When is a blade useless?

[wallygrout]

Hi everyone

This is going to sound like a moronic question I know.

I was rooting out all my DIY tiling stuff ready for a project (sounds rather grand - I am doing a bit of tiling in the bathroom!) and found a couple of wet cutter blades I had previously replaced. Thing is how do you know when they need replacing?

It is a while since I used it and it may be that the cutters were replaced because they were not doing any cutting as such, although that job was porcelain floor tiles.

The thickened strip round the edge obviously is the bit that does the business and this gets thinner as it wears. But when is it necessary to bin it?

I see Dave sells a rubi ceramic thing for rejuvenating the blade and it made me think could I perk these two up and carry on using them a bit longer?

I guess when the diamond strip gets down to the steel edge of the circular blade itself it wouldn't cut on the actual edge of the blade - but the sides would still have a fair bit of material left on them.

What do you think grateful for any thoughts for a very occasional diy tiler.

 

[beanz]

I think you've pretty much answered your own question. I'd try the ceramic block first, if it doesn't reveal any new diamonds, it's time for a new blade.

 

[Colour Republic]

I sometimes clean the blade by using a standard house brick

 

[wallygrout]

Might give that a go then, thanks for the response mate

 

[Olz]

Sorry if im teaching you to suck eggs mate but basically the rim of the blade is coated in layers of diamond, as they blunt they wear away leaving a new layer, if they blunt through overheating they can be removed using a brick or similar to ground off the top layer of diamonds, when all the layers have worn off its time to bin them.

Letting the blade run dry and overheat will wear them out quicker, as will trying to cut something above their graded use, like trying to cut hard porc with a ceramic blade.

 

[DHTiling]

The honing blocks work great but also you can use a peice of sandstone...the honing blocks are a similar material and these expose the diamonds better...

A good guide was published back in 2005 by John bridge from tile the world forum in usa.

saves me having to type a simlar thing..

Sharpen Your Diamond Saw Blade - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums - John Bridge Ceramic Tile

 

[wallygrout]

Thank you the explanation no worries at all - I am only marginally more competent at tiling than I am at sucking eggs..

 

[wallygrout]

Very interesting Dave good link - thanks I will have a go at that .