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Even the mightiest saw blades eventually lose a little bit of that cutting power. But a blade that isn’t what it once was shouldn’t simply be tossed. If you know what you’re doing, you can restore any power saw blade to its former glory. And we’re here to make sure you know what you’re doing. So let’s dig out those old tile saw blades and restore their vigor because there’s no need to simply throw out a perfectly fine blade. Not only does this reduce waste, but it saves you money—not a bad combo.
Various sharpening methods will keep your blades performing optimally for years. This breakdown will, undoubtedly, supply the best method for your dull blades. How often do you need to sharpen that blade? Well, it depends on various factors. How frequently are you using it? What are you cutting? Are we talking an infrequently used woodworking saw, here, or a get-after-it-daily concrete saw? You can imagine the concrete saw blades will need more regular attention; yours might see dulling within a week or two. The gently used saw might be good for years. You just have to pay close attention. When the cutting prowess dims, take action. If you’re cutting wood and smell burning, that’s a clear-cut indication that your blade can use some love.
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Sharpening Carbide-Tipped Blades
Your carbide-tipped saw blades need a little more sharpening power than you can supply with a taper file. So, what do you go with in that situation? Well, you want to call on a diamond wheel sharpener. Now, your casual do-it-yourselfer is unlikely to have this tool at his disposal. These are pricier and typically only make sense for professionals who are putting their blades to the test on a regular basis. These tools basically serve as grinders. You hold the blades against the spinning wheel, and you can imagine this takes a certain amount of finesse. So, not only is this tool somewhat expensive, it takes a deft hand. Again, this is probably not something an amateur should bother messing with.
Maintaining Diamond Blades
Even diamond blades wear down, especially when they are going up against hard surfaces like ceramic tile on a regular basis. Luckily, restoring them is a process most do-it-yourselfers can master with just a little practice. It’s also inexpensive. Basically, you just need an abrasive material to cut into like our Raimondi Resin Dressing Stone, which comes equipped with grit specifically designed to sharpen and reactivate diamond blades. This is recommended after about 60 porcelain cuts and 90 cuts on stone/granite. This is an easy and cheap way to keep your diamond blades cutting like a dream.
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There’s something especially satisfying about restoring anything to its former glory. Giving back a saw blade its ferocity checks that box, but it also can save you some serious bucks; of course, it’s pretty satisfying to check that box, too.
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