Reinforced concrete has many applications today. It is used to make buildings, flyovers, roads, pipes, and more. This is because of its durability, versatility, economical price, and load-bearing strength.
However, its tendency to strengthen a structure creates a problem. For instance, say a concrete bridge breaks down due to an accident. In this instance, you will have to clear the broken concrete chunks off the road by cutting or breaking them. Plumbers may also have to break through the concrete chunks to fix the damaged plumbing system underneath.
This is where blades for concrete cutting come in. They are quite useful in cutting through reinforced concrete. But what challenges do they solve, and which type of blade should you choose?
Continue reading to learn more.
What Challenges Are Involved In Cutting Reinforced Concrete?
Cutting concrete is a challenging process due to the presence of reinforced steel bars. These bars can affect the blades by wearing them down. That’s because they make the concrete extra strong. Some other challenges include vibration and noise, material composition, safety concerns, and environmental concerns.
Concrete cutting operations generate a lot of noise and vibrations. For instance, they generate up to 122 dB of noise approximately. This is more than the healthy permissible limit of 70 dB. Frequent exposure to these sounds and vibrations can lead to hearing issues, heart aggravation, anxiety, and stress.
Material composition refers to the thickness of different types of concrete. Some types of concrete can be reinforced due to the presence of reinforced steel bars, while others are brittle. In case the concrete is too brittle, the blades can get dull or become chipped and worn.
Safety concerns involve the effect of the concrete dust. The concrete dust can enter the respiratory system and cause chronic bronchitis.
Environmental concerns refer to the effects of the concrete dust. It can pollute the air and enter the water supply. This can cause concrete runoff and lead to contamination of the water supply.
Generally, concrete cutting is carried out during demolition, renovation, and roadwork. In dire instances, concrete cutting becomes necessary to repair or replace an entire underground sewage system. It is necessary that you get a detailed idea about the blade types so as to select the right one for the concrete cutting machine.
Which Kind of Blades Are Great for Reinforced Concrete Cutting?
The best types of blades for concrete cutting are segmented rim diamond, continuous rim, and turbo rim diamond blades. Let’s explore more about them below.
1. Segmented Rim Diamond Blades
Segmented rim diamond blades are circular blades with gaps in between sharp teeth. Generally, you’ll find 10-14 teeth in these blades. They are useful for occasions when you lack access to water to cool the blades down, and are used for grinding concrete and bricks.
Segmented rim diamond blades are preferred due to their versatility of use, durability, fast cutting, and cooling rates. You can utilize them for both wet and dry cutting. These blades cool fast due to the gaps between the teeth, which provide excellent air ventilation. However, some things you should watch out for are chipping due to segmented teeth, increased noise, and reduced precision.
2. Continuous Rim Diamond Blades
Continuous rim diamond blades are circular blades without gaps or teeth. In other words, they have a flat appearance. These blades are preferred because of their ability to provide precision cuts with smooth finishes. You can use them for aesthetic-centric work, such as cutting concrete tiles. Unlike segmented rim diamond blades for concrete cutting, they also do not generate much noise.
You can use these blades for dry cutting, since water helps them cool down. However, you should be careful of a few things. These blades cool and cut slowly. Their durability is also less than that of segmented rim diamond blades. Ideally, these blades are best suited for indoor concrete-related work. However, you should watch out for their short lifespan.
3. Turbo Rim Blades
Turbo rim diamond blades are similar to segmented rim diamond blades. They have teeth, along with gaps in between. But that’s where the similarities end. In addition to the teeth and gaps, they have holes to allow for improved ventilation. This means that these blades cool down faster compared to continuous rim blades. Apart from that, these blades can be used both for dry and wet cutting.
Turbo rim blades also have an improved cutting speed. However, you should watch out for their tendency to suffer wear and tear.
What Are The Differences Between Continuous Rim Diamond, Turbo Rim Diamond, and Segmented Rim Diamond Blades?
Study the table below for your understanding so as to choose the right blade for the concrete cutting machine:
| Turbo Rim Diamond Blades | Continuous Rim Diamond Blades | Segmented Rim Diamond Blades | |
| Appearance | Round blades with teeth, gaps, and a circular hole in between | Round blades with no teeth, gaps, or circular holes in between | Round blades with teeth and gaps |
| Type of cutting | Wet and dry cutting | Wet cutting | Wet and dry cutting |
| Cooling | Good | Poor | Great |
| Speed | Great | Average | Decent |
| Applications | Cutting concrete and bricks | Cutting concrete tiles and marble tiles | Grinding concrete and bricks |
Table 1: Continuous Rim vs Turbo Rim Diamond Blades vs Segmented Rim Diamond Blades
How Can You Select the Right Concrete Cutting Blade for Your Job?
You can choose the right blade for concrete cutting by considering the table below:
| Factor | What You Should Check For? |
| Blade size | Concrete cutting blades are available between 4 inches and 24 inches in diameter. 4 to 5-inch-diameter blades are ideal for small tile cutting operations. 7 to 10-inch diameter blades are ideal for cutting pavement concrete tiles. 12 to 14-inch diameter blades are ideal for cutting large concrete blocks. 16-inch blades are used for cutting roads 18-20 inch blades are used for making deeper incisions in reinforced concrete 24-inch blades are used in well saws (accurate cutting devices) The blade size will also impact how it fits in the concrete cutting machine. |
| Bond of the blade | Refers to the bond of the diamonds of the blade; Can be hard or soft; Hard bond blades are preferable for cutting limestone and green concrete. Soft bonds are ideal for cutting granite and reinforced concrete. |
| Method you’re going to be using | Wet or dry cutting methods; |
| Lifespan | 100 to 120 hours on average |
| Cost | Whether it matches your budget |
Table 2: Selecting The Right Concrete Cutting Blade
In Review
The type of blade you will choose will depend on your requirements. It will also depend on factors like your budget, needs, and speed. So, you should decide accordingly.
Ready To Cut Reinforced Concrete?
Research reputable suppliers of professional-grade concrete cutting blades to skip the hassle of visiting physical stores. After choosing your preferred supplier, purchase these blades and get started on your journey.