Every professional tiler will need to cut materials, and whether they are cutting ceramic tiles, hard porcelain or delicate mosaic, it is important to use the right tools and equipment. This includes choosing the best diamond blade for the cut, with factors such as the material, the finish and the cutting speed all impacting the tiler’s decision. However, with so many options available in many cases tilers will reach for an ‘all-purpose’ blade, rather than a blade which is the best choice for their project.
It is always worth taking the time to consider which is the best diamond blade for job, as you will benefit from a better finish, a longer blade life, more efficient cutting and a better experience overall. In this useful guide, we take you through how to choose the best diamond blade when cutting tiles.
What is a diamond blade?
This type of blade incorporates a thin layer of diamonds around the outer edge, which are designed to cut through hard or abrasive materials. In comparison to traditional saw blades, diamond blades offer precise cutting without common issues such as chipping. Not only will the actual cuts benefit from using a diamond blade, but you will also benefit from increased longevity, as the blades have an extremely high resistance to wear, in comparison to the short life of traditional saw blades.
There are two main types of diamond blades to choose from, segmented blades and continuous diamond blades. The segmented blades have segments with slots between them around the edge of the blade, which are designed to improve stability and reduce temperature whilst cutting. Whereas, continuous blades have a full layer of diamonds around the rim of the blade. which make them ideal for cutting through ceramic and porcelain tiles.
The basic points to consider when choosing a diamond blade
The saw or tile cutter
The first thing you need to consider is what tile cutting equipment you will be using, as the blade will need to fit and work perfectly with the RPM and horsepower of the machine. It is worth noting that blades which will be used for cutting through hard materials and porcelain tiles, should not exceed a cutting speed of 30-39m/s, otherwise you will be at risk of damage. Whereas, if you are cutting through softer materials such as limestone or wood, it is possible to use blades designed for speeds upwards of 40m/s.
The tile thickness
If you have a specific project in mind, consider the thickness of the tiles which you will need to be cutting through. In general, the larger the material you need to cut, the larger the blade will need to be. The size of diamond blades vary significantly, with blades available with a diameter of just 40mm right through to 900mm.
Wet or dry cutting
Wet cutting will be better for your blade, but if you no need to dry cut, it is important that you choose a blade designed for this. In comparison to wet blades, the dry cutting blades will have slats cut into the edge. If you are dry cutting, we recommend making shallow passes and allowing the blade to spin in the air at regular intervals, so that it can call down.
The material to be cut
The hardness and abrasiveness of the tiles will determine how strong the bond between the diamonds and the metal blade needs to be. If you are cutting a very hard tile, you will need a soft bond so that the diamonds do not dull during cutting. Whereas, for a more abrasive, softer material, you will need a hard bond which will prevent the material from wearing through the blade quickly. The majority of materials will be classified as medium to hard, soft, medium to soft and hard.
The price
If you are looking for a blade which will withstand heavy use across multiple jobs, it may be worth investing in one of the more expensive diamond blades. However, for occasional use or a small tiling job, there are plenty of budget friendly blades available which will be up to the job.
What diamond blades do you recommend?
The following are some great examples of diamond blades, all of which are stocked by us:
1) Dart Red Ten RT-10 Smooth Cut Diamond Ceramic Blade – A smooth and effective ceramic tile blade, with a continuous diamond rim designed to ensure a smooth cut. Suitable for all tiles including ceramic, porcelain and marble.
2) Dart Red Ten ST-10 Super Thin Diamond Tile Blade – This pro-performance super thin porcelain tile blade is designed for the quick cutting of ceramic, porcelain and marble, and includes a segment height of 10mm.
3) Montolit CGX Blade – This versatile diamond blade is suitable for both wet and dry use, and is designed for cutting porcelain stoneware and hard ceramic.
4) Montolit STL Diamond Grinding Wheel – This is an innovative disc which offers multi-purpose finishing of tiles, as it can be used for bevelling, making small cuts, grinding, rounding and shaping edges. Ideal for both wet and dry use, the disc will fit any standard grinder and it is suitable for porcelain, stoneware, ceramic and marble.
5) Montolit Turmont Continuous Rim Blade – This continuous diamond blade is suitable for both wet and dry use, and it can be used for cutting porcelain stoneware, marble and ceramic. As a versatile blade, it can be used with an angle grinder, a wet tile cutter and a table saw machine.
6) TIGR TTE115 Blade – This ultra-thin diamond blade is designed specifically for dry cutting through porcelain, thin marble and granite.
As a team of tiling professionals and wholesale suppliers of tiling equipment, we are more than happy to recommend the ideal diamond blade for your project. Whether you are looking to cut through porcelain tiles, marble or other materials, we have a wide range of diamond blades available for stockists throughout the UK and Ireland. To find out more about stocking our blades or to find your nearest stockist, please contact our team today.