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20 Diamond Blade

by Blades Admin

20 Diamond Blade: Complete Guide to Choosing, Using, and Maximizing Performance

A 20 diamond blade is a heavy-duty cutting tool engineered for deep, precise, and efficient cutting of tough construction materials such as concrete, asphalt, block, brick, and natural stone. Its large diameter offers a superior cutting depth, making it one of the preferred choices for contractors, road crews, demolition teams, and masonry professionals who require power, durability, and high productivity on demanding job sites. This guide covers everything essential about 20-inch diamond blades—from how they work and what they cut, to the different segment designs, bonding types, saw compatibility, cutting depths, and performance tips.

What Is a 20 Diamond Blade?

A 20 diamond blade is a circular cutting blade with a 20-inch diameter, typically used with walk-behind saws, slab saws, floor saws, and heavy-duty masonry saws. What sets it apart is its construction: the cutting segments are embedded with industrial-grade diamonds that grind through hard materials instead of tearing them. This method results in faster, cleaner cuts, longer blade life, and greater consistency compared to traditional abrasive blades.

A 20-inch blade is ideal for deep cuts, making it valuable for projects such as driveway replacement, utility trenching, concrete slab removal, and asphalt roadwork.

What Materials Can a 20 Diamond Blade Cut?

This blade size is versatile and built to handle a wide range of materials. The type of bond and segment configuration determines performance, but most 20-inch diamond blades can cut through:

Concrete

  • Cured concrete

  • Green concrete

  • Precast concrete

  • High-PSI concrete slabs

  • Reinforced concrete containing rebar

Concrete cutting is the most common use for 20-inch diamond blades due to their depth and durability.

Asphalt

Blades with softer bonds excel at asphalt because they expose new diamonds quickly while resisting rapid wear caused by abrasive surfaces.

Masonry Materials

  • CMU block

  • Pavers

  • Bricks

  • Stone veneer

  • Hardscape materials

Natural Stone

With the correct bond, a 20-inch diamond blade can cut:

  • Granite

  • Marble

  • Limestone

  • Bluestone

  • Travertine

  • Sandstone

Composite and Industrial Materials

Some blades are designed for cutting pipes, cast materials, and engineered stone composites.

Why Choose a 20-Inch Blade Over Smaller Sizes?

A 20-inch diamond blade provides several advantages that smaller blades cannot match:

1. Superior Cutting Depth

Most 20-inch blades achieve cutting depths around 7"–7.5". This makes them ideal for:

  • Thick concrete slabs

  • Deep road cutting

  • Foundation work

  • Large-format stone blocks

  • Structural demolition

2. Faster Job Completion

Larger blades cover more surface area with each rotation, allowing workers to cut faster and more efficiently, especially on long or wide surfaces.

3. Blade Stability

The increased diameter and heft reduce blade wobble, providing straighter cuts and improved control—important during long passes on concrete or asphalt slabs.

4. Increased Heat Dissipation

A larger surface area dissipates heat more effectively, reducing overheating and prolonging blade life.

5. Better Performance on High-Horsepower Saws

20-inch diamond blades are designed for powerful saws, maximizing cutting performance on heavy-duty jobs.

Types of 20 Diamond Blades

Not all blades are built the same. Choosing the right type ensures speed, smoothness, and longevity for the material you're cutting.

Segmented Rim Diamond Blades

Segmented blades feature a series of cut-out gullets between segments.

Best for:

  • Cured concrete

  • Reinforced concrete

  • Brick, block, and pavers

  • Asphalt (with a soft bond version)

Advantages:

  • Excellent cooling

  • Fast cutting

  • Versatile choice for construction jobs

This is the most common style for 20-inch blades used on walk-behind saws.

Turbo Rim Diamond Blades

Turbo blades have serrated or grooved rims that boost cutting speed.

Best for:

  • Concrete

  • Medium-hard stone

  • Masonry materials

Advantages:

  • Faster cutting

  • Smooth edges

  • Good for both wet and dry applications

These blades strike a balance between speed and finish quality.

Continuous Rim Diamond Blades

These blades have a smooth, unbroken rim.

Best for:

  • Marble

  • Tile

  • Stone requiring clean, chip-free finishes

Though not commonly used for thick concrete, continuous rim blades are essential for precision stonework.

Laser-Welded Diamond Blades

These are premium blades with segments fused to the core using high-energy laser welding.

Advantages:

  • Maximum segment strength

  • High heat tolerance

  • Suitable for reinforced concrete

  • Longest lifespan

Laser welding is the strongest and safest bond for segments, especially for deep or heavy-duty cutting.

Understanding Diamond Blade Bond Hardness

The bond is the metal alloy that holds the diamonds within the segment. Choosing the right bond ensures your blade cuts efficiently without wearing prematurely or glazing over.

Soft Bond

  • Wears quickly to expose new diamonds

  • Ideal for abrasive materials

Best for:
Asphalt, block, sandstone

Medium Bond

  • Balanced wear rate

  • Handles most concrete types

Best for:
Standard cured concrete, pavers

Hard Bond

  • Slow wear to withstand hard materials

  • Prevents premature erosion

Best for:
High-PSI concrete, granite, reinforced concrete

Using the wrong bond leads to poor cutting performance, slow cutting speed, overheating, and wasted blade life.

Cutting Depth of a 20 Diamond Blade

Cutting depth depends on:

  • Blade diameter

  • Saw guard clearance

  • Arbor size

Most 20-inch diamond blades produce a cutting depth between 7" and 7.5", allowing workers to cut through thick concrete slabs or asphalt layers in fewer passes.

For deeper trenching or foundation cutting, 20-inch blades are often preferred over 14-inch or 16-inch options.

Wet Cutting vs. Dry Cutting with a 20 Diamond Blade

Wet Cutting

Most 20-inch blades are designed for wet use, especially for concrete.

Benefits:

  • Reduced dust

  • Lower blade temperature

  • Faster cutting

  • Longer blade lifespan

  • Cleaner cuts

Walk-behind saws commonly use wet-cutting setups with integrated water lines.

Dry Cutting

Dry cutting requires:

  • Heat-resistant bonds

  • Ventilation holes

  • Controlled cutting technique

Best for:
Areas where water cannot be used or where a quick, shallow cut is needed.

Dry cutting should be performed with shorter passes and cooling intervals to prevent blade overheating.

20-Inch Blade Compatibility with Saws

A 20 diamond blade is typically used with:

  • Walk-behind concrete saws

  • Floor saws

  • High-power slab saws

  • Industrial masonry saws

  • Road saws

Before selecting a blade, confirm:

  • Arbor size: Usually 1" or 20mm

  • Maximum RPM: Most 20-inch blades run around 2,200–2,500 RPM

  • Saw horsepower: Heavier blades require 13–35 HP saws or larger

Using an underpowered saw can lead to stalling, overheating, and uneven cuts.

Segment Height and Blade Lifespan

Segment height significantly influences how long a blade will last.

Typical heights include:

  • 10 mm (standard)

  • 12 mm (premium)

  • 15–20 mm (extended life)

Higher segments = more diamond material = longer lifespan.

Contractors who cut daily or who work on extensive commercial jobs benefit from taller segments, reducing downtime and replacement frequency.

How Long Does a 20 Diamond Blade Last?

Blade life varies based on:

  • Material hardness

  • Blade bond

  • Cutting technique

  • Use of water

  • Saw power

Approximate lifespan:

  • Reinforced concrete: 100–300 linear feet

  • Standard concrete: 300–800 feet

  • Asphalt: 400–900+ feet

High-performance laser-welded blades with tall segments deliver the longest life.

Best Practices for Using a 20 Diamond Blade

To extend blade life and improve cutting efficiency:

1. Match the Blade to the Material

Incorrect bonding creates slow, inefficient cuts and premature wear.

2. Use Proper Cooling

When wet cutting, ensure consistent water flow to reduce dust and heat.

3. Avoid Side Pressure

Diamond blades are designed to cut straight—twisting can break segments.

4. Maintain the Saw

A misaligned saw or worn bearings can ruin a blade.

5. Start and End Cuts Smoothly

Allow the blade to reach full RPM before contacting the material.

6. Dress the Blade When Needed

If the blade begins to glaze, cut through an abrasive block to expose new diamonds.

Where 20 Diamond Blades Are Most Commonly Used

These blades are essential for:

  • Road and highway cutting

  • Concrete slab removal

  • Utility installation and trenching

  • Hardscape and masonry work

  • Building and foundation modification

  • Demolition work

  • Paver and stone fabrication

  • Commercial construction

Their deep cutting capability makes them indispensable for large-scale projects.

Conclusion

A 20 diamond blade is a powerful, durable, and highly efficient cutting tool designed for concrete, asphalt, stone, and masonry. Its large diameter, diamond-embedded segments, specialized bonding, and robust construction make it ideal for deep cuts, demanding jobs, and high-production environments. Understanding the blade’s segment type, bond hardness, saw compatibility, cooling method, and proper usage practices ensures optimal performance and long blade life, whether you're cutting reinforced concrete, thick asphalt, stone blocks, or construction materials.

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