Masonry Magazine March 2011 Page. 27
As a representative of Norton, a large diamond blade manufacturer, I can tell you that nothing is harder to hear from a contractor than, "a diamond blade is a diamond blade." Who knows how this started, but it is furthest from the truth. The general application of diamond blades to masonry materials remains constant, in spite of the many changes to materials, equipment and operators. But the design and technical make-up of blades have evolved significantly.
There are five significant but simple questions: How deep is the cut? What are you cutting? Is the application wet or dry? How much horsepower for the saw is needed? How big is the job?
These questions are the most important to address when teaching the next generation about diamond blades. Also, remember the rule of using soft bonded blades in hard material, and hard bonded blades in soft, will allow a contractor to define what type of blade is needed for an application. At Norton, our sales people are consistent with these messages, whether it's a full classroom with hands-on training or a simple lunch-and-learn. It is a foundation in Diamond Blades 101, and something we should all remember.
To keep it simple, we tier by good, better and best. Good, low-cost economy blades, like our Norton Classic line, have a place for quick, easy jobs in which life, production and precision are of no concern. These types of blades may be less expensive, but using them for every application can end up costing a contractor more in the long run.
Mid-grade premium blades, such as the Norton Charger series, bring the operator closer to the application than the fore-mentioned counterpart as the better tier. These blades typically provide improved performance.
Grinder Accessories
EDCO has expanded its Turbo Grinder accessory line with new Quick-Change accessories, which easily slide onto the Turbo Grinders and stay on magnetically. The user simply fastens the quick-change plate onto the machine, and then slides on various accessories as needed. The system eliminates the need to unbolt accessories every time a change is needed. The Diamond-Dot accessories remove coatings and smooth rough concrete surfaces, while the PCD accessories aggressively remove thick coverings. All EDCO Turbo Grinders quickly remove high spots, uneven joints, epoxy, urethane and other difficult coverings from concrete surfaces. IMAS
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