Are segmented diamond blades better?

Professional tile setters almost certainly have run into a situation where they need to cut a new type of material they are setting. This can range from thicker or harder porcelain, delicate glass tiles or a mixed material mosaic sheets that can have everything from tile to aluminum. Depending on what the customer or designed wants installed, the tiler needs to decide the best way to cut the tile to fit wall or floor installations.

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With all the different types of diamond blades in the market, how do we decide which is best for our job? This is dictated by the type of material you are cutting and the tool being used to cut the material. Once you have determined the kind of tile and the tool you are using, the next thing to consider is what type of diamond blade for cutting.

Types of Diamond Blades for Tile

For all intents and purposes, we will talk about 3 different types of diamond blades: continuous rim, segmented and turbo rim blades. Below you will get a brief overview of these types of diamond blades (NOTE: this is general information to guide you towards the best blade for the job, if you have more intensive questions regarding diamond blades, please contact our sales team at customerservice@thetoollocker.com).

Continuous Rim Blades

Continuous rim diamond blades are usually equipped with a softer bond that cuts through material that can chip easily, such as porcelain, ceramic, granite, stone and glass tile. The solid continuous edge works to make a flush cut without any chipping Most continuous rim blades are designed for wet cutting with a water feed system. These blades can range from 4" - 14" and can be used on angle grinders, hand-held saws and wet tile saws. Some continuous rim blades, such as the T3 Razor Blades , are equipped with a slot (not a segment) that assists in heat reduction during the cut to increased blade life.

Segmented Blades

Segmented blades offer a more durable, longer life blade with a medium to hard bond for wet or dry cutting of materials. Most segmented blades create a fast smooth cut with the potential for chipping. The segmented style is perfect for marble/granite slabs, concrete, asphalt, brick, block and other building materials. Segmented blades are usually larger in size, 10" - 14", and used on masonry saws, concrete walk-behind saws and cut-off saws. The segments, sometimes referred to as gullets, work to improve air flow and remove slurry as the blade cuts to maintain cutting performance and increasing blade life.

Turbo Rim Blades

The new turbo rim blades feature a continuous rim with a serrated, mesh-style edge for faster cutting speeds and a smooth cut. Turbo blades usually have soft to medium bonds to handle a wide variety of materials such as ceramic, stone, marble, granite masonry and other building materials. These blades range in size from 4" - 10" and are used with angle grinders, hand-held saws and wet tile saws. The turbo rim cuts faster either wet or dry by removing the material quickly while still leaving a smooth finish.

What are Diamond Bonds?

Diamond is bonded to the metal of the diamond blade and determine the rate of diamond exposure during cutting. Bond strength will determine which materials the blade can cut best. If you have harder, denser materials (porcelain tile), use a softer bond diamond blade that can expose diamond easier for a fresh cut and a smooth finish without chipping. If you have a softer, more porous material (asphalt, green concrete), use a harder bond diamond blade that can handle the abrasive nature of soft materials, for long-lasting blade life.

With so much choice out there, finding the right diamond blade for the job can be a minefield. Not only do you have to consider the material you’re cutting and machine to be used but also the type of rim, as this affects how the blade cuts and whether it will meet your needs. If you use the incorrect blade for the material it can cause the blade to fail to cut properly.

This article covers:

How to choose the correct diamond blade

Norton Clipper diamond blades come with three different types of cutting rims; Segmented, Flat Continuous Rim and Turbo Corrugated Continuous Rim. You can then find the right blade based on the material you’re cutting by following our colour coded packaging and machine guide icons. Once you know what colour coded blade you need, you can choose between the tiers, Extreme, Pro, Classic or Standard, depending on how frequently you'll be using the blade and your priorities. Diamond blades in the 'Extreme' tier are ideal for heavy use and if long life is important to you, whereas 'Classic' is more suitable for occasional use and where you're looking for a good quality vs performance ratio. 

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Why use segmented blades?

• The gullets (space between the segments) help to extract cutting dust and cool the blade.
• They also offer the blade a little flexibility to prevent cracks developing when used in demanding conditions.
• These blades offer the roughest cut and are used when dry and wet cutting.
• The more abrasive material you’re cutting, the wider the slot should be.
• Segmented blades are ideal for concrete, reinforced concrete, asphalt and all building materials.

 

These are some examples of our blades that are segmented based on material:

Beton/Concrete (Red)

Extreme Beton Silencio

With up to 17mm high segments and a bespoke specification for each application, Norton Clipper Silencio is our quietest diamond blade, reducing noise by up to 30x (-13 dB) compared to conventional blades when used on concrete, reinforced concrete, granite and building materials, while achieving a fast, efficient cut. 

 

 

 

Universal (Blue)

Extreme Universal Laser

Up to 15mm high segments provide long life and fast cut on all building materials. The Duo segments (on 300mm and 350mm diameter blades only) provide high cutting speed, improved comfort and low vibration levels allowing you to get the job done faster. It also reduces heat and cools the blade. Arrow shape gullet slots quickly remove debris from the blade surface and indicate the rotation direction. Laser welded segments ensure optimum safety against segment loss.        

 

 

 

Asphalt (Black)

Pro Asphalt

Laser welded blade for intensive use and long life on asphalt, asphalt over concrete, green concrete and abrasive building materials. It features patented depth indicator for blade life monitoring and indication of cutting direction (up to diameter 450mm). 

 

 

 

 

Natural Stone (Turquoise)

Extreme Granite

15mm high laser welded segments uses exclusive ‘arrow’ shaped gullet slots. The ‘duo’ shaped trapezoidal segments produced with i-HD™ technology offer longer life, excellent cutting speed, improved comfort and increased safety. 

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Additional resources:
Turbo vs continuous 10" diamond wet tile blades

 

 

 

 

4x4 Explorer (Grey)

Pro 4x4 Explorer

Up to 12mm segment height for more cuts per wheel. The trapezoid shaped segments give a comfortable, smoother cut with lower vibration levels. This is a multipurpose blade to cut all materials, from hardest concrete and granite to abrasive asphalts and sandstones.    

 

 

 

 

Refractory Materials (Orange)

Extreme RC540

A laser-welded diamond blade with wide-gullet geometry for use on Oxydes – Zirconia, Silica, high content aluminia >70% - Mullite.

 

 

 

 

 

            

Why use flat continuous rim blades?

• Continuous rim blades are required for a good quality finish and longer life rather than quicker cuts.
• They are mainly used when wet cutting to cool down the blade and flush out debris and prevent dust.
• The flat continuous surface means there are no shocks against the material that could create chips in the work piece.
• This type of blade is particularly suitable for tiles, especially roof tiles, that need a perfect finish.

 

These are the blades that have flat continuous rim segments based on material:

Universal (Blue)

Pro Universal Turbo

With a 12mm high continuous rim blade, it’s ideal for use on general building materials and stone, particularly roof tiles, when either wet or dry cutting. Reinforced flanges around the bore ensure rigidity and straight cutting under the most demanding conditions. 

 

 

 

Ceramic (Green)

Classic Ceramic

A value for money continuous rimmed diamond blade for dry or wet cutting of medium hard tiles and ceramic tiles. If you're planning on cutting floor or wall tiles, click here to find out more about cutting tiles. 

 

 

 

Why use turbo corrugated continuous rim blades?

• When the material is extremely hard a more aggressive cut is needed, therefore a corrugated continuous rim is the best fit.
• This design gives small shocks to the workpiece when tackling the hardest tiles and building materials.
• It is designed to cut faster in wet and dry applications.
• Blades with turbo corrugated continuous rim are suitable for ceramic and porcelain tiles, granite, roof tiles and other hard materials.

 

These are the blades that have flat continuous rim segments based on material:

Universal (Blue)

Extreme Universal Turbo

The corrugated continuous rim enables smooth, high quality cutting and ease of use. It also cuts more aggressively on hard materials. The 12mm impregnated diamond segments provide very long life. Ideal for use on a very wide range of medium to hard construction materials, block paviours, granite, natural stone, roof tiles and hard tiles. 

 

 

Avoiding Segment Loss

Users may occasionally come across instances of segment loss due to not using the equipment correctly. Here are some typical examples of what causes segment loss and how it be avoided.

Possible Cause

Solution

    The material and/or saw was not held firmly, which caused the blade to twist or jam in the cut.  Hold/support material or saw firmly. Not sawing in a straight line with overcorrecting caused the blade to twist or jam in the cut.  Properly align the saw to allow straight cutting, avoid twisting the blade in the cut.  Defective flanges which cause the blade to flutter in the cut or fail to properly support the blade in perfect alignment. Clean foreign material from flange surfaces, or replace flanges if they are under manufacturer’s recommended diameter or are bent or deformed.  Blade is too hard for material being cut causing the segment to glaze over. The segment separated due to impacts or fatigue.  Use the proper blade specification for material being cut. Use our blade selector tool to find the right blade. Overheating due to inadequate supply of coolant (water or air). This usually comes with discolorations on the core in the area of segment loss. Overheating of blades may cause core cracks or segment loss.  If wet cutting, provide adequate water flow on both sides of the blade.
If dry cutting, periodically allow blades to run out of the cut. The blades will cool in a few seconds so that sawing may continue.  Under cutting on steel centre. Blades centres suffer undercutting from abrasive material or inadequate water supply. Use undercutting protection or increase water flow. If in doubt, return blade for inspection.

For more information about selecting the right diamond blade for your material, visit our Diamond Blades Guide or get in touch.

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