Composite pavement is the job that eats diamond blades. A utility trench, a pothole patch or a full-depth repair through an asphalt overlay does not stop at the asphalt: a few inches down the blade hits the old concrete base underneath. A soft-bond asphalt blade glazes over and quits cutting in that concrete, and a concrete blade burns through its segments in the abrasive asphalt above it. The MK-625W is MK Diamond's Supreme Grade answer to that exact problem - one wet-cutting blade bonded to go through the overlay and the base in a single pass, so a paving or utility crew is not stopping mid-cut to swap wheels.
Use Cases
- Utility and service trench cuts through an asphalt overlay into the concrete base beneath it
- Square-cut patch and pothole repairs on composite pavement
- Full-depth roadway and parking lot repair where an old concrete slab was paved over
- Removal cuts around curb, gutter and catch basin work
- Municipal street maintenance where the crew cannot predict what is under the asphalt
Built for the crew running the walk-behind
This is a contractor-grade blade for an 8 to 20 horsepower wet saw - the class of machine paving contractors, municipal street departments, utility crews and concrete cutting subs push down a road all day. The segments are laser welded to the core, which is the attachment method rated for the heat and feed pressure of a powered wet saw, and they stand 12mm tall, so there is real cutting depth to consume before the blade is finished. Water does two jobs while you cut: it carries the slurry out of the kerf and keeps the core cool, which is what protects a blade from the heat that warps cores and drops segments.
Getting the most out of it
Two habits do most of the work. First, step your depth instead of dropping to full depth in one pass - going all the way down on the first pass binds the blade, loads the motor and drives heat into the core. Second, keep water volume up through the whole cut, not just at the start. Crews who cut asphalt over concrete also watch for undercutting, where abrasive slurry erodes the steel core just below the segments; keeping the slurry flushing out rather than packing in the kerf is the practical defense. And on any roadway or trench cut, call 811 and have gas, water, electric and fiber located before the blade turns.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: MK Diamond Products
- Model: MK-625W
- Part number: 150244
- Grade: Supreme Grade
- Application: Asphalt over concrete, wet cutting
- Blade diameter: 18 in. (450mm)
- Blade width (kerf): .142 in.
- Arbor: 1 in.
- Segment height: 12mm
- Segment attachment: Laser welded
- Saw horsepower range: 8 to 20 hp
Frequently asked questions
Is the MK-625W a wet blade or can I run it dry?
MK Diamond lists the MK-625W under its wet cutting asphalt blades, so run it with water. The water flushes slurry out of the cut and cools the core, and it also knocks down the dust that dry cutting pavement throws.
Why not just use an asphalt blade or a concrete blade?
Because an overlay cut is two materials. Bond hardness has to match the material: abrasive asphalt wears a soft bond away quickly, while hard concrete needs the bond to release and expose fresh diamond. A blade built for asphalt over concrete is bonded for the transition so one blade finishes the cut.
What saw does this blade fit?
It uses a 1 in. arbor and MK rates the MK-625W for saws in the 8 to 20 horsepower range, which covers most walk-behind flat saws used for pavement work. Check your saw's arbor and maximum blade diameter before ordering.
How is the 18 in. different from the other MK-625W sizes?
MK builds the MK-625W from 10 in. through 36 in., and the three axes that change are diameter, width and arbor. This part number is the 18 in. diameter with a .142 in. kerf on a 1 in. arbor. Diameter sets how deep you can cut; width sets how wide the slot is and how much material the saw has to remove.
How deep should each pass be?
Step the cut down in passes rather than dropping to full depth immediately. Full depth in one pass binds the blade, overheats the core and loads the saw, and it is the fastest way to shorten a blade's life.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized MK Diamond dealer. MK Diamond Products builds its saws, blades and diamond tooling out of Torrance, California, and US-based product support stands behind the line. If you are not sure which width or arbor matches your saw, contact us before you order and we will match the blade to the machine.
