Diamond Blade Selection


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Old 07-23-17, 05:43 PM
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Diamond Blade Selection

I have been assigned this project to cut 200 red clay bricks in half. Each brick will require two cuts as a 7" blade will not make a complete through cut. So that’s 400 cuts to get through the pile. I have to get a diamond blade for my 7" grinder and I have exactly zero experience with diamond saw blades. My close-by Home Depot carries Makita blades (about $25) and AvantiPro (about $14). I feel my priority is in long blade life to get through these bricks and don’t know if the cheaper Avanti blade will last half as long as the Makita or if it will last just as long. Makita also had three different rims; Continuous Rim, Segmented Rim, and Turbo Rim. I have no clue as to the difference between these blades and which would suit me best. So I came here to get some more experienced opinions about what the 3 rim types are all about and which one will be the best for me. I realize blade life varies but any ideas about how many blades I should stock up on to do the 400 cuts?
Thanks for the help, all.
 
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Old 07-23-17, 07:15 PM
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Using a grinder to cut bricks in half will not be fun. Take a look at renting a paver saw designed to do exactly what you are proposing, I think.
Paver Saw Rental - The Home Depot

Bud
 
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Old 07-23-17, 07:45 PM
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I agree.

Not only will your cuts be hard to make accurately it will take forever and be quite dangerous to use a handheld grinder.
As suggested renting is not that expensive or for under $300.00 you can buy one at Harbor Freight or a similar store.
 
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Old 07-23-17, 08:04 PM
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I had rented one from depot several months ago. It was around $75 for the day.
I used it to cut approx 100 personalized bricks. Since it's water cooled.... no annoying dust either.
 
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Old 07-23-17, 10:53 PM
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G4KJHmzto4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGilLCqO0Pk Me i always used a circular saw. Cut half way and tap with a wide chisel. The shoe resting on the brick gives better control than an angle grinder. For that many I'd make a wood jig to help make cutting quicker.
 

Last edited by ray2047; 07-23-17 at 11:27 PM.
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Old 07-24-17, 02:56 AM
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Like Ray, when a precise cut was needed I've always scored the face with either a grinder or saw and then used a chisel, not that I've done a ton of it. With 200 bricks to do I would consider getting a water cooled brick saw.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 05:26 AM
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I've done it with a cheap wet saw from the tile department. Make two passes - initial pass and then rotate the brick 180 degrees and make a second pass. The wet saw makes no dust so it is relatively clean and safer than using an angle grinder. You have to remove the blade guard so be careful.

QEP 3/4 HP Wet Tile Saw with 7 in. Diamond Blade-22650Q - The Home Depot
 
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Old 07-24-17, 06:45 AM
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Type of Brick

Will the bricks be used to build a wall? If so, the exposed outer edge is all that will show. Scoring and breaking would be the way to go.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 09:00 AM
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If he has a radial arm saw and a 10" blade ($65) would that work or ruin the saw?
 
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Old 07-24-17, 09:01 AM
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Personally I wouldn't make many cuts with a saw that isn't rated for masonry, that dust will get everywhere.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 11:24 AM
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Since I had the grinder and can get a diamond blade easily, it didn't occur to me to invest in a tile cutter (love to have a reason to get a tool). I think getting a wet saw sounds really, really good but the QEP shows a blade below the table with a guide above the blade. Since I would have to remove the guide to fit the blocks, wouldn't that throw water everywhere? Seems like I need a cutter that has the blade overhead with a built in deflector so the water would drain back into the base?
Even though the 7" blade requires 2 cuts per brick, I don't see the need to get a larger blade size (cost and future needs).
Thoughts?
Also no one had an opinion about the various blade types(?).
Thanks for the help here; many good comments, much appreciated.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 11:37 AM
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Yes, it will throw some water up, but only until you start to make the cut then no splash. You will get in the habit of turning the blade off after the cut to reposition the brick for the next one. When the water stops spraying, you know to add more water. You can spend upwards of $300 on an overhead blade, but I don't think it is necessary unless more tile jobs are in your future. I bought one years ago, used the heck out of it for specialty cuts when you have to cut a tile into a "U" shape to go around obstacles. Saw a closeout on a rental that was just a hair bigger, bought it and sold the cheap one in a garage sale for $30. I also have an overhead arm saw where you pull the blade through the tile rather than pushing the tile through the blade. Between the two, I have never not been able to make a cut.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 11:40 AM
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Also no one had an opinion about the various blade types(?).
If cutting brick, any diamond blade will do. If cutting tile, you want to invest in a high end blade to make smooth cuts. Cheaper blades do not leave tile with a perfectly smooth edge. They tend to chunk out a little more than my tastes desire when doing a job for someone.
 
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Old 07-24-17, 12:00 PM
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Rent a water cooled brick saw.

 
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Old 07-24-17, 07:20 PM
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Look into a brick splitter. (google it) Makes a fast cut, no dust, no water. You can likely rent one from big orange.
 
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Old 07-25-17, 06:35 AM
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Ras

If he has a radial arm saw and a 10" blade ($65) would that work or ruin the saw?
The dust will ruin the bearings.
 
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Old 07-25-17, 08:29 AM
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When I suggested a circular saw I didn't mean your best one. I always used one that had been retired for one reason or another. Also you can use a spray bottle of water to keep just down.
 
 

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