What is Wire Sawing?

Diamond wire sawing represents a cutting procedure utilising metal cable or wire with synthetic diamonds embedded within beads that are attached at regular intervals along the wire to facilitate the cutting. These beads are approximately 11mm wide, slightly wider than the actual wire. It is the beads, more specifically the diamonds embedded within the beads that performs the cutting.

The wire is threaded through a series of pulley's including pulley's mounted in specific locations to achieve the precise cut line desired. A continuous loop is formed. Via the use of hydraulic or more recently hi-frequency electric driven power sources, the wire is tightened and then pulled through the network of established pulleys and along the target material. As the beads attached to the wire are pulled under pressure the target material is cut. This process is continued, with the wire remaining under pressure and continually tightened until the cut is complete.

The length of wire required will depend on the size of the object being cut, noting that the length can exceed 50 metres and beyond.

Where access to all sides is not available, small feed holes are drilled to allow the wire to be fed through and around the material to be cut.

Advantages of Wire Sawing

Wire sawing results in precise, accurate cuts, leaving surfaces smooth and clean on completion. No further surface preparation is required post wire sawing due to the smooth edge achieved during the wire sawing process.

Wire sawing has the ability to cut in any direction, along walls, floors, as well as inverted. In addition to this wire saws are able to cut virtually any shape or size within the structure being cut. Amazingly wire sawing can also be used to cut circular penetration of differing sizes.

Wire saws cut through virtually any material, from very thick concrete, masonry or stone, heavily reinforced concrete to solid steel structures including concrete encased steel pipes.

Wire sawing is extremely flexible and versatile, a perfect solution for cutting underwater, or hard to reach awkward locations.

Wire Sawing Applications

• Saw cutting very large, thick sections of concrete such as those found in piers, dams, power stations and manufacturing plants.
• Cost effective for cutting large sections of heavily reinforced concrete such as bridge sections, machine bases and concrete encased steel pipes.
• Other applications include cutting under water or other restricted or difficult work environment, as well as objects too large for other concrete cutting equipment.