Concrete Diamond Chain Life

Hints for Maximizing Diamond Chain Life

Estimated chain life for AirFORCE Premium – 29 segment chain (Part No. CC 01-3810) is approximately 600 in.-ft. in concrete with up to 5/8" rebar.

Lineal feet in common wall thickness*:

Wall Thickness	Lineal Cutting Feet
6 inches	100 feet
8 inches	75 feet
10 inches	60 feet

The cutting life of the chains is not guaranteed. There are many variables from job to job, including hardness of concrete, which make it impossible to accurately predict chain life.

* These numbers are rough, starting point estimates only, not for bidding purposes. Please refer to your saw's Operator's Manual for proper safety precautions.

Factors negatively affecting chain life:

Steel reinforcing... many pieces of large diameter rebar cause reduced life
Aggregate hardness... harder aggregates cause reduced life
Operator experience... first-time users generally get less chain life

Cutting tips to improve chain life:

Use minimum of 20 PSI water pressure
Always cut at full throttle – slowly plunge into wall and push hard enough to cause the RPMs to drop by 25% to 30%
Always apply steady feed force
Slowly rock the bar and chain into the cut using Wallwalker® as a pry point
Reduce arm motions – hold saw close to body, using legs and body to apply feed force; always cut with saw between shoulders and knees, preferably at waist height
If saw begins to drift off the intended cut line, pull out and restart cut

Download our Diamond Chain Repair Manual (PDF).