The MK-485D is MK Diamond's Supreme Grade dry-cutting segmented blade for asphalt and green concrete, and this is the 18-inch size, part number 151396. It is bought by paving contractors, utility crews and municipal maintenance departments who cut pavement and fresh slab. Asphalt and green concrete are soft and abrasive, which is the opposite problem from cured concrete: the aggregate scours the steel core and the segments, so the blade needs a hard bond that resists wear rather than a soft bond that sheds diamond. Run a cured-concrete blade in asphalt and it disappears in a shift.
Use cases
- Saw-cutting asphalt roadway and parking lot. Full-depth cuts for patching, trenching and panel removal.
- Green concrete control joints. Cutting joints in a slab while it is still fresh, before shrinkage cracking starts.
- Utility trench layout. Scoring pavement ahead of excavation so the edges break clean.
- Asphalt overlay work. Cutting through overlay and into the base course where an undercutting-prone blade would be eaten from below.
- Municipal patch and repair. Cutting out failed pavement sections for hot-patch replacement.
Specifications
- Diameter: 18 inches (457 mm)
- Blade width (kerf): 0.125 inch
- Arbor: 1 inch
- Segment height: 12 mm
- Construction: Laser welded
- Grade: Supreme
- Cutting method: Dry
- Application: Asphalt and green concrete
- MK part number: 151396
Fits
The 151396 uses a standard 1-inch arbor and will mount on a walk-behind or handheld saw rated for an 18-inch blade. Confirm your saw's maximum blade capacity, arbor size and blade shaft speed before ordering. On a walk-behind saw, remember the drive pin hole in the flange as well as the center arbor; the pin is what stops the blade wobbling under load.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a green concrete blade and a cured concrete blade?
Bond hardness. Green concrete and asphalt are soft and abrasive, so they need a hard bond that resists wear. Cured concrete is hard, so it needs a soft bond that wears away and keeps exposing fresh diamond. Using the wrong one either burns the blade up or glazes it over.
Can I use this blade wet?
The MK-485D is classified as a dry-cutting blade. A dry blade can be run wet, and doing so removes heat and dust and often extends blade life. The reverse is not true: a wet-only blade must never be run dry.
Why does an asphalt blade wear out from underneath?
It is called undercutting. Abrasive slurry works its way under the segments and erodes the steel core just below them, so segments come loose while they still have height left. Blades built for asphalt use a harder bond and protective features at the segment base to slow that down.
How deep should each pass be?
Step-cut rather than dropping to full depth in one pass. Several shallower passes keep the blade cooler, load the saw less and give a straighter cut. As a rule of thumb you should not be using anything close to half the blade diameter in a single pass.
How soon can I cut a green concrete slab?
Early enough to beat shrinkage cracking but late enough that the slab holds an edge. That window depends on mix, temperature and slab thickness, so follow the specification for the pour. This blade is built for cutting inside that green window.
MK Diamond Products is an American diamond-tool manufacturer whose family business traces back to 1868, when Joseph Musto founded the Musto Steam Marble Mill in San Francisco. Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized MK Diamond dealer and stocks MK blades and profiling tools alongside its surface preparation line, with US-based order support if you need help matching a blade to your saw.
