because of impact, fatigue or frictional heat.

Use the proper blade specification for material being cut.

A condition in which the steel core wears at a faster rate than the diamond segments. It is caused by highly abrasive material grinding against the core.

The blade core should be equipped with undercut protectors or polyarc segments

Blade used on a misaligned saw.

Check for proper saw alignment.

Blade is excessively hard for the material being cut.

Correct bond spec.

Material slippage causing blade to twist.

Maintain a firm grip on material while cutting.

Undersized or mis-matched blade collars.

Minimum 3-7/8" – 4 ½" on concrete saws, 6” min on blades over 30"

Blade used at improper RPM.

Check shaft RPM.

Improper mounting on arbor shaft allows collars to bend blade when tightened.

Make sure blade is securely on arbor shoulder until outside flange and nut are firmly tightened.

Blade is too hard for material being cut (wrong spec). Bond will not wear away to expose new diamonds.

Choose a softer bond.

Material being cut is too hard.

Dress or sharpen the blade with a soft concrete block or old abrasive wheel to expose new diamond. If continual dressing is needed change to a softer bond.

Insufficient power to permit blade to cut properly.

Check and tighten belts and make sure adequate horsepower is available for application.

Worn shaft bearings on saw which allows blade to run eccentric.

Install new bearings.

Engine not properly tuned which causes “hunting.”

Tune the engine.

Blade arbor hole is damaged.

If blade is in good condition the core may be re-bored.

Blade mounting arbor is worn or is the wrong size.

Replace worn arbor bushing or arbor shaft.

Bond is too hard for material causing machine to “pound” at regular intervals, thereby wearing on half of the blade more than the other.

Use a softer bond.

Blade collar is not properly tightened allowing it to turn or rotate on shaft.

Tighten collars.

Worn or dirty collars which do not allow proper blade clamping.

Clean and replace if necessary.

Blade not properly mounted.

Rebore arbor hole if within tolerances.

Using the wrong blade spec on highly abrasive materials.

Change to a more resistant abrasive bond.

Lack of sufficient coolant to the blade often detected by excessive wear in the center of the segment.

Make sure water supply system is functioning properly.

Wearing out of round accelerates wear, usually caused by bad bearings and loose or wrong “V” belts.

Replace bad bearings or worn “V” belts.

Blade is too hard for material being cut.

Change to a softer bond.

Excessive cutting pressure, or jamming or twisting of the blade.

The saw operator should use a steady even pressure without twisting the blade in the cut.

Overheating through inadequate water supply or not allowing a dry blade to intermittently cool down.

Use adequate water on wet cutting blades and allow adequate air flow on dry blades.

Blade is too hard for the material being cut.

Use correct blade with a softer bond.

Blade collars are not properly tightened or are worn out..

Blade collars are not properly tightened or are worn out.

Insufficient water, generally on one side of blade..

Make sure water is being distributed evenly on both sides of blade.

Equipment problem could cause blade to wear out of round.

Replace bearings, worn arbor shaft, or misaligned spindle.

Saw head is misaligned.

Check saw head alignment for squareness both vertically and horizontally.