Diamond Tools & Equipment

CESSCO sells ICS saws for Contractors,
Pro-Cutters, and Utility Workers

Cut Concrete deeper than other methods. Cut square corners with NO Overcut

PowerGRIT lets you cut ductile iron pipes safer, faster, easier. Cutting from one side means Less excavation & faster results

680ES-PG Saws are safer than other methods

Introducing CESSCO Color Coding for ICS Products. Whether you're a General Contractor, a Pro-Cutter, or a Utility Worker cutting ductile iron pipe, CESSCO Inc is here to help you find the right product for your job!

GC Series

Economical Concrete Cutting Systems with segments designed for general or specialty use.

F4 is FORCE4

Concrete Cutting for Heavy Professional Users. These Chains are the most durable chains available

PG PowerGrit

Utility Chain for
Ductile Iron Pipe Cutting
Safer - Faster - Easier
Perfect for Utility Work

ICS Wet-Cut Concrete Cutting & Ductile Iron Cutting Chainsaws

ICS takes diamond segment technology that has a proven track record used with circular blades, and attached them to chainssaw chains.

Acheive deeper cutting with a much smaller initial investment.

What are TwinMAX Chains and how do they work?

TwinMAX Chains are economic concrete cutting chains designed for the General Contractor to perform relatively small jobs. Recommended for residential, light commercial and small industrial concrete cutting jobs. Also recommended for natural stone cutting. Saws with the "GC" designator utilize TwinMAX chains.

What are ProFORCE Chains and how do they work?

ProFORCE Chains contain higher quality and quantities of diamonds in their matrix, providing prolonged life and faster cutting for Pro-Cutters. These chains are larger in size and capable of higher RPM's providing a faster cutting speed. Saws with the "F4" designator utilize ProFORCE Chains.

What are PowerGrit Chains and how do they work?

PowerGrit is a patent-pending, diamond-coated Utility Saw Chain designed to grind through ductile iron, cast iron, PVC, HDPE and other types of pipe as well as a broad range of other hard materials. Saws with the "PG" designator utilize PowerGrit Chains.

How Diamond Tools Work

Diamond blades don't cut they grind! The exposed diamond crystals do the grinding work. The metal matrix or bond holds the diamonds in place. Trailing behind each exposed diamond is a "bond tail" which helps to support the diamond. As the blade rotates through the material the exposed surface diamonds grind.

After several thousand passes through the material being cut the exposed diamonds begin to crack and fracture. The matrix holding the diamond also begins to wear away.

Eventually the diamond completely breaks up and it's fragments are swept away with the material that it is grinding.

As the old diamonds are worn down they are replaced by new ones and the process continues until the blade is worn out.

Factors that effect performance

Compressive Strength:

Concrete Hardness	PSI	Application
Critically Hard	8,000+	Nuclear Power Plants
Hard	6-8,000	Bridge Piers
Medium	4-6,000	Highways
Soft	3,000 or less	Residential & Commercial Building

Concrete may vary greatly in compressive strength which is measured in POUNDS per SQUARE INCH (PSI). Most concrete roads are approximately 4-6,000 PSI, while typical patios and sidewalks are about 3,000 PSI.

Type of Sand:

Sand is the component of the mix which determines the abrasiveness of the concrete. Sand can either be "sharp" (abrasive) or "round" (non-abrasive). Crushed sand or bank sand are usually sharp; river sand is usually round.

Size of Aggregate:

Larger aggregates tend to make a blade cut slower while smaller aggregates tend to allow a blade cut faster. The most common aggregate sizes are:

Size
Pea Gravel	Usually less than 3/8" in diameter
3/4"	Sieved size
1-1/2"	Sieved size

Hardness of Aggregate:

There are many different types of rock used as aggregate. Generally hard aggregate breaks down the cutting diamonds faster which means the bond must be softer to expose new diamonds. Softer aggregate generally does not break down the cutting diamonds as quickly and therefore requires a harder bond to hold the diamonds in place to use their full potential. The Mohs' scale is used to estimate hardness:

Moh's Range	Description	Aggregates
8-9	Critically Hard	Flint, Chert, Trap Rock
Basalt 6-7	Hard	River Rock, Granites, Quartz, Trap Rock
4-5	Medium Hard	Granites, River Rock
3-4	Medium	Limestone, Sandstone

Reinforcing Steel:

Steel reinforcing tends to make a blade cut slower. Less reinforcing allows a blade to cut faster. Heavy rebar can also result from different grades of steel. Typical rebar is grade 40 but grade 60 is also common. Rebar gauges are in eights of an inch. #4 is 1/2" diameter, #5 is 5/8" diameter etc.

Size	Examples
Light	Wire mesh, single mat
Medium	#4 rebar every 12" on center each way (OCEW) single mat. Wiremesh multi-mat.
Heavy	#5 rebar 12" OCEW single mat #4 rebar 12" OCEW double mat

Variables:

Variables		Change	Results
Variables		Change	Cutting Speed	Chain Life
The Diamond Chain	Segment Bond Hardness	Harder	Slower	Longer
	Segment Bond Hardness	Softer	Faster	Shorter
	Diamond Quality	Lower	Slower	Longer
	Diamond Quality	Higher	Faster	Shorter
	Diamond Concentration	Lower	Slower	Longer
	Diamond Concentration	Higher	Faster	Shorter
	Segment Width	Thicker	Slower	Longer
	Segment Width	Thinner	Faster	Shorter


The Saw	HorsePower	Lower	Slower	Longer
		Higher	Faster	Shorter


The Job	Water Volume	Higher	Slower	Longer
	Water Volume	Lower	Faster	Shorter
	Cutting Depth	Deep	Slower	Longer
	Cutting Depth	Shallow	Faster	Shorter
	Cutting Pressure	Lower	Slower	Longer
	Cutting Pressure	Higher	Faster	Shorter


The Material	Material Hardness	Harder	Slower	Longer
	Material Hardness	Softer	Faster	Shorter
	Material Abrasiveness	Less	Slower	Longer
	Material Abrasiveness	More	Faster	Shorter
	Aggregate Size	Larger	Slower	Longer
	Aggregate Size	Smaller	Faster	Shorter
	Aggregate Amount	More	Slower	Longer
	Aggregate Amount	Less	Faster	Shorter

Cutting Tips - and observations.

Always start with a Plunge Cut (insert the saw "nose" first into a wall)
Cutting downward is the most efficient way to cut. Insert the "Wall Walker" into the cut and use as a pivot to create force by pulling up on the handle.
Never start a cut from the top of a wall.
Listen for a reduction in RPM's - A 20% to 30% reduction in RPM's is the most effiecient for cutting speed and chain life.
Keep steady firm pressure on the saw as the chain is cutting. This will prevent chain bounce and chattering and help extend the diamond life. Minimize arm motions.

CESSCO Inc.

Is the largest independent dealer
of ICS products in North America

With both companies located in Portland Oregon, CESSCO Inc. has been a vital partner with ICS in developing and expanding the market for Concrete Chainsaws. Work with the experts at CESSCO Inc. to get the most from your investment.

Call us at 1-800-882-4959
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