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Masonry Blade Buyer's Guide

Masonry saw blades are designed to cut through brick, stone, ceramic, tile and other types of masonry materials. They can be used in various applications, such as detail work, tile work and precision cutting. Blades come in a variety of sizes and can be made of various materials to accommodate different uses.
About Types Top Picks Glossary Before you buy FAQ Shop Masonry Blades »

About

It's important to remember that each blade type is designed to make certain types of cuts for a reason. It can be unsafe to use the incorrect blade for certain tasks, as the blade teeth and thickness may not be sufficient to cut certain materials and could cause problems. Always use the appropriate blade for each type of material.

Types of Masonry Blades

Abrasive Blade

For cutting masonry and tile materials. Made of bonded abrasive materials (such as minerals, carbide) for strength and durability. Many abrasive blades can also cut metal and steel.

Diamond Blade

For cutting concrete, masonry, ceramic or glass materials. There are two types of diamond blades:

  1. Wet-Cutting Blades: Ideal for heavy duty outdoor applications, detail work and precision cuts. Excellent for cutting very hard materials. Uses water to cool the blade. Reduce dust when you cut.
  2. Dry-Cutting Blades: Ideal for indoor applications. Dry-cutting blades have heat-resistant segment welds that don't require the use of water. Typically used on handheld saws that have low horse power. Shop Dry-Cutting Diamond Blades

Segmented Blade

Has gullets between each segment in the rim the saw blade. For making rough cuts that don't require a finished look.

Continuous Rim Blade

Has no break in the rim of the blade. For wet cutting of various tile types, including ceramic, marble and granite.

Top Picks

Diamond Blade

This MK Diamond 14" Supreme Grade Blade is excellent for cutting through brick and block. Impressively durable, it boasts a state-of-the-art engineering.

Diamond Blade

Skil's 7" Turbo Diamond Blade is equipped with improved cooling vents that offer two times faster cuts and 50 times longer life than standard abrasive blades. It cuts brick, concrete, masonry and tile.

Segmented Blade

The 4-1/2" HP Segmented Diamond Blade from DEWALT® is designed for long-term performance. It's capable of lasting 200 times longer than a conventional dry cut masonry blade, and slices through brick, masonry and concrete. Ideal for rough cutting in dry applications.

Continuous Rim Blade

Makita's 5" Continuous Rim Diamond Blade has a continuous rim design that creates constant contact with the material, delivering a smooth finish.

Glossary

Kerf:

How thick a blade is. The thicker the blade is, the longer it lasts and the more it can be resharpened. Blades with a thin kerf tend to be sharper and cut faster.

Teeth:

The sharp points on the blade. The more teeth a blade has, the cleaner the cut. Fewer teeth make for a rougher cut. The number of teeth depends on the blade.

Gullet:

The curved area between two saw teeth. The gullet serves as an area for chip removal while you are cutting.

Expansion Slot:

A grooved area of the blade (typically on larger blades) designed to create an avenue for built-up heat on the blade.

Shoulder:

The part of the blade behind the teeth that provides added support to the teeth.

Hook Tooth/Rake:

Angle of the saw tooth in relation to the center of the blade.

Before you buy

There are several things to consider before buying a metal cutting saw blade. Always consider the diameter needed, the kerf, and the arbor size of the blade. It's also important to first figure out what sort of task you are going to use the blade for. Each blade is designed differently to accommodate specific tasks. For instance, will you be wet cutting or dry cutting? Use a wet-cutting diamond blade for wet (often outdoor) tasks, like cutting concrete. These blades are specifically constructed for use with water. If you use a wet cutting blade in a dry application, you could end up damaging the blade or improperly cutting the work piece. Likewise, use a dry-cutting blade for dry (often indoor) tasks only.

Also consider the power capability of the saw you will use with the blade. For example, if you need a diamond blade and the saw you are planning to use with it has a high horse power, use a diamond blade with a high diamond concentration (high diamond concentration indicates a harder blade). If the saw you will be using has a smaller horse power, then use a diamond blade with a lower diamond concentration (low diamond concentration indicates a softer blade). The type of material you are cutting is also important (see the types of blades list above). All of these factors affect cutting speed, which affects how well your blade will cut materials. This is why it's important to think about the task at hand, the type of saw you will be using and the type of materials you will be cutting when finding the right blade.

FAQ

What kind of saw blade should I use?

It depends on a number of things. One of the first things you should figure out is the task you are going to use the blade for. Each blade is designed differently to accommodate specific tasks. So if you are wet cutting concrete, use a wet-cutting diamond blade. These blades are specifically constructed for use with water. If you are performing dry/indoor cutting applications, use a dry-cutting diamond blade.

Consider the type of saw you are using. If you have a saw with a high horse power, you should use a blade with a high diamond concentration, as it's a harder blade. If your saw has a lower horse power, use a diamond blade with a lower diamond concentration, as that indicates a softer blade. The type of material you are cutting is also important to keep in mind. If you are cutting tile, use an abrasive cutting blade. If you are cutting concrete, ceramic or glass, opt for a diamond blade. If you need to make rough, unfinished cuts, use a segmented blade. If you are wet cutting ceramic, tile or granite, use a continuous rim saw blade. Remember that if you use the wrong type of blade, you could end up damaging the blade or the material, or end up with an improperly cut work piece.

What types of saws can masonry saw blades be used with?

Standard circular saws, band saws, reciprocating saws, miter saws, table saws, radial arm saws, hand-held saws and cut-off saws can all be used with metal cutting circular saw blades.

I have more questions!

We'd love to help. Give us a call at 866-597-3850 (Monday - Friday, 8am to 5pm CDT). Or email us at sales@toolbarn.com.