Bond Hardness

Choosing the right diamond blade starts with understanding bond hardness—the metal matrix that holds the diamonds in place. Matching the bond to the material you’re cutting is the single biggest factor in speed, blade life, and cut quality.

Most cutting issues—slow speed, glazing, overheating, or blades wearing out too fast—happen because the bond wasn’t matched to the material. This page breaks it down clearly so you can pick the right blade every time.

Understanding Bond Hardness for Diamond Blades

What Is Bond Hardness?

Bond hardness refers to how quickly the metal bond wears away during cutting. As the bond wears, it exposes fresh diamonds. The wrong bond locks diamonds in place or releases them too fast, leading to slow cutting or premature wear.

Hard Material → Soft Bond
Hard materials require the blade to shed metal faster so new diamonds stay exposed.

Soft or Abrasive Material → Hard Bond
Soft, gritty materials grind the blade quickly, so a harder bond helps the segments last longer.

Bond Hardness Comparison Chart

Material Type Recommended Bond Hardness Why It Works Typical Blade Types
Green / Uncured Concrete Hard Bond Prevents rapid wear from abrasive, wet material Segmented, hard-bond concrete blades
Cured Concrete Medium Bond Balances wear rate and speed on denser material Segmented or turbo concrete blades
Reinforced Concrete (Rebar) Soft Bond Cuts through hard aggregate + steel without glazing Soft-bond, laser-welded blades
Asphalt Hard Bond Asphalt is extremely abrasive; a hard bond resists wear Asphalt-specific blades, deep gullets
Brick & Block Medium to Hard Bond Abrasive material benefits from higher bond durability Masonry blades, segmented
Tile & Porcelain Medium to Hard Bond Precision materials require controlled wear Continuous rim, turbo rim
Granite / Natural Stone Soft Bond Hard minerals need fast exposure of new diamonds Stone blades, soft-bond turbo

How to Tell If You’re Using the Wrong Bond

Signs the Bond Is Too Hard

  • Blade feels slow or “burns” through material
  • Sparks increase
  • Segments look shiny or glazed
  • Saw bogs down under load

Fix: Use a blade with a softer bond.

Signs the Bond Is Too Soft

  • Blade wears extremely fast
  • Segments look uneven or thin
  • High dust output
  • Loss of cutting diameter early

Fix: Move to a harder bond blade.

Bond Hardness - Quality Diamond Blades

Why Bond Hardness Matters

  • Using the correct bond gives you:
  • Faster, cleaner cuts
  • Longer blade life
  • Fewer overheating issues
  • Less strain on your saw
  • Lower blade replacement cost
  • Consistent cutting on every project

This single choice is often the difference between a blade that lasts all week and one that burns out in a single day.

Choosing the Right Bond for Your Job

If you’re unsure which bond you need, base your decision on the hardness of the material, not the blade:

Hard material (e.g., stone, reinforced concrete) → Soft bond

Medium hardness material (e.g., cured concrete, brick) → Medium bond

Soft or abrasive material (e.g., asphalt, green concrete) → Hard bond

This rule of thumb keeps diamonds exposed consistently and prevents glazing or premature wear.

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