Do diamond blades really need care and maintenance when they’re considered the hardest material in existence? Well, the actual diamonds are durable and pretty much impervious to harm, but the discs aren’t quite as indestructible. Therefore, diamond blades respond well to careful handling. Cooling lubricants and speed/pressure controlling smarts protect them when they’re at work, so what does it take to look after one when it’s at rest?
Keep the Lubricant Flowing
If the cooling fluid runs dry at an inopportune moment, the blade won’t last long. Check the reservoir, keep the fill level high, and don’t allow system clogs to develop. Overheated diamond blades need to run cool if they’re to do their job properly.
Check Diamond Blade Condition
The rim needs to run true. If it’s warped or cracked or bent out of shape in any way whatsoever, blade breakage becomes a very real hazard. Replace the blade and troubleshoot possible rim warpage factors. If this issue persists, consider calling in a repair technician, one who’ll check the equipment tensioners and couplings for misalignment errors.
Post-Job Cleaning
Piles of stony debris accumulate every time the equipment is called upon to make a cut. Even shallow cuts amass shallow pools of debris. Use a wire brush to gently clear the waste material. Follow up this step by using a soft cloth as a rim cleaner. Layers of bonding agent and used diamonds come away when diamond blades are properly cleaned.
Waste Concrete Cleaning
Upon finding a waste section of discarded concrete, make several shallow incisions with a dirty, clogged diamond blade. Apply the cuts at several different angles. This tip, effected for 10 to 15 seconds, deep cleans the rim.
Arbor Hole Maintenance
This is where the metal disc is mounted and coupled. It gives the blade disc support and anchors it in place. If the disc isn’t seated properly, the blade will wobble uncontrollably. If the arbor hole and blade flanges don’t mate correctly, then the equipment won’t cut regular edges. The equipment should be inspected regularly for arbor hole wear.
Many of the above tips seem obvious, but tool operators can be a single-minded lot. They skip a maintenance check, or they forget to clean a diamond blade after it’s made a cut. Just like a drill bit, the disc rim should be checked visually, checked to see if it still looks sharp and whole. Always engage the blade flange and arbor hole with a wrench tightener. Wipe debris away, clean the rim, check tool tensioners, and give the equipment some good old-fashioned TLC.
