Masonry Magazine February 2005 Page. 24
HANDHELD SAWS
On larger jobs the extra expense of using the right blade gets paid back by the increase in productivity and product life.
easily cut brick. The saws are lightweight and therefore easier to carry and use at the site where the brick needs to be cut-such as on the upper reaches of a scaffold.
Compared to a Partner or Bosch, Diteq Diamond Tools in Blue Springs, Mo., is a tiny company. But as is often the case, being small doesn't mean it should be ignored. Diteq imports the Tequick high-speed saw from Emak of Italy that offers some solid features for masons.
With 4.7 and 5.7 HP engines available, these saws offer high power-to-weight ratios, something that masons can appreciate. The cut depth of five inches is reasonable for most brick applications, and the saws come with a standard wet kit for dust control. A multi-stage progressive oiled foam and paper air filter system extends run time and reduces filter costs.
Probably the most important thing to remember with high-speed saws is to keep the filter changed and to use the proper mixture of oil and gas when refueling. Standard maintenance applies, but these two items seem to come up more than others, especially when cutting dry. Keeping a saw in good shape will also make the diamond blades last longer, and that can save a mason a lot of money over the course of a job.
Dirt and dust are the enemies of all high-speed saws, and when you are cutting brick or block dry you create a lot of dust. Partner claims its "Active Filtration" system as a very big plus. Active filtration helps to keep that dust away from the filtration system, which means less dust that has to be filtered. The longer an operator can cut without interruption, the better the productivity.
Blades for high-speed saws also come in a variety of styles. If a mason knows what material will be cut, block for instance, and has enough work on a particular job, it would pay to buy blades designed just for block. The blades will cut well and last longer than the general purpose blades that are often used.
Conversely, on a job that has particularly hard brick, it would pay to use a softer blade to cut the brick. The blade will cut faster and stay sharp for the duration of the job. No time will have to be spent sharpening the blades, and when blades cut well it is easier to make straight and perpendicular cuts and increase productivity. On larger jobs the extra expense of using the right blade gets paid back by the increase in productivity and product life.
When cutting, make sure your saw is running full speed before you begin your cut, rather than starting with it at half speed and increasing the speed once in the cut. This will help to make sure that the blade stays on course as you cut. Twisting or wiggling the blade in the cut is bad for the blade and can make it wear prematurely.
Take care of the blade when you aren't using it. Don't toss the saw with the blade on it in the back of your truck. A blade that gets even a little dented or warped will show it when you use it. Spinning at 4,500 to 5,000 RPM makes it very obvious when this happens. Blades showing this type of damage should be removed from service.
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Masonry
CIRCLE 157 ON READER SERVICE CARD
February 2005