When the slab has had time to reach full hardness, the job changes from beating the clock to getting clean, straight, repeatable cuts without burning through blades. The MK Diamond MK-500 is a standard grade wet-cutting blade for cured concrete, 26 inches in diameter with a .165 inch kerf and a 1 inch arbor. It suits demolition and repair crews, utility contractors trenching through existing slabs, and sawing outfits who need a blade matched to the horsepower of the saw they actually own rather than the biggest one in the yard.
Built for
- Cutting openings and trenches through existing slabs. Utility penetrations, plumbing repairs and equipment pads in concrete that has fully set.
- Demolition layout. Scoring the perimeter of a removal so the break stops where you want it instead of running into concrete that is staying.
- Joint repair and reservoir work in older pavement. Cleaning out and resizing joints that have raveled or lost their sealant.
- Deep single-pass cuts. At 26 inches this is one of the larger diameters in the MK-500 range, which is what you want when stepping the cut down in multiple passes is not practical.
- Saws in the 5-12 horsepower range. MK Diamond rates the MK-500 for that band, and matching it is the single easiest way to get full life out of the blade.
Cured concrete presents the opposite problem. Once the mix has set, the sand is locked into the mortar and the slab is hard rather than abrasive. A bond that is too hard will glaze over, stop exposing fresh diamond, and start riding on the cut instead of cutting it. Blades in MK Diamond's cured-concrete line use a softer bond so the matrix wears at a rate that keeps sharp diamond at the surface. That is also why matching the grade to your saw matters: horsepower, down pressure and segment height work together, and a blade run outside its rated range will either glaze or wear fast.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: MK Diamond Products
- Series: MK-500, Standard grade for cured concrete
- MK Diamond part number: 139261
- Blade diameter: 26 inches (660mm)
- Blade width (kerf): .165 inches
- Arbor: 1 inch
- Segment height: 10mm
- Segment attachment: Laser welded
- Horsepower range: 5 - 12 hp
- Cutting method: Wet cutting
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the MK-500, MK-505 and MK-525?
They are MK Diamond's Standard, Premium and Supreme grades for cured concrete, and the published difference is horsepower rating and segment height. The MK-500 is rated 5 to 12 horsepower with a 10mm segment, the MK-505 8 to 20 horsepower with a 12mm segment, and the MK-525 12 to 25 horsepower with a 15mm segment. A taller segment means more diamond depth to wear through before the blade is finished. This blade is the MK-500, rated 5 - 12 horsepower with a 10mm segment.
When is concrete considered cured for blade selection?
For blade-choice purposes concrete is generally treated as cured once it has set for around forty-eight hours, by which point the sand has bonded into the mortar and the slab is hard rather than abrasive. Anything cut in the first several hours after finishing is green concrete and calls for a green-concrete blade instead.
What saw does the MK-500 fit?
This blade has a 1 inch arbor and MK Diamond rates the MK-500 for saws from 5 - 12 horsepower. Confirm your saw's arbor size and its rated maximum blade diameter before ordering, since a 26 inch blade needs guarding and a blade shaft sized for it.
How deep should a control or repair joint be cut?
For control joints the standard is at least one quarter of the slab thickness, with joints spaced about eight to twelve feet apart. For repair and removal work the depth is set by the job, but scoring the full perimeter before breaking out concrete gives a cleaner edge on the concrete you are keeping.
Is this a wet-cutting blade?
Yes. The MK-500 is a wet blade and needs water at the cut. Running a wet-rated blade dry overheats the core and will take the blade out of true, so water is not optional on this one.
Discount Cleaning Products is a United States based supplier of MK Diamond cutting tools, and we stock the MK-500 line by part number so you get the exact diameter, kerf and arbor you ordered rather than a close substitute. If you are not certain which grade your saw should be running, or whether your slab is still green, call or email before you order and we will work it out with you against your saw's horsepower rating and your pour schedule.
