Masonry Magazine June 2002 Page. 19
The Engineered Wood Specialists!
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For block, use a straight block blade; brick, a straight brick blade. Block is softer to cut, is more abrasive and we recommend a harder segmented blade to resist the wear that abrasiveness causes. That way, you'll get a longer lasting blade and save money.
Brock of Dunn Masonry will occasionally use a combination blade, a compromise for cutting either brick or block. "It's usually not as good as a specialized blade but if you only have a few cuts and a mix of units, it saves time and effort to use a combination. That way you don't have to change blades to accommodate a few cuts."
There are disadvantages to that, however. Branoff explains, "The downside is, if you end up cutting a lot of block with a combination blade, that blade is going to wear out prematurely. It just isn't designed for the abrasive nature of block."
The blade itself is a metal core-disk-with a segmented edge that is coated with synthetic diamond crystals. It isn't a true "blade" in the sense that wood and metal cutting saws use the term. "We're not required to have a full-blade guard, for example, because diamond blades and abrasive blades are in the category of grinding wheels, not cutting wheels," claims Lundberg. "We only have to cover 180 degrees. If you have cutting blades, like on a wood saw, you have to cover 100 percent of them. But diamond blades are grinding wheels-it's actually using little chunks of diamond to grind away the brick and the block. That means you don't have to have 360 degrees of protection."
Delahaut expands on that, "A diamond blade doesn't really cut, it grinds material through friction with the synthetic diamond-bonding matrix. The diamond crystals, which are often visible at the leading edge and sides of the rim or segment, remove material by scratching out particles of hard, dense material, or by knocking out larger particles of loosely bonded abrasive material."
This process eventually cracks or fractures the diamond particle, breaking it down into smaller pieces. As a result, a diamond blade for cutting soft, abrasive material must have a hard metal composition to resist this erosion long enough for the exposed diamonds to be properly used. On the other hand, a blade for cutting a hard, non-abrasive material must have a soft bond to ensure that it will erode and expose the diamonds embedded in the matrix.
Matching the blade to the saw motor capacity isn't as critical in brick saws as with some other applications. Regardless of the horsepower of the saw motor, almost any quality blade will work. "The only real exception," says Lundberg, "is when you are cutting refractory brick. They
For Industrial Applications...
Scaffold Plank
• MasterPlank
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• Microllam
Concrete Forming
Building & More!
CAUSEY CAUSEY LUMBER CO.
Roseville, Michigan 800.365.9663
Fax 586.294.1505 www.mccauseylumber.com
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CALL (800) 536-2225 FOR DETAILS
MASONRY WALL SCRAPER
• Removes excess mortar from block or brick
foot pole
• Removes fins and burs from concrete wall form joints
WALL SCRAPER PAYS... CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME "DOES NOT PAY"
New Item
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Powder coated handle
In hallway areas scaffolding can be completely removed allowing more access by all trades
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The time saved climbing up and down scaffolding will pay for itself on the first day
Also available 6' extension handle that extends wallscraper to 11'
Swivel head adjusts for easy use in difficult areas
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115 W. Stiegel St.
7717545
1-800-722-8339
IN-DU-S-T-R-E-S
June 2002
Masonry 17