Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 17
Keep
Running
Simple saw and blade maintenance can extend a machine's life, while keeping cuts straight and true.
By Brett Martin
IF YOU THINK CUTTING STONE OR BLOCK IS HARDER THAN IT SHOULD BE, YOU JUST MIGHT BE RIGHT. Your saw or blade may not be performing correctly, prompting you to force the blade through the material and leaving you with imperfect cuts. The solution may be a simple saw tune-up or blade change, in conjunction with basic maintenance, proper care and safe storage of these workhorse tools.
Anytime a crew member has to apply excessive force to get the blade to cut, or notices uneven wear of the blade, then there's a problem. It could be a machinery breakdown, or it may be that the operator is using the wrong tool for the job.
Rene Blais, national sales manager for N-E-D Corporation in Worchester, Mass., said his company was getting up to 20 percent of its saw blades back from contractors who claimed that they weren't performing properly. After giving contractors and their field crews charts detailing correct blade usage and maintenance procedures, the return rate has plummeted to nearly zero.