Masonry Magazine October 2007 Page. 40
SAWS AND BLADES
The sale of tuck point blades has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in colder climates where the weather plays havoc with mortar.
10 inches, and general-purpose blades ranging from four to 14 inches. Additionally, the blades are said to last up to 85 times longer than standard abrasive blades.
Other key features of the Vermont American line include: laser-welded industrial diamond and metal matrix segments for extended life and performance; continuous rim blades for wet or dry cutting; turbo rim blades for fast and clean cuts in general masonry; and segmented rim blades for fast, rough cuts. For more information, visit www.vermontamerican.com.
Vermont American - Diamond Abrasive Blade
Many of you may know that the sale of tuck point blades has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in colder climates where the weather plays havoc with mortar. Known for both its saws and blades (among various other types of professional tools), Multiquip has introduced new Wafer Style Tuck Point Blades to help contractors fight back to repair and strengthen damaged walls. Ten new models are available in the series, ranging in diameter from four to seven inches and in thickness from one-quarter to three-eighths of an inch.
The blades are designed to remove grout and mortar between bricks and in concrete blocks in less than half the time of a conventional tuck blade. Multiquip - Wafer Styl And, of course, the Wafer Style Tuck Tuck Point Blades can be used with most right-angle grinders. Visit www.multiquip.com to learn more.
It is clear that a significant amount of research and development goes into producing these cutting tools, and, in some cases, the process is an international affair. Case and point: the new X20 diamond blade from SHOXX, a French manufacturer whose blades are made in Germany and now sold in the U.S. market. Six years in the making, the X20 blade is produced through a steel bonding technology adapted from the automotive industry. Thanks to these bonded layers of steel, SHOXX says the X20 disc cuts twice as fast as a standard blade and lasts twice as long as a top-range diamond blade.
The X20 diamond blade is designed with a 20-millimeter segment height to cut a wide range of materials, including block paving, brick, granite and natural stone. Aiding in this ability to cut a wide range of materials is the fact that the diamond grains of the blade are coated with titanium for added strength retention. Further, SHOXX says that the trapezoidal shape of blade segments and the thicker steel core limit vibrations, which reduces fatigue for the user. The company's Web site has more information, including a demonstration video. Visit www.shoxxtechnology.com.
You just learned about an impressive collection of saws and blades now available, but this review only scratches the surface (pardon the pun) of what's out there. If your favorite or preferred manufacturers were not covered in this article, be sure to check with your local retailers and visit the manufacturers' Web sites to see what equipment they've released this year. For a look at saws and blades that will be available next year, be sure to check out Masonry magazine's April 2008 (saws) and June 2008 (saw blades) issues.
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