Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 24
Saws & Blades
Before reinstalling the blade, masons need to inspect the flange and, if necessary, clean or replace it, Blais said. "A problem I see with masons in the field is when the saw is cutting all day long and they take the blade off, they don't clean the flange," he said. "The flanges must be cleaned."
Dirt or debris on the flange may prevent proper blade clamping, causing the saw to lose its tension and the blade to "twitch," or vibrate on the spindle, Blais said. This can also affect the cut. The blade could give a slight kick at the end of the cut, resulting in a slight chip in the material.
When replacing the blade in the saw, it has to be installed in the correct orientation, said Tom Roe, director of sales for Multiquip. Blades are designed to spin in a particular direction, so the arrows have to be pointed in the rotation of the cut.
"It will impact the performance of the blade if it's in the saw backwards," Roe said. "It's highly recommended they re-orient themselves with the blade direction."
Keeping an eye on the bearings and replacing them before they wear out keeps the saw running smoothly.
Simple Fixes for Common Problems
OCCASIONAL PROBLEMS are bound to occur, even with regular maintenance. In most cases, the fixes are inexpensive and easy to perform. Sometimes, the problem is external, like when a mason has an expensive electric saw, a $400 diamond blade, then plugs it into a cheap extension cord that doesn't deliver adequate power, N-E-D's Blais said.
Blade glazing, caused by forcing a blade that's too hard through the material, can also be easily remedied, Blais said. Making slow cuts through an abrasive material will re-expose the diamonds.
The common problem of a saw losing tension can be solved by simply taking the saw out of the cut and letting it continue to run, he said. The saw will tighten itself.
MK Diamond's Delahaut said plunge cutting, which is ramming the blade into the material too fast, can crack the blade. Slowing down the cut eliminates the problem.
Also, worn out bearings can impact the saw's performance and quickly wear out the blade, he said. Keeping an eye on the bearings and replacing them before they wear out keeps the saw running smoothly. All it takes is looking the saw over.
"It's a good idea to give the saw a visual inspection before using it," Delahaut said. "All people need to do is look at the saw. It's all about the tool."
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22 Masonry
November 2006
www.masoncontractors.org