Sawing a cured slab is not the same job as sawing green concrete, and the plate you mount decides whether the shift runs clean or turns into a string of blade changes. The MK Diamond MK-500 36-inch x .187-inch x 1-inch is MK Diamond's standard-grade wet-cutting segmented blade for cured concrete, and part number 135269 is the 36-inch (914 mm) diameter at a .187-inch kerf on a 1-inch arbor. It is built for the concrete cutting contractor, demolition crew, or municipal maintenance shop running a walk-behind flat saw on hardened concrete.
Use cases
- Full-depth slab cuts for demolition, removal and replacement panels
- Roadway, bridge deck and parking structure joint work on hardened concrete
- Trenching a cured floor for new plumbing, conduit or drain runs
- Expansion and control joint widening on existing pavement
- Squaring openings for doorways, equipment pads and pits in a finished slab
Where this size fits
At .187 inch this is the thinnest plate MK offers at this diameter. A narrower kerf removes less material per foot of cut, so it loads the engine less and tends to travel faster. It is the choice when the saw is on the lighter end of the horsepower band, or when you are putting down a lot of footage and want speed over maximum core stiffness. MK lists the 36-inch MK-500 in 3 widths (.187-inch, .210-inch, .250-inch); the kerf is the only thing separating them, so check the number on the box before you order a replacement.
The MK-500 is the entry point of MK's three-tier cured-concrete range (MK-500 standard, MK-505 premium, MK-525 supreme). It is the blade to mount when the slab is ordinary cured concrete over soft, non-abrasive aggregate and the job does not justify a premium plate.
Matching the blade to the slab
MK Diamond's own cured-concrete application chart rates the standard-grade MK-500 Good on cured concrete and Good on soft aggregate with non-abrasive sand. MK does not recommend it for hard aggregate or for mixes carrying abrasive sand, where the supreme-grade MK-525 is the rated choice.
Aggregate is what actually wears a blade, not the concrete around it, so the mix in your slab matters more than the psi on the spec sheet. If you are cutting hard aggregate, or sand that is noticeably abrasive, step up the grade rather than pushing this one and paying for it in segment life.
Specifications
- Model: MK Diamond MK-500, standard grade for cured concrete
- MK part number: 135269
- Diameter: 36 inches (914 mm)
- Width (kerf): .187 inch
- Arbor: 1-inch
- Segment (rim) height: 10 mm
- Horsepower range: 5 to 12 hp
- Construction: laser welded, segmented rim
- Cutting method: wet only
Getting the most out of it
MK's published cutting guidelines are worth following, because most short blade lives trace back to the saw rather than the steel. Keep water volume at roughly 4.5 to 6 gallons per minute and split evenly on both sides of the blade. Seat the blade squarely against the flange so it runs true, since a bad seat produces lopsided wear and can burn the arbor. Let the blade do the cutting instead of leaning on it, as excess pressure glazes the diamond and stresses the core. And keep the blade out of the sub-base once you are through the slab, because sand in the base is abrasive and will wear the steel core and the segments faster than the concrete ever did.
Frequently asked questions
Will this blade cut green concrete as well as cured concrete?
It is built and rated for cured concrete. Green concrete is soft and abrasive and chews through a cured-concrete bond quickly, so MK publishes a separate green-concrete blade range for that work. Using a cured-concrete blade on green slab will cost you segment life.
What horsepower saw does the MK-500 need?
MK publishes a 5 to 12 hp horsepower range for the MK-500 line. Lower-horsepower saws deliver less torque, and MK notes that low-horsepower machines may need a softer bond to compensate.
How fast should the blade turn?
MK's cutting guidelines put most diamond blades between 9,500 and 11,500 surface feet per minute. At 36 inches that works out to roughly 1,010 to 1,220 rpm. Always confirm the maximum safe rpm printed on the blade and in your saw's manual before mounting.
Can it be run dry?
No. This is a wet-cutting blade. MK calls for adequate water on both sides of the blade at roughly 4.5 to 6 gallons per minute, at volume rather than high pressure. Running a wet blade dry overheats the core and risks losing segments.
Does it cut rebar?
Reinforced slabs are normal work for a segmented flat-saw blade, and steel in the cut is expected. Rebar is hard on diamond, so keep the water flowing and let the blade feed itself rather than forcing it.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized MK Diamond dealer, and we stock the MK-500, MK-505 and MK-525 cured-concrete ranges in the full diameter and kerf spread so you can match the plate to the slab instead of settling for whatever is on the shelf. Our US-based staff can help you confirm diameter, kerf and arbor against your saw before you order, and we support the products we sell after the sale.
