When it comes to PRO concrete cutting diamond blades, there are 3 main factors to consider. How fast does the blade cut? How much life does the blade offer? What coolants will be used?

Time is money. This means that cutting speed is crucial when considering what diamond blade to choose for your job. Getting the correct bonded blade is very important. So if you’re cutting concrete, you need a soft bonded blade, if you’re cutting asphalt, you need a hard bonded blade. The bottom line is, you want to be cutting between 8 and 10 feet per minute. If you aren’t reaching this metric, get a new blade guy!

You also need your blade to last. Even if the blade is gliding through the material, it needs to give you significant life. With diamond blades, most relationships are opposites. For instance, if you are cutting lower horse power, your blade lasts longer. Or, if you’re cutting with a thicker rim diameter, for example a .187, then your blade will cut slower but last longer, refer to the chart below.

Lastly, you really want to have coolant on hand to keep your blade cutting fast and make sure it doesn’t burn out and you waste your money. There are a million different tanks and drums on the market from all the major manufacturers, Stihl, Husqvarna etc. It’s important to have good water pressure and plenty of water on hand. Without using sufficient water, the diamond blade will overheat quickly and you will risk undercutting.

In closing, from a PRO concrete cutting perspective, get a good blade from a good company and ask for references. Lastly, make sure that you will be getting at least 8 feet per minute cutting concrete with a high horse power walk behind saw.