Do you know what ring saw blades are made from and how they actually work? You might be interested to learn more about these specialist tools. Please read below and we look into this further.
Ring saws are a highly specialist form of saw for cutting very hard materials. They are similar to band saws, however, instead of a flexible oblong band, they rely on a circular blade with an abrasive coating.
How do Ring Saws Work?
Unlike traditional saws which have teeth that will ‘cut’ into the surface, ring saws use an abrasive coating. They essentially ‘sand away’ the area around the insertion point so that they can cut.
Unlike some other types of cutters, which vibrate, ring saws spin in a circle, which reduces the risk of chipping the material, and also produces more even wear on the blade.
Abrasive saws can be used to cut a number of surfaces. They are used to cut glass, for example, but they can also cut wood, brittle and hard minerals, and concrete.
They are so strong that they can even cut reinforced concrete. To do this for larger cuts, however, they will need lubrication.
What is a Ring Saw Blade Made From?
Ring saw blades are usually made from diamonds. Very small, industrial-grade diamonds are glued to the cutting surface.
Diamonds are incredibly strong and will not break or shatter even when they come into contact with something that would be traditionally thought of as very hard (such as concrete or steel).
There are a huge number of diamonds stuck to the cutting surface, and they give a smooth, fine finish. However, the abrasion process generates a lot of heat and dust.
The glue that is used to hold the diamonds in place can melt and form a coating over the diamonds, and the dust from the cutting process can build up in between the diamonds themselves, making the blade feel smooth.
When this happens, the blade will not cut as effectively. Wet cutting helps to prevent this issue from happening and can greatly prolong the life of the belt.
Wet cutting uses a steady stream of water to wash away the dust produced in the cutting process and also cool the blade.
This also helps to protect the worker who is operating the saw from dust inhalation.
Using a Ring Saw
Ring saws are expensive devices, and the blades must be changed regularly because they will go ‘blunt’ even when you are wet cutting.
They are also quite dangerous to use when performing long, thick cuts. It is vital that you use the proper safety equipment and take precautions when cutting.
If you are planning on cutting only a small amount of concrete, or you have not used a ring saw before, you may want to consider bringing in some experts to do the job for you.
It takes skill to cut a hole into a concrete wall plumb and square and to keep the blade on track for longer cuts.
If you do not operate a ring saw properly then you run the risk of not just bad cuts, but also wearing out the blade more quickly, or damaging the rollers, as well as potentially injuring yourself.
Concrete dust is harmful to human lungs. There are some studies which have found links between exposure to crystalline silica and lung cancer.
For this reason, it is vital that workers wear respirators when using ring saws to cut concrete.
Even a small amount of exposure to concrete dust can have potentially serious health implications in the future.
Ring saws can make short work of concrete, stone, granite, marble and other solid materials, and they are good for precision cuts and also for cutting in confined spaces.
However, they require careful handling to ensure the safety of the operator and those around them.
If you are looking for a specialist concrete cutting company who uses only the best practices to get the job done right, then please call us at Megasaw on 1300 920 419 or contact us through our website.