Concrete Repair and Upkeep: Tips for All Seasons

Welcome to my concrete blog. My name is Helen, and I hate stumbling over old and broken concrete. It makes a home, business or even a whole neighborhood look old and unkempt. To make the world a more beautiful place, I have decided to create this blog. In it, I plan to post everything I have learned about concrete over the years. I plan to include everything from maintenance schedules to upkeep tips to simple repairs to financial risks of broken concrete. If you have a patch of concrete anywhere on your property, I hope you enjoy the information in this blog and learn something new from it.

Understanding Blade Faults When Cutting Concrete

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There are a number of faults that can develop with the blade of a saw when cutting concrete. Not only does this increase downtime, extending the duration of the job, it can also cost extra money that you may not have budgeted for. Knowing how to spot and properly diagnose a fault with the blade will allow you to take early corrective action, rather than continuing to use the blade and saw until they become damaged. This article looks at some of the faults that can develop in a blade and what signs to look for.

Blade Wobble

If the blade wobbles, this is probably due to a tension loss in the steel core or blank. If you were to remove the blade, it would look very flat. If continued to be used in this state, the blade could jam while cutting. Check for these issues:

  • The incorrect speed is being used for the blade
  • There is not an equal diameter between the flanges
  • Too hard of a blade is being used to cut the material
  • The blade is not properly secured, causing a rotation of the spindle
  • The steel blank is over heating

Excessively Short Blade Life

This is mostly caused by using a blade with a bond that is too soft when cutting a material, resulting in the blade having a shortened life span. Fortunately, the only action required is to change the blade for a harder and more durable blade.

Overheating

This can be spotted by a blue hue developing on the blade and is generally evident when cutting hard materials. This can lead to a smoothing of the blade. Contributing factors are the following:

  • Not enough water is being used to cool the blade
  • The operator of the saw may be attempting to cut too deep into the material in a single pass
  • Selecting a blade that is too hard may result in the blade not actually cutting as it should
  • Too much pressure is being applied to the saw as the cut is being made

Cracks and a loss of tension can result from overheating.

Segment Loss

This is when a chunk of the blade breaks away from the rest of the blade, resulting in a blade that must be replaced. If the blade and material are not matched, the blade can end up creating a 'hammering' action, resulting in a part of the blade breaking off. Also, not using enough water when cutting can cause this to happen.

It is important to take the time to understand how to match a cutting blade with a material before you attempt to start the work. For more information, contact a business such as Crosscut Concrete Sawing & Drilling.

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9 March 2015