Diamond wire sawing is a flexible tool for cutting reinforced concrete, masonry and steel. It allows almost any large concrete or masonry structure to be cut where other methods are not as viable. It is an ideal tool for cutting, isolating and removing reinforced concrete, such as bridge sections, jetties, columns or beams. Diamond wire cutting and sawing is particularly useful where extremely thick or awkward shapes need to be cut. The diamond beaded wire also kwown as rope is wrapped around the structure and guided by pullies which are powered via a hydraulic pack using electricity, petrol or diesel as a power source.
An experienced engineer sets up the diamond wire saw by feeding the wire through a series of pulleys, once fed they would take up the tension in the wire to suit the operating engineers requirements. Once positioned, the diamond wire is pulled and rotated around the object at 25 linear meters per second. This enables the diamond beads attached to the diamond wire to cut the material as it is pulled through. The wire is cooled and flushed by free flowing water at all times, this helps to ensure ease of cutting to minimize overheating whilst in operation. As the wire is pulled through the object, any excess wire is stored on to a series of pulleys and stacked within the looping system.
There are several key uses for wire sawing and cutting making it a very desirable tool in the deconstruction sector.