Thread: blade size

Normally, I would say that a smaller diameter blade with appropriate arbor size and any required support hardware should be OK provided that you can cope with the loss of depth of cut.

However once you start talking a fibro cement blade, one would assume that you want to cut fibro when you set it up. Personally I would be extremely shy of this be cause even with the best possible dust extraction installed and working, you are going to get a dust coating through the mechanics for the arbor, bearings, the motor and all of the rise and fall and tilt mechanism. This dust is abrasive and will significantly compromise the guts of the saw.

If you need to cut fibro with a rotary saw, I would suggest very good breathing, hearing and eye protection for yourself and a disposable circular saw. It is quite easy to make a straight edge guide for the saw, particularly as you have a table saw to get the guide nice and straight.

Just my thoughts (rare as they may be)

This is something you do on somebody else's saw, and that somebody should be your worst enemy.

Thanks guys. I have a 6" dust extraction hose to the saw and was one reason for me wanting to use it but I really don't want to stuff it up. I'll make up a jig with a dust hood and user my portable circ saw.

Personally I would be using a circ saw that you are happy to junk soon, or look for a very cheap one that you are not going to develop an attachment to, thats why I suggested a disposable one.

I would rent a saw for the project.

U can score and snap cement sheet quite well with a straight edge( long sprit level )
And can be quicker than using a saw

If you need to cut it a special way buy a cement sheet cutter from Bunnings, only about $ 22. A lot cheaper then fixing up a stuffed saw.


Peter.

Originally Posted by C0000005

Is there any reason I couldn't use a smaller blade in a bigger saw. E.g. a 185mm blade in a 245mm saw.

Specifically I wonder if I could use a 185mm fibre cement blade in my 10" cabinet saw. Assuming the Arbor is the same.

I routinely use a fibre cement blade in my 235mm makita to cut sandstone, slate, terracotta tiles, etc. Surprisingly easy and quick to cut (sandstone is softer than Tas oak) but it is extremely dusty. Very good mask and eye and ear protection is essential, plus heaps of ventilation and extraction, plus a very thorough clean up of vicinity and tools afterwards.

For cement sheet products I prefer to use a score and snap knife, also known as a laminex knife. Works well but you need a good strait edge.

Diamond blades have dropped dramatically in price, so next time I need to cut some stone I will check their price vs fibre cement blade prices.




Fair Winds

Graeme