This document provides an overview of general purpose cutting and diamond blades. It discusses blade types like segmented, turbo, and patterned diamond blades. It covers tool features and proper blade mounting. The hands-on section demonstrates cutting concrete, granite, and block with different blades. Participants feel the difference in cutting speeds and sounds when cutting through reinforcement. Matching the right blade to the material is emphasized.

1. GENERAL PURPOSE CUTTING
PART 1: DISCUSSION
May 2022

2. This presentation is designed to serve as a stand-alone
training piece, as well as act as a companion piece to
Lackmond’s hands on diamond training program.
Classroom instruction is important, but there is no
substitute for hands on training to reinforce academic
concepts. Contact your Lackmond representative to
schedule hands-on training: 800-850-2044.
Cutting course includes :
• Cutting Blades
OPENING STATEMENT

3. COURSE OVERVIEW
Blade Overview
• Performance differences between blade styles
• Common terms and concepts
• Undercutting / Undercut Protection
• Blade Tensioning
Tools Overview
• Common features and important terms
• Proper blade mounting
• Starting / Operation of tool
Hands on Cutting
• Hard bonded blade on soft material
• Hard bonded blade on hard material
• Soft bonded blade on soft material
• Soft bonded blade on hard material
• Concrete blade on concrete with reinforcement

4. Blade features and how they impact performance:
Familiarity with commonly used tools
• Hand held, high speed saws
• Walk behind saws
• Masonry Saws
Practical Application: Bond Discussion
• Why is it so important to match blades to specific applications?
• How do blades perform in various aggregate?
Cutting through reinforcement
• Hearing sound difference when hitting rebar
• Feeling saw feedback change
• Proper cutting technique
KEY CONCEPTS

5. Diamond blades are grinding tools, NOT cutting tools
When used correctly, diamond blades are self sharpening tools
The exposed diamond on the blade
segment grinds the material away.
While the blade rotates and is pushed into
the material, the exposed diamonds score
the material and grind it into a fine powder.
The exposed diamonds crack or
fracture as they grind due to applied
pressure and generated heat.
As the segment wears down and the
diamonds are consumed, new diamonds
are exposed to continue the cutting
process
HOW DIAMOND TOOLS WORK

6. • The cutting rim or segment of a diamond blade is comprised of
metal matrix containing various metal powders and small synthetic
diamonds / diamond dust
• The diamonds are the abrasive agent responsible for all of the
actual cutting / grinding
• The metal matrix is designed to wear away at a specific speed
• Matrix composition and wear rate is determined by application
Synthetic diamond (middle) and various metal powders
(left and right) used in the diamond blade manufacturing process
BOND DISCUSSION
Diamond Bond and Matrix

7. • While concrete may be made to a consistent PSI, the aggregate
making up that concrete can vary wildly between regions
• Due to the variation in aggregate type and hardness, blades may
work well in one region yet poorly in another
AGGREGATE HARDNESS MAP

8. Typical Uses:
• Traditional and most popular style of large diameter
diamond blade
• Available in multiple price points and with both laser
and sintered welds
• Available in multiple bonds for a variety of applications
Advantages:
• Excellent cross between cutting speed and blade life
• Fits most popular saws in the marketplace
Other Considerations :
• Difficult to discern difference between high quality and
lower quality blades based upon appearance alone
• Many technology advances allow increased
performance with minimal added cost over this
traditional design
SEGMENTED BLADES

9. TURBO BLADES
Typical Uses:
• Granite, marble, stone, and decorative applications
• Applications requiring a clean, finished cutting edge
Advantages:
• Rim design achieves a very clean, fine finished edge
• Excellent performance in very hard, dense materials such as
granite, quartz, and natural stone
Other Considerations :
• Sacrifices some cutting speed to achieve smoother cut
• Larger diameter turbo blades are not widely stocked at
traditional construction distribution / supply houses
Lackmond Pro Series Hard
Materials Turbo Blade Shown

10. SEGMENTED TURBO BLADES
Typical Uses:
• Popular in all general purpose applications
• Excellent performance in overlay situations
(when undercut segments are present)
• Perfect for situations needing excellent cutting speed
Advantages:
• Combines features of both segmented and turbo style blades
• Very fast cutting speed and, usually, excellent blade life
Other Considerations :
• Often only found in premium level products, so cost can
be a factor
• Some segment designs are purely for marketing reasons
and have no significant or measurable performance impact
Lackmond STS5 Demo Blade Shown

11. SPECIALTY BLADES
Typical Uses:
• Wide variety of styles, designs, and materials available
to fit any cutting situation
• Ductile, Demolition, Steel, and many more applications
Advantages:
• Specifically designed for niche applications
• Excellent performance in stated applications, increasing
productivity, worker safety, and lowering costs
Other Considerations :
• Often only usable for one specific situation or application
• Can be expensive depending on product
• Less variety of compatible tools than with traditional
diamond blades
Lackmond 911 Demo Blade Shown

12. PATTERNED DIAMOND
Typical Uses:
• Most popular in stone and granite industries, but also
available in higher quality general construction products
Advantages:
• Patterned diamond blades provide the most efficient
arrangement of diamond for extremely fast cutting
• Manufacturing processes provide flexibility in designing
a bond matrix, making these blades extremely versatile
Other Considerations :
• Due to labor, manufacturing, and material concerns, these
products are generally higher cost and focused on higher
end uses
Lackmond STS6 Blade Shown

13. The term “Undercutting” or “Knife Edging” refers to the
premature wear of the weld point between blade segment
and core
• Usually a result of cutting very abrasive materials
• Also seen when cutting THROUGH a slab and in to
the sand / gravel substrate
Most asphalt / block blades and multi-application blades
incorporate undercut protection segments to prevent this
issue
Undercutting (left) can quickly
lead to segment loss (right)
UNDERCUTTING / KNIFE EDGING

14. UNDERCUT PROTECTION
Four separate approaches to undercut protection.
• The arrows point directly to the undercut protection
segment.
• The style used is based upon a number of factors
but is most heavily influenced by core design, segment
spacing, and manufacturing processes

15. Roll tensioning machines like the
one shown are used on almost
every Lackmond diamond blade
The lightly colored “ring” on both
sides of the blade core is evidence
of pre and post blade tensioning
Blade Tensioning is a quality control process performed
both prior to & after welding segments to the core
• This process ensures that blades run straight and true when at
operating speeds
• A tensioned blade will cut more straight, more quickly, last
longer, and put less wear on the tool
• Low cost manufacturers often skip this step and some even
paint their blades to hide their lack of blade tensioning
BLADE TENSIONING

16. GENERAL PURPOSE CUTTING
PART 2: TOOLS

17. Choke
Blade Flange
Throttle Lockout
Throttle Control
Start Throttle Lock
Stop Switch
Water Tap
Starter Handle
Illustrations from Husqvarna®
K760 product manual
Important terms and features for a typical hand held, high speed saw:
TOOL OVERVIEW

18. Gas Cap
Water Valve
Blade Guard
Starter Handle
Adjustable Handle
Kill Switch
Blade Height Control Wheel
TOOL OVERVIEW
Important Terms and Features for typical Walk Behind Saw:

19. On / Off Switch
Handle
Air Filter
Plunge Release
Cutting Channel
Sliding Tray
Sliding Tray Lock
TOOL OVERVIEW
Important Terms and Features for typical Masonry Saw:

20. GENERAL PURPOSE CUTTING
PART 3: HANDS ON

21. • Silica Dust Mask (N95)
SAFETY BRIEFING: REQUIRED GEAR
• Wrap Around Eye Protection
• Hearing Protection
• Gloves (optional)
• Protective Apron (optional)

22. Unplug and/or turn off gas tools when changing,
inspecting, or mounting a diamond blade
Wear safety equipment at all times when operating tools
• Cutting and grinding can produce flying debris
• Prolonged silica dust inhalation can lead to
respiratory issues
• In absence of hearing protection, hearing
damage can occur with prolonged tool use
Keep hands out of cutting areas at all times
Cutting and grinding can result in heat build-up
• Use caution and tight fitting gloves to prevent accidental burns
SAFETY BRIEFING

23. Blade mounting instructions
• Ensure the blade arrow matches the rotation of the saw.
• Most hand held saws have an arrow displayed on the blade
guard.
• Place the diamond blade on the drive shaft
between both flange washers
• Lock the shaft
• Tighten bolt with supplied wrench until blade
is secure
• Follow your specific saw’s instructions
MOUNTING THE BLADE

24. We will be using the Masonry saw for our hands on portion
for a number of reasons
• Easier to control and feel differences between blade types
• Safety
• Eliminates user inexperience as a factor in blade performance
TURN OFF saw after each cut, BEFORE moving hands to
the cutting zone
• Allow blade to completely stop before removing material
Pay attention to the following factors as you cut:
• Attempt to maintain a consistent level of downward pressure on
the handle
• Feel the difference in cutting speeds across various products
and blade types
• Listen for sound differences between materials & blade types
PROPER CUTTING TECHNIQUE

25. Place a General Purpose / Concrete blade on the saw
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of non-reinforced concrete
• Rotate your sample 90°and begin making a plunge cut crossing
rebar reinforcement
o Make note of saw feedback, sound, and blade cutting speed
o Slightly back off on pressure when hitting reinforcement
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of non-reinforced concrete
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of granite
o Notice how slowly the blade cuts and how the saw head
wants to “rise up” as you push the material forward
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of lightweight block
o Notice how quickly the blade cuts and how little resistance
there is to your downward force
Discuss differences in blade performance across different materials
BONDS: PRACTICAL APPLICATION

26. BONDS: PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Place a T10 Turbo Blade on the saw
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of granite
o Notice how quickly the blade cuts compared to the general purpose
segmented blade
• Make a plunge cut through a piece of lightweight block
o Notice how quickly the blade cuts and how little resistance there is to
your downward force
o Cutting speed should be even greater than that of the General
purpose blade
o Extended use in this application would lead to excessive wear on the
blade; mismatched bond/application
Discuss differences in blade performance across different materials

27. For handheld saws:
• Allow the weight of the tool to apply downward force
• Your hands are there only to control the saw
Let the blade sink in to the cutting surface prior to
pushing forward
Begin cutting along your line getting progressively
deeper with each pass of the blade
• This cutting technique is called Step Cutting and it allows
the blade to remove less material each pass
• Cutting speed, blade life, and user fatigue are all positively
impacted by step-cutting
Remove the blade from a cut prior to releasing the
saw throttle or turning off power
PROPER CUTTING TECHNIQUE

28. Move STOP Switch to left position
Press in Decompression Valve
1.
3.
5. 6.
4.
2.
HAND HELD H/S: STARTING THE SAW
Pull CHOKE fully out
Press Air Purge 6+ times
Depress Throttle Controls &
engage Start Throttle Lock
Pull throttle cable to start saw

29. • NEVER cut in the “Kickback Zone” of a high speed handheld blade
• Cutting using the portion of the diamond blade ABOVE the centerline
(as shown below) can result in climbing kickback and serious bodily injury
• ONLY use the bottom half of a diamond blade when cutting
to avoid climbing kickback
• Always read and obey all instructions that come with your specific saw
NEVER cut with this
portion of the blade!
SAFETY: KICKBACK ZONE

30. Cured Concrete – Non-Reinforced
• Depress the throttle / throttle lock and bring the saw to full speed
• Staying out of the “kickback zone”, set the cutting edge of the
blade on the corner of the concrete surface
• Allow the blade to “sink in” to the cut approximately 1”- 2”
• Slowly begin moving the saw forward, maintaining control of the
saw and allowing the weight of the tool to apply downward force
• Keeping the throttle depressed, lift the saw out of the cut
• Release the throttle and allow the blade to stop spinning
Light Weight Block
• Follow the same cutting procedures as outlined previously
• Make 1-2 shallow cuts on a piece of light weight block
o This process dresses / re-sharpens the blade
• Remove the saw from the cut, release throttle, set the saw
down once blade has stopped spinning, engage “kill switch”
HAND HELD H/S: HANDS ON

31. Blade features and how they impact performance
Familiarity with commonly used tools
• Hand held, high speed saws
• Walk behind saws
• Masonry Saws
Practical Application: Bond Discussion
• Why is it so important to match blades to
specific applications?
Cutting through reinforcement
• Hearing sound difference when hitting rebar
• Feeling saw feedback change
• Proper cutting technique
CLOSING DISCUSSION

32. THE END
THANK YOU!
Thank you for completing the Cutting training module.
For any questions on this and other products offered by
Lackmond Products, Inc. please contact our customer
service department at 1-800-850-2044.
Also, please see all these products and more on our website:
Lackmond.com.