Diamond blades from many of our competitors and overall industry feature manufactured (not natural) diamond crystals. The creation of man-made lab diamonds revolutionized the diamond saw blade industry with higher-end products that have much higher tolerances. We have been leaders in our industry because of this, they are able to maintain a level of reliability despite the extreme pressures they experience during grinding. Diamond crystal type, concentration, and size are the primary performance factors in diamond-blade sawing. In selecting the ideal diamond crystals for our large line of blades, BladesDirect puts to use its significant diamond aptitude and sawing skills.

Heating the diamond crystals and bonding matrix molds them into the desired rim or segment shape. These rims/segments are larger than the blade core to which they will be connected, creating space for the discharge of materials and preventing the blades from binding. The rims/segments are manufactured to wear at a rate that is optimal for the material being sliced. When compared to small particles removed from hard dense materials, the matrix is worn down more quickly when exposed to large particles of soft, abrasive materials. To that end, a "tough to wear" (hard) bond is called for when working with softer, more abrasive materials, whereas a "soft to wear" (easy to wear) bond is called for when working with less abrasive materials.

Cores of diamond saw blades are high alloy, heat-treated steel. Depending on the type of blade selected, the steel cores are particularly built to support the proper rim or segment. Each rim or segment is brazed or welded onto the outer edge of the central component. By carefully boring an arbor hole in the center and "tensioning" or tuning the entire core to reduce the strains of centripetal force, the blade may spin freely and accurately on the spindle.

Cores of diamond saw blades are produced from high alloy, heat-treated steel. The steel centers of the blades are custom-made to accommodate the rims and segments of the respective blade types. The numerous rings or sections are brazed or laser welded onto the outer edge of the central core. For the blade to spin freely on the spindle, a perfect arbor hole must be cut in the center, and the entire core must be "tensioned," or tuned, to reduce the stresses caused by centripetal force.

There are two standard methods for gauging the effectiveness of a diamond blade. The first is the blade's cutting efficiency, or how quickly it can reduce a piece of material to smaller pieces; the second is the blade's durability, or how much material it can cut through over its lifetime. BladesDirect SHOXX diamond blades come in a wide range of styles and models. Each blade is expertly made to ensure it can cut, lasts a long time, and is safe to use. Optimal performance and optimum return on investment can be achieved by choosing the most appropriate diamond blade for the given task, application, and material.

Instead of actually slicing through the material, diamond blades grind it by rubbing against the synthetic diamond-bonding matrix. As the material is removed, the diamond crystals, which can be seen at the leading edge and sides of the rim/segment, scratch away particles of hard, dense materials or knock out bigger particles of loosely attached abrasive material. Eventually, the diamond particle will shatter or fracture, resulting in smaller and smaller fragments. Because of this effect, a diamond blade designed to cut through abrasive, soft materials needs to be composed of a hard metal matrix to prevent premature erosion and allow the exposed diamonds to serve their intended purpose. On the other hand, diamonds embedded in a matrix can only be exposed via erosion, hence a blade designed to cut such material needs a delicate bond. All of "controlled bond erosion" rests on these fundamental ideas.

The DRY cutting blade is a very desirable instrument because of the widespread availability of hand saws, the versatility of BladesDirect SHOXX Diamond blades, and the ease with which they can cut through most ceramic, brick, stone, and concrete materials in a professional setting.

To get the most out of their DRY blade, users need to be familiar with some specific procedures. For DRY cutting blades, not enough airflow around the blade can cause the steel core to overheat and break. In order to speed up the cooling process, it is recommended to make shallow, sporadic cuts in the material and then allow it to "free-spin" for several seconds.

BladesDirect has the right blade to go with any wet cutting machine and any material. Cutting operations benefit from the WET blade's superior efficiency and extended life when large amounts of water are used as a coolant. Because water helps reduce dust, it also improves the safety of cutting processes as a whole.