Asphalt eats diamond blades, and it is supposed to. It is far more abrasive than cured concrete, and the blade that survives it is built to wear on purpose - a softer bond that gives up spent diamonds and exposes fresh ones instead of glazing over and refusing to cut. The MK Diamond MK-705W is that blade. This is the 12-inch size, part number 133447, a .250-inch kerf on a 1" arbor, laser welded and rated for saws in the 8 to 20 horsepower range.
Built for
- Trench lines and utility cuts through asphalt pavement for water, sewer and pipeline work.
- Municipal street repair - pothole patching, pavement removal and full-depth patch layout.
- Scoring and edging ahead of milling or resurfacing.
- Walk-behind and self-propelled flat saws in the 8 to 20 hp class.
- Wet cutting where dust control and blade cooling are both required.
- Shallow scoring and smaller patch layout where a compact saw and a 12-inch blade are easier to handle.
Why the bond is soft on purpose
A diamond blade only cuts while sharp diamonds are exposed at the surface of the segment. When a diamond dulls, the surrounding metal bond has to erode and release it so the next one comes up. Match a hard bond to an abrasive material like asphalt and the blade glazes - the diamonds polish smooth, the bond will not release them, and the blade stops cutting while looking almost new. So asphalt blades run a soft bond, and visible wear is the blade working correctly, not a defect.
The segmented rim matters for the same reason. The gullets between segments clear the gummy material asphalt produces and carry water into the cut, which keeps the segments cool and the slurry moving. Laser welding is what holds those segments to the core under that load; it is the standard for wet cutting flat saw blades at this size and horsepower.
Premium grade is where the MK-705W separates from the standard MK-700W. MK builds the premium blade with a diamond specification aimed at improved blade wear, so on a long production run the cost per linear foot comes down even though the blade costs more up front. If you cut asphalt occasionally, the standard grade is the sensible buy. If your saw runs asphalt all week, the premium blade is usually the cheaper one by the end of the month.
Reading the size, and why it matters
Three numbers define which blade you need, and getting any of them wrong means the blade will not run. Diameter sets maximum cutting depth - roughly a third of the blade diameter on a flat saw, once the arbor flange and shoe are accounted for. Kerf width sets how much material you remove and how much of the saw's power goes into the cut; a .250-inch blade at 12 inches is matched to the 8 to 20 hp range this series is rated for. Arbor must match the saw shaft exactly - this blade is 1". Confirm all three against your saw before ordering, because a blade that is wrong on any one of them is not usable.
Specifications
- Model: MK-705W Premium Grade Wet Cutting Asphalt Blade
- Diameter: 12 inches (305mm)
- Blade width (kerf): .250 inches
- Arbor: 1"
- Segment height: 12mm
- Horsepower range: 8 to 20 hp
- Construction: laser welded, segmented rim
- Cutting method: wet cutting
- Manufacturer part number: 133447
Frequently asked questions
How deep will this blade cut?
On a flat saw, usable cutting depth is roughly one third of the blade diameter once the arbor flange and blade guard are accounted for, so a 12-inch blade generally gives you in the region of 4 inches of depth per pass. Check your saw's published depth-of-cut figure for the exact number, since guard and shaft geometry vary.
Can this blade be used dry?
It is a wet cutting blade. Water cools the segments, flushes the slurry and controls dust. Running an asphalt blade of this type dry will overheat the core and shorten its life substantially, and on most jobs dry cutting also creates a dust exposure problem.
Why does my asphalt blade wear faster than my concrete blade?
Because asphalt is more abrasive than cured concrete and asphalt blades use a deliberately softer bond. The bond has to erode to release dulled diamonds and expose fresh ones. Visible wear is the blade doing its job. A blade that looks new and stops cutting is the real problem - that is glazing from a bond that is too hard for the material.
Will this blade fit my saw?
Check three things: arbor, diameter and horsepower. This blade has a 1" arbor and is 12 inches in diameter, rated for saws in the 8 to 20 hp range. The arbor must match your saw shaft exactly, the diameter must fit inside the blade guard, and an underpowered saw will not drive the blade properly.
What is the difference between the MK-700W and the MK-705W?
The MK-700W is the standard grade for small to medium job sizes. The MK-705W is the premium grade, built with a specification aimed at improved blade wear for higher-production cutting. Both are laser welded with a 12mm segment height and both cover the 8 to 20 hp range; the premium blade generally lowers cost per linear foot on sustained work.
Can I cut concrete with an asphalt blade?
It is not the right tool. A soft-bond asphalt blade cutting hard cured concrete will wear extremely fast because the bond erodes faster than the diamonds dull. Use a blade matched to the material - MK's cured concrete series for concrete, this series for asphalt.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized dealer for MK Diamond. Orders ship from US stocking locations and our US-based team can help you confirm fitment, arbor size or machine compatibility before you buy.
