Are Three Diamonds Better Than Six?
By Frederick M. Hueston
I get this question all the time. How many diamonds should I run on the bottom of my machine? A lot of pros automatically throw six diamonds on there because, hey, more must be better. More coverage, faster cutting, right? If I were selling you diamond pads, I’d tell you the same thing. But I’m not here to sell you anything. I’m here to make you think.
Let’s slow this down and look at a little physics.
Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) and Why It Matters
Your floor machine has weight. That weight gets spread across however many diamond pads you’re using. The more pads you have, the more that weight spreads out. The result is less pressure on each diamond.
Here’s an example:
Machine weight: 100 lbs.
Three-inch diamond pad surface area: roughly 1.5 square inches
If you’re running six diamonds on the bottom of the machine, your total diamond surface area is:
6 x 1.5 sq. in. = 9 sq. in.
Now divide the weight of the machine by the total surface area:
100 lbs. ÷ 9 sq. in. = 11.1 PSI
That means you’re putting about 11 pounds of pressure per square inch on the floor.
But what happens if you run only three diamonds?
3 x 1.5 sq. in. = 4.5 sq. in.
Now the math changes:
100 lbs. ÷ 4.5 sq. in. = 22.2 PSI
You just doubled the pressure.
Why This Matters in the Real World
More pressure means more cutting power. That’s why many pros notice that the machine cuts faster with fewer diamonds. You’re concentrating the weight instead of spreading it out.
Of course, there’s a trade-off. Running fewer diamonds can wear them out faster, which means you’ll be replacing them more often. So you have to ask yourself what’s worth more:
Your diamonds (and the money you spend on them)
Your time (and how long you’re on the job)
Sometimes the cost of burning through a set of diamonds faster is still cheaper than spending hours longer on the job.
Don’t just throw six diamonds on your machine because everyone else does. Experiment. Try three and see how much faster you cut. Do the math, weigh the cost of diamonds against the time saved, and figure out what works best for you.
Remember, physics doesn’t lie. Fewer diamonds often mean more pressure, more cutting, and sometimes, a better bottom line.
