Shoutout to the old timer who convinced me to stop soaking my control joints

I used to always wet the control joint line before cutting, thought it helped the blade last longer and made a cleaner cut. Then a guy with 30 years on me watched me do it and said I was just making mud that would gum up the works and slow me down. Switched to dry cutting last summer on a big driveway job in Phoenix, and I'm never going back - anyone here ditch the water trick too?

3 comments

3 Comments

felixlane2d ago

120 degrees in Phoenix dry, that blade is eating nothing but friction.

jason_stone592d ago

Ha, I mean @nelson.wren might have a point but idk, a dry heat actually helps some blades shed friction faster than humidity.

nelson.wren2d ago

Wait, felixlane is out there actually trying to use a blade in 120 degree dry heat? That thing has to be screaming for mercy. I don't care what kind of fancy oil or coating they claim, metal expands and gets grabby when it's that hot. The friction alone in that air has got to be making the cut feel like dragging a brick through sandpaper. How do you even keep a consistent edge temp when the ambient air is cooking it like an oven? Did they at least try a water mister or are they just raw dogging the heat wave?