Which Saw Blade? Clean Cuts in Slabs, Tiles, Worktops and Steel

A crumbling slab edge, a chipped porcelain tile or a splintering worktop is often a blade problem, not a saw problem. Match the blade to the material, then to your machine's size and fitting.

PartsForMachines stocks over 800 saw blades, hole saws, core drills and accessories from Abracs, Draper, Sealey, SIP and Sykes Pickavant in its saw blades range.

Segmented, Turbo or Continuous Rim: Which Diamond Blade for Slabs and Brick?

For occasional slab and brick cuts, a segmented blade does the job; move up to a turbo or continuous rim for faster cutting, a cleaner edge or reinforced concrete. Keyhole gaps between the segments clear debris and help keep the cut cool. That makes the ABDD125M 125mm segmented diamond blade a good fit for DIY work on blocks, bricks and roof tiles.

Angled turbo segments cut more aggressively with less chance of losing a segment. A continuous rim cuts steadily without chipping and has no segments to lose, and the top grades take on reinforced concrete and embedded rebar. Common grinder sizes are 115, 125 and 230mm, mostly with a 22mm bore.

Why Does My Diamond Blade Chip Tiles, and What Cuts Porcelain Cleanly?

A segmented construction blade is made for concrete, brick and stone, so for porcelain switch to a thin tile blade. The ABDCR125 125mm X-Tech tile blade is 1.2mm thick, with a fine turbo rim designed for clean, chip-free cuts in porcelain, ceramic tile, marble and granite. Tile blades also come in wet-saw sizes.

If a blade turns blunt after a few cuts in hard porcelain, it may have glazed, with the diamonds no longer standing proud enough to bite. A few cuts through an abrasive material, such as a brick or a dressing stone, can open the diamonds up again.

Which Replacement Bandsaw Blade Fits My Saw?

The one that matches your machine's blade length, width and thickness, in the blade type listed for that saw. Take the sizes from the handbook or the old blade.

For example, the 07739 M42 bandsaw blade is 2362 x 20 x 0.90mm and suits SIP's 12in metal bandsaws, such as the 01594. SIP's smaller 6in 01572 takes a much thinner 12.5 x 0.64mm carbon steel blade.

Sealey bandsaw blades name the saw they fit in the specification, such as the SM35CE. Whether you choose a premium brand or the machine maker's own blade, start from the size and type listed for your saw.

How Many Teeth for a Clean Cut in a Laminate Worktop?

Use a fine-tooth TCT blade with around 48 teeth on a 165mm plunge or circular saw. The TCTP16548 48-tooth plunge saw blade, for example, is made to leave clean edges without tear-out on worktops, cabinets and laminate panels. Fewer teeth cut faster and more aggressively, while more teeth leave a smoother finish; Abracs suggests 24T for fast rip cuts and 40T or more for fine finishing.

On a handheld circular saw the teeth come up through the top face, which is where splinters show, so cut with the good face down.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• The material you cut most: concrete and slabs, porcelain tile, laminate and wood, or steel.
• Diameter and bore, or an M14 thread, against your tool, plus a maximum speed at least equal to the tool's.
• Rim type for diamond blades (segmented, turbo or continuous) or tooth count for TCT blades.
• For a bandsaw: blade length, width and thickness, and the machine it must fit.
• Wet or dry use, and how you will keep dust down when cutting masonry.

Not sure which blade suits the job? Browse the saw blades range or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with your machine model, the blade size and the material you are cutting.

Pack sizes, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is wet or dry cutting better with a diamond blade?

Wet, wherever the blade and the job allow it. Water keeps the blade cool and greatly reduces the dust. A dry-rated blade also cuts well wet, but a wet-only blade must never be run without water.

Can I fit a 115mm diamond blade on a 125mm grinder?

Check the handbook first. The blade must be within the grinder's rated size, with a maximum speed at least the grinder's top speed. A wrongly sized blade cannot be properly guarded, so if 115mm is not listed, use 125mm.

Which diamond blade cuts very hard stone and pavers?

A blade made for hard materials. These use a slightly softer bond so they keep cutting granite, engineered concrete and clay pavers without glazing over; the ABDT230H 230mm blade is one example. A general construction blade may struggle on them.

How can I keep the dust down without mains water?

Use a pump-up water bottle. The DSB12 holds 12 litres and feeds water through a hose to a cut-off saw or the blade, knocking down dust and silica and cooling the cut to help the blade last.

Is there one disc that cuts and grinds concrete or stone?

Yes. A cut-and-grind diamond disc such as the DCG125 screws straight onto an M14 grinder spindle. Its continuous rim plunge-cuts concrete or stone, then its flat diamond face grinds the edge smooth with no disc change.

How do I stop a jigsaw chipping the top of a worktop?

Fit a downward-cut blade such as the SJBT101BR downward-cut jigsaw blade (100mm, 10tpi). Its downward cutting action is made to leave the top surface of a laminate worktop clean and free of chips.

What does an M42 bi-metal bandsaw blade offer?

Teeth built for high heat and wear resistance. An M42 blade has high-speed cobalt steel teeth on an alloy steel back. Still fit the type listed for your saw, as some small saws take a carbon steel blade.

Can I fit a thicker bandsaw blade than the original?

Stick to the thickness listed for your machine rather than a thicker band. On SIP's metal bandsaws, for example, the 6in saw takes a 0.64mm band and the 12in saws take 0.90mm. If unsure, measure the old blade or check the handbook.

Which bandsaw blade should I use for wood?

A coarse 4 or 6TPI blade suits general wood cutting and also handles plastics and non-ferrous metals. Finer 14TPI wood blades, such as the 01801, balance cut speed with finish. Skip-tooth blades suit hard and soft woods.