I&#;ll be tiling the backsplash of our kitchen counter with tumbled marble and glass accent tiles once accent tile shows up (due in on 3/24/07).  The plan is to use my 4 1/2&#; angle grinder with a continuous rim diamond blade for some (maybe all) of the cuts depending on how well it works.

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My question is this.  What is the difference between the various diamond blades available?  Aall of these blades are rated for higher speed than my grinder produces.

Hilti is $35 at Home Depot

Bosch is $30 at Home Depot

Dewalt is $30 at Lowe&#;s

Hitachi is $19 at Lowe&#;s

Various off brands are available at HD, Lowes, and Menards for $15 or less.

Is there an appreciable difference between the Hitachi and Hilti that will produce a better cut?  I don&#;t mind buying the more expensive blade if will be better than the lower cost item.  What kind of life span can I expect out fo one of these blades?  I appreciate the help.

Different Types of Diamond Blades

by Blades Admin

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Which Type of Diamond Blade is Right For You? 

Stone, porcelain, concrete, asphalt, and other similar hard materials are no match for diamond blades. Diamond blades don't really "cut" anything&#;instead, they grind their way through anything they're aimed at, but it seems like they are cutting directly through these objects which is not the case. The blades are made from a durable composite of synthetic diamond particles and powdered metals. This amalgam is then bonded to a solid steel core to create a durable blade ideal for use in the construction industry and home improvement projects.

The Segmented Rim Diamond Blade 

The segmented rim, which can be used in numerous dry cutting applications, is also known by the name "dry cutting blade." As the blade has the roughest cut among the three choices, it works best on masonry materials like brick and limestone. The bonding of segmented blades, which can be used for both wet and dry cutting, is normally medium to hard. These blades may provide a fast, generally smooth cut, but chipping is still possible. When compared to other blades, their lifespan is quite long and they are extremely sturdy.

They work optimally for chopping through stone like marble and granite as well as construction materials like asphalt, brick, and block. They come in a wide range of diameters from very small to extremely huge, but their sweet spot is the market for sizes 12 inches and up. Masonry saws, concrete saws, and circular saws all effectively use this blade to cut through the previously mentioned objects. 

Gulets refer to the air pockets that form between the individual parts. The gullets are designed to increase airflow, dissipate heat, and evacuate slurry from the cut, all of which contribute to the blade's continued efficiency. Depending on the material the blade is meant to slice through, its gullets will be a specific size and form.

Blades designed for cutting asphalt often have broader U-shaped gullets than those designed for cutting concrete. The hole should be wider for better heat dissipation if the material is more abrasive. The keyhole, teardrop, and angled gullets are some of the others. Diamond segmented blades with narrow slots are typically used for marble and granite, while keyhole-shaped slot blades are more commonly used for general-purpose cutting.

The Turbo Rim Diamond Blade

The turbo rim on this blade makes it the best option for quick cutting in either wet or dry conditions. This blade is specially made for cutting hard materials like tile and natural stone quickly and easily with its serrated edges. The bindings on turbo blades are typically soft to medium, making them suitable for a wide range of general-purpose and specialized cutting tasks. All of a turbo blade's cutting edge is serrated, forming a continuous rim. Combining the greatest features of segmented and continuous rim blades, its serrated edge allows the blade to achieve higher cutting speeds without sacrificing smoothness.

Common diameters for these blades are 4", 8", 10", and 12". They are useful for cutting tile, stone, marble, granite, masonry, and other construction materials when installed in grinders, circular saws, and tile saws. It is possible to get blades designed for dry as well as wet cutting.

Continuous Rim Diamond Blade

The continuous rim blade is well known for optimally cutting with water and is more of a wet application type of diamond blade. This blade is ideal for marble, granite, and porcelain since it cuts slowly and smoothly and leaves the least amount of dust. Since it does not have separated edges, but rather a &#;continuous&#; edge that enables it to cut with perfect precision and neatness, is why it is very preferable to the applications it excels at. When cutting tile, porcelain, granite, stone, glass, or other brittle materials, continuous rim blades' gentler bonding is preferable. These blades have a single, continuous edge rather than multiple smaller ones. Wet cutting is ideal for continuous rim blades because it produces the cleanest cuts.

The most frequent diameters for these blades are 4 inches to 14 inches. Hand-held grinders typically use the smaller, 4" to 5" diameter blades, whereas bigger diameters are employed with circular saws and tile saws.

Continuous rim blades come in a number of configurations. In order to boost durability, blade life, and cutting speeds, the J-slot design is one variant that incorporates J-slots along the edge of the blade to aid in heat dissipation. Dry cutting can also be accomplished with J-slot continuous rim blades.

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