Material guide
Bandsaw blades for glass and ceramics
Glass, porcelain, quartz and technical ceramics shatter under tooth impact, so they are ground through instead. Diamond and tungsten carbide grit blades from Dakin-Flathers cut a clean, controlled kerf and are welded to any length in the UK.
The problem with cutting glass and ceramics
Glass, porcelain, quartz and technical ceramics are hard but brittle. They have almost no capacity to deform, so every tooth strike is an impact the material cannot absorb. Instead of forming a chip the way metal or timber does, the workpiece cracks: micro-fractures run ahead of the cut, edges spall and a part can shatter at breakout after surviving most of the cut. The blade fares no better. The same impacts that break the workpiece chip and strip conventional teeth, which is why a toothed blade is destroyed almost instantly in these materials.
The answer is to stop cutting and start grinding. Grit and diamond-coated blades have no teeth at all: a steel band edge-coated in diamond or tungsten carbide grit abrades the material away as fine particles rather than levering out chips. With no tooth impact there is nothing to start a crack, so the kerf stays clean and controlled through glass, porcelain, quartz and silicon materials.
Diamond handles the glass-hard end of the range. Tungsten carbide grit is the economical choice for ceramics, graphite and other abrasive work short of glass-hard materials. Either way the edge grinds a kerf instead of hammering at it and the workpiece comes off the table in one piece.
Recommended blades for glass and ceramics
Constructions and ranges from the manufacturers' published data, with the honest reason each blade makes the list. Every one is welded to your machine's length.
| Blade | Construction | Width range | Why this blade | From price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saw37GRIT Diamond Bandsaw BladeDakin-Flathers Saw37GRIT | Steel band edge-coated in tungsten carbide grit or diamond, no conventional teethGrit and Diamond-Coated Blades guide | 13mm to 38mm | A diamond-coated edge with no conventional teeth that grinds through glass, industrial ceramics and silicon materials which would destroy a toothed blade. | From £84.00 ex VATsample pricing |
| Saw37GRIT Tungsten Carbide Bandsaw BladeDakin-Flathers Saw37GRIT | Steel band edge-coated in tungsten carbide grit or diamond, no conventional teethGrit and Diamond-Coated Blades guide | 6mm to 38mm | A tungsten carbide grit edge for ceramics, graphite and GRP, the economical choice for abrasive work short of glass-hard materials. | From £54.00 ex VATsample pricing |
Getting the cut right
General rules that hold across machines. Exact widths, pitches and options are on each product page.
Match the edge to the material
Diamond-coated blades handle the hardest workpieces: glass, quartz, silicon materials and industrial ceramics. Tungsten carbide grit is the economical choice for ceramics, graphite, cast iron, GRP and wire-reinforced rubber, abrasive work short of glass-hard materials. If in doubt choose the harder edge: a toothed blade in these materials is destroyed almost instantly.
Let the edge grind, not bite
A grit blade removes material as fine particles, so feed pressure should be light and constant. Forcing the cut does not speed it up; it overloads the coating, strips grit from the band and risks cracking the workpiece. Keep the feed steady, let the abrasive do the work and accept that grinding is slower than sawing.
Support brittle parts fully
Brittle workpieces crack where they are unsupported. Clamp the part so it cannot vibrate, keep the table support close to the cut line and back up the exit face where you can: breakout chipping happens where the material is free to flex. Thin sections and hollow parts deserve extra care at the end of the cut.
Choose a practical band width
Saw37GRIT Diamond is published in widths from 13 to 38mm and the tungsten carbide version from 6 to 38mm. Narrower bands follow curves; wider bands resist deflection and hold a straighter line on deep sections. Pick the widest band your wheels and guides accept for straight cutting, then order it welded to your machine's exact length.
Suggested image
Action shot: recommended blade cutting glass and ceramics, cut face visible
materials/glass-ceramics/cutting
Industry guide
Stone, Glass, Ceramics and Composites
Cutting glass and ceramics for a living? The industry guide maps the whole workload, not just this material.
Frequently asked questions
Tell the wizard your machine and length and it will match glass and ceramics to a blade that fits.
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