Pick a saw blade by three things: the saw it goes on, which sets the diameter and hole size; the material, which sets the blade type; and how much stone you can afford to lose, which sets the kerf. Small, thin blades are for trim saws; large, heavy blades are for slab saws. Thin plated blades waste the least material. Heavier notched rim, 301 and 303 blades are for general and heavy cutting. Run them wet.
Start with the saw
The saw fixes the blade's diameter and hole size. You cannot choose those; you match them.
| Saw type | Blade diameters | Saws we sell |
|---|---|---|
| Trim saw | 4" to 10" | Rock-Rascal 6" saw, AmeriTool 4" trim saw, Covington trim saw, 6" and 10", Lortone 8" trim saw |
| Slab saw | 12" to 36" | Covington slab saw, 12" to 36" |
Hole sizes by blade diameter are on Arbor and bore sizes. In short: 1/2" or 5/8" on the small blades, 5/8", 3/4" or 1" from 10" to 24", and 1" only at 30" and 36".
Then the material
Our blade listings say what each blade is for:
| Blade | What our listing says it is for |
|---|---|
| Notched rim | Fast, clean cuts through agate, jasper and other hard rock. The notches pull coolant into the cut and clear the slurry |
| 301 compatible, sintered | Hard materials. Agate, petrified wood and jade are examples. Our first choice for hard stone |
| 303 compatible | Soft and hard materials. The widest size range we carry: 4" to 36", kerf 0.014" to 0.200" |
| Pro-Slicer, plated | Thin cuts that save precious material. Nickel alloy bond |
| Meteorite cutting blade, plated | Meteorites. Thin kerf, less wasted material |
301 or 303? Both cut hard stone. The 301 is the better blade for hard material. The 303 handles soft and hard material, so it is the one to choose when you cut a mix.
What "301 compatible" and "303 compatible" mean. These blades are made as equivalents of MK Diamond's MK-301 and MK-303 blades. If your saw takes an MK-301 or MK-303, it takes ours.
303 compatible blade. 4" to 36".
Pro-Slicer. Plated, down to 0.004" kerf.
Then the kerf
Kerf is the width of the cut, which is the width of stone the blade turns to dust. A thinner kerf loses less of your rough. A thicker kerf goes with a larger, heavier blade.
| If the material is | Look at |
|---|---|
| Costly, and every slice counts | The plated blades: Pro-Slicer from 0.004", or the meteorite blade |
| Hard rock for general cutting on a trim saw | Notched rim, or the 301, 6" to 10" |
| A mix of soft and hard material | The 303 |
| Large rough on a slab saw | The heavier notched rim, 301 or 303 blades, 12" and up |
Not every kerf comes in every diameter. The thicker kerfs are on the larger blades. The product page shows exactly which combinations exist. For how bonds differ, see Bond types.
Run it wet
Run the blade wet, with water or saw oil flowing over it. Our notched rim listing says to always run wet, and the notches are there to carry that coolant into the cut. See our lubricants.
Other ways to cut
For glass and for curved or inside cuts, a circular blade is not the only option. We also carry Gryphon's diamond band saw, ring saw and wire saw, and their replacement blades.
Questions we get
What blade do I need for a trim saw?
A small, thin blade in the diameter and hole size your saw takes, usually 4" to 10". Notched rim for general hard rock; plated if you are cutting costly material and want the thinnest kerf.
301 or 303?
The 301 for hard material. The 303 for soft and hard material.
What does 301 compatible mean?
The blade is made as an equivalent of MK Diamond's MK-301.
Notched rim or plated?
Notched rim for general cutting of hard rock. Plated where saving material matters most, with kerfs from 0.004".
What does kerf mean?
The width of the cut. It is how much stone the blade removes.
What hole size do I need?
The one your saw's arbor takes. See Arbor and bore sizes.
Can I run a blade dry?
We do not recommend it. Our notched rim listing says to always run wet, with water or saw oil.
Related: Arbor and bore sizes, Bond types.