Before purchasing a diamond blade, it is important that you understand Aggregate Hardness. Aggregate hardness relates to the type of materials that concrete is made up of. The hardness of minerals found in aggregate relates to its resistance to abrasion. Usually aggregate hardness varies based off geographic location, as well as local availability of materials. Aggregation classification varies from soft, medium soft, medium, medium hard and hard. these classifications comes from the Mohs hardness scale.
Mohs Hardness Scale
The Mohs hardness scale is a qualitative ordinal scale used to determine the scratch resistance of various minerals through their own ability to scratch materials that are softer and the inability to scratch material that are harder. The Mohs hardness scale materials are rated from 1 to 10 with 1 being the softest material and 10 being the hardest. As a general guide to understanding the scale these minerals are listed to show the range of softness to hardness: 1 Talc, 2 Gypsum, 3 Calcite (soft limestone), 4 Fluorite, 5 Apatite, 6 Feldspar (some river rock, some type of granite), 7 Quartz (some river rock, some types of granite, basalt, quartz, trap rock), 8 Topaz, 9 Corundum (flint, chert, trap rock, basalt), and 10 Diamond. A mineral, after determining its hardness level, cannot scratch minerals rated higher than its own.
Aggregate Map
Once you understand mineral hardness, you can apply that to a specific location to better understand which diamond blades are right for you. Aggregate hardness can be determined by viewing the map above. Aggregate classification is specific to geographic location and by the aggregate’s composition. Minerals that classify as soft are Talc and Gypsum. Medium soft minerals are Calcite or soft Limestone. Medium minerals are Fluorite and include dense Limestone, Sandstone, Dolomite, Marble and Apatite. Medium hard minerals are Feldspar and include some river rock, some granites and coarse grained. Hard minerals are Quartz and some river rock, some granites, Basalt, Trap rock and Topaz. While critically hard minerals include Corundum, Flint, Chart, Trap Rock, Basalt and Diamond.
Diamond Blades
After determining what minerals are specific to your location you can determine what diamond blades are right to for you to help you get the job done. At Blades and Bits we have diamond blades to fit all levels of aggregate hardness. Some of our most popular options include:
Green Giant Diamond Blade
The Green Giant is perfect for medium bond materials such as tile, sandstone, concrete pipes and general purpose masonry, brick, block and concrete. It has a high-segmented height of 15mm and can be used to cut wet or dry materials.
Castellated Euro Turbo Blade
This blade is ideal for cutting through hard masonry materials such as granite, ragstone, roof tile, brick, block and concrete. The Castellated Euro Turbo Blade can be used to cut wet or dry and has a 10mm rim height and is high speed. This blade can reduce cutting time with its ability to make precision cuts while remaining durable and reliable.
T-Seg 15 Signature
A powerful diamond-tipped blade with a double segmented height of 15mm will create smooth and deep cuts. The T-Seg is a laser-welded diamond saw blade that can be used to cut wet or dry materials. The high double segmented slots allow for the quick removal of debris and increased airflow while cutting materials. Created to withstand rugged and consistent use, this blade comes in 14”, 16”, 18” and 20” diameters to tackle any job.
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Blades & Bits is a top manufacturer of professional and industrial-grade diamond saw blades, drill bits, and cutting tools. Our selection of diamond blades and diamond drill bits are built for high performance using the highest grade diamonds, and other materials to ensure quality, power, and longevity.