Asphalt

Asphalt cutting can be tricky, not because it is hard to cut, but because it is too easy. Asphalt is made of more than 90% aggregates and a petroleum based asphalt “glue”. Diamond blades work by the erosion of the bond holding the diamonds. Because asphalt is so abrasive, the bond wears fast, as a result if you are not using the diamond specifically designed for asphalt cutting, the life of your diamond blade will be drastically reduced.

Look for a diamond blade with a hard bond and undercutting protection for the steel core designed specifically for asphalt cutting. Because asphalt is so abrasive, and the depth of the asphalt layer can vary greatly allowing the blade to cut through the asphalt to even more abrasive material like sand, asphalt cutting can cause diamond blades to wear prematurely. On the other hand if the aggregates in the asphalt are rather large, cutting speed will be reduced.