Loss of Tension
Cause : Blade being used on misaligned saw.
Remedy : Check for proper saw alignment.

Cause : Blade is excessively hard for the material being cut, creating stress on the steel center.
Remedy : Make certain blade is correct for material being cut.

Cause : Material slippage causing blade to twist and become kinked or bent.
Remedy : Maintain tight grip on material while sawing.

Cause : Utilizing blade flanges that are under size or not the same diameter, creating uneven pressure on the center.
Remedy : Make certain blade flanges are proper size and identical diameter.

Cause : Blade being used at incorrect RPM.
Remedy : Make certain blade shaft is turning at the proper RPM by using a tachometer. This is especially important with concrete saws.

Cause : Blade improperly mounted on arbor shoulder hence becoming distorted when flanges are tightened.
Remedy : Hold blade securely on arbor shoulder until outside flange and nut are firmly tightened.

Undercutting
Cause : Undercutting is a condition in which the steel center wears faster than the diamond segment, especially in the areas where the segment and core are joined. The condition is caused by a highly abrasive material grinding against the blade during the sawing operation. Usually materials containing sand are responsible for this condition.
Remedy : The flow of swarf (abrasive cuttings) must be distributed over a wider area, away form the critical segment area. Many times this can be accomplished by using undercut protectors specially positioned around the steel center to change the pattern of constant abrasion. Although successful in most cases, undercut protectors do not provide 100% protection. Use high water flow to wash out swarf.

Cause : With a floor saw, sawing all the way through the material, allowing the coolant water to escape from the kerf and thus overheating the blade.
Remedy : Set the cutting depth several millimeters less than the total thickness of the slab, thus allowing water to stay in the kerf.

Uneven Segment Wear
Cause : Segments worn on one side reducing side clearance, usually caused by misalignment of the saw or a lack of sufficient water on both sides of the blade.
Remedy : Check saw alignment. Clean water system, making certain that water is properly applied to the leading edge of the blade flanges. Check to see if pump is supplying sufficient even water.

Cause : Blade is worn out-of-round due to bad bearings, worn arbor, missing bushing, arbor hole larger than arbor, cleanliness of or damage to flange surfaces or excessive dulling condition.
Remedy : Replace bearing or worn arbor as required. Inspect flanges for damage and foreign materials; replace it if necessary. Do not remove drive pins when supplied with blade flanges.

Cracked Segments
Cause : Blade bond is too hard for the material being cut.
Remedy : Use blade with a softer bond.

Cause : Cutting speed too fast.
Remedy : Reduce speed of advance.

Excessive Wear
Cause : Lack of sufficient coolant to the blade. Often detected by excessive wear in the center of the segment (Note: In both cases diamonds will usually be highly exposed)
Remedy : Clean up water coolant system, Make sure water pump is functioning correctly.

Cause : Wearing out-of-round accelerates wear. Usually caused by bad bearings, worn shaft or using a blade with too hard a bond for the material being cut.
Remedy : Check bearings and arbor, if worn replace with new parts before installing another blade.

Cause : Insufficient power caused by loose v-belts, inadequate voltage or improper RPM's.
Remedy : Tighten belts (taut). Replace worn belts. Check supply voltages (use correct extension cords).

Cause : Cutting speed too fast.
Remedy : Reduce rate of advance.

Cause : Blade not perpendicular to material being cut.
Remedy : Check blade shaft flanges to ensure proper alignment of the blade and equipment.

Cause : Blade shaft RPM too low.
Remedy : Check operating RPM of blade shaft. If necessary change equipment or modify blade shaft speed.

Segment Loss
Cause : The material slips during cutting which twists or jams the segments loose.
Remedy : Hold the material securely while cutting.

Cause : Blade is too hard for the material being cut, causing excessive dullness, which causes the segment to pound off or fatigue.
Remedy : Use a softer blade bond specification.

Cause : Worn blade flanges fail to provide proper support causing the blade to deflect.
Remedy : Replace both blade flanges.

Cause : Out of round blade rotation resulting in pounding caused by worn arbor or bad bearings in the shaft.
Remedy : Replace worn arbor and/or bearings.

Cause : Overheating. Usually easily detected by bluish color on steel center, generally confined to the area where the segment was lost.
Remedy : Check the water system for blocked water passages. Test pump to see if it is functioning correctly. For dry cutting it may be necessary to make shallower cuts and allow the blade to run free every few minutes to let the air cool it.

Cause : Segment is subjected to sudden, sharp jolting whilst moving the machine or when contacting the material being cut.
Remedy : Avoid jarring the blade when transporting the machine. Contact the material being cut with slow even, reciprocal movements.

Overheated Blade
Cause : Adequate coolant was not provided.
Remedy : Check water supply for adequate volume and for obstructions through water system. Use dry blades ONLY for shallow cutting (2-Scm deep) or step cutting. Allow blade to run free every 10-15 seconds to increase airflow cooling.

Cause : Cutting speed too fast.
Remedy : Reduce speed of advance.

Arbor Hole Out-Of-Round
Cause : Saw arbor badly worn due to blade being improperly seated.
Remedy : Be certain the blade is properly seated on the arbor before tightening the flange.

Cause : Blade flanges not properly tightened permitting blade to rotate on shaft.
Remedy : Always wrench tighten arbor nut; never hand tighten. Always use hex nuts, not wing nuts.

Blade Won't Cut
Cause : Insufficient power to permit blade to cut properly. (Loose v-belts, low voltage, insufficient horsepower motor).
Remedy : Check belts, voltage and motor output.

Cause : Blade has become dull due to continuous use on fairly hard or vitrified material.
Remedy : Redress blade on an abrasive material until diamonds become exposed again E.g run the blade through a 'breeze block'. This may be necessary occasionally, however if dullness occurs too often, the blade bond is likely to be too hard for the material being cut.

Cause : Blade becomes glazed due to inadequate pressure against the material being cut.
Remedy : Ensure adequate but not excessive pressure to keep the blade sharpened.

Cause : Blade segments appear to still have plenty of life, but will not cut.
Remedy : Some harder bonded blades designed for abrasive materials require a non-diamond bearing section or 'free-back' at the base of the segment, for better adherence to the steel center. A blade used to this stage has worn out in the normal manner and should be replaced.

Cracked Core
Cause : Blade bond too hard for the material being cut.
Remedy : Use correct blade with a softer bond.

Cause : Excessive cutting pressure, or jamming and twisting of the blade in the cut can cause the blade core to bend or flex. When subjected to extreme stress and metal fatigue, the blades steel core will eventually crack.
Remedy : The saw operator should use steady reciprocal infeed pressure and be careful not to twist or jam the blade in the cut.

Cause : Overheating through inadequate water supply or improper use of dry cutting blades.
Remedy : Use adequate water to cool wet-cutting blades (eg 7-1 8 liters per minute for concrete saws). Allow adequate airflow around dry-cutting blades to prevent overheating.

Cause : RPM too high.
Remedy : Check operating RPM of blade shaft. Change equipment or blades if necessary. Never use a blade with a cracked core.