Alpha Professional Tools has the blades and tools to make cutting porcelain pavers a breeze. Check out the video above of Alpha's contour blade for cutting a 7" circle in the middle of a 2 cm porcelain paver.

• Designed Specifically for Cutting Porcelain and Sintered Slabs
• Fits On 5" Wet & Dry Stone Cutters 
• Cuts Curved Areas Cleanly, Accurately and Safely While Allowing A Wider Kerf
• Direct Sintered Diamond Segments On Steel Core Prevents Undercutting
• Can Be Used Either Wet or Dry

We also have blades and tools for profiling and drilling and polishing as well as  restoration/maintenace solutions for all your porcelian paver needs. Please contact John for more information or to schedule a demo. Clink on button below for all of Alpha's Hardscape solutions:

We are proud to say that Browne & Company, Inc. is now a ISA SalesWerks 2.0 Independent Manufacturers Representative Agency! 

Certification means differentiation, and we are proud to be setting the standard and Leading The Channel Forward.”

One of the benefits of certification is having a defined sales process that helps IMR’s and Manufacturers work together on opportunities with a common language and greater efficiency and effectiveness for the customer!

​If you want to know more, please contact us or visit the ISA SalesWerks page.

compiled & edited by Bernard Martin

As more and more of our customers are using Martindale Gaylee Circular saws we put together this guide to the commonly asked questions such as "Is there a rule-of-thumb for the number of teeth?" or "How much side clearance should I have?" Here we cover a lot of the fundamentals of selecting the right circular saw blade configuration, some tips, tricks, and troubleshooting for when things go wrong. 

These are general cutting speed recommendations for circular saws used in metalcutting from Martindale/Gaylee. The may vary from application to application but are basically some general suggestions starting parameters when using high speed or carbide saws. 

• HSS Saws: .002”-.006”  (IPT-inch. per tooth / CLPT-chip load per tooth)
  
• Carbide Saws: .0002”-.0015”  (IPT -inch. per tooth / CLPT - chip load per tooth)

This is a conservative recommendation as a starting point for feed rates, and may vary depending on material being cut and cutting speed (SFPM).

Generally speaking, deep cuts and soft material require fewer teeth for chip clearance and stronger teeth (landed) Thin material requires more teeth, but keep-in-mind that at least 2 teeth on the blade need to be engaged in cut.

SIDE CLEARANCE (Tangential Clearance Angle)
This is also known as dish or hollow grind.  You measure down the side of the tip and the difference it is the difference between front and back.  As you cut, material it gets compressed and springs back after the cutting edge passes.

​A steep side clearance angle gives plenty of room for the material to expand and prevents thermal expansion of the base material.  Keep in mint that a very flat side clearance angle can provide a smoother cut in some materials.  For stainless steel and tenacious metals such as copper, zinc, tin or lead an increase in the side clearance is desirable as these materials tend to "spring back" (thermal expansion) on the blade. 

RAKE ANGLES
Rake angle is the term used to describe the direction of the blade’s teeth, as referenced from the rotation and central axis of a saw blade. If you imagine a line going from the exact center of the blade to each tooth, having the front of the tooth directly on that line would be a zero degree rake angle. The rake angle of the blade is described in comparison to that imaginary line.

A positive rake angle meana that the teeth are angled more towards the angle of rotation, while a negative rake angle would mean that they are angled backwards, away from the direction of rotation. Generally speaking, the preferred rake angle is:

• 5° to 10° positive for other soft materials.
• 5° negative for yellow brass
• On center for steel.

It's commonly known that when saw thickness is less than 0.125″, keyways can cause stress risers and cracks.  That is why washers are often used.  However, Breakage, Wobble and Rubbing problems are often caused by how the washers are mounted on either side of saw. 

Remember, washers drive the saw in the absence of a drive key. They must always be clean, flat and bur-free. A speck of dirt will let saws wobble and cut oversize. 

If a saw breaks, it may score the washers. Always check for scoring marks around saw hole for dirt, chips or grit.  Shiny spots, as small as a pinpoint, indicate that chips where imbedded under washers.

Circular skid marks indicate the nut was not tight.

Generally speaking:

• Thin saws should especially be supported by washers as large as possible.
• Washers must be of equal diameter or they will flex out saw dish and cause one side of saw to rub.
• The nut must be wrench-tight.

Saw Blade Teeth most often break as a result of:

• Too high a feed rate.
• Spindle bearings are worn.
• Drive belts  are loose or sheaves worn.
• Improper tightening: If saw blade pauses momentarily in its rotation while feed advances, it WILL break.
• Workpiece indexed before the saw has cleared the slot.
  
• Improper workholding - The workpiece not tight or not well supported.
• Saw is dull, even the best tools do eventually wear out.

NOTE: HSS saws will turn colors as they heat during cutting. A straw color is the limit. The saw will lose its temper when it starts turning blue.

 by Steven Oszust Jr. Product Development Manager/Lead Tool Design Engineer at Fullerton Tool Co.

At Fullerton Tool ,Our primary purpose is to provide our customers with cost-effective, high-quality, solid carbide round tool solutions at competitive prices. In the past we have discussed our consistency in our processes, and foundational approach to tool designs.

These traits can best be described as the basis for Functional Value.

In the case of our general purpose end mills, functional value involves all the core processes and systems that customers are not paying for. These processes and systems are deeply engrained in our culture.

Often development for the higher end, performance side of our offering, these systems naturally trickle down to the general purpose tools automatically in our tool strategy.

The benefits of this tool strategy can be seen in everything we do. The nearly 150 years combined experience in our production engineering team, makes Fullerton one of the most detail oriented companies in the industry. Our innovative manufacturing processes and years of experience ensure the best possible value for cost conscious metalworking consumers. 

Consider our General Purpose End Mills a cut above the rest. With our vast inventory of sizes, configurations, and coatings we can provide a solution for your needs.

Start your search for the perfect General Purpose End Mill on the Fullerton Tool Website or contact your dedicated regional managers at Browne Sales for application recommendations. 

Browne & Company is ISA SalesWerks 1.0 certified! Certification means differentiation, and we are proud to be setting the standard and Leading The Channel Forward.” One of the benefits of certification is having a defined sales process that helps IMR’s and Manufacturers work together on opportunities with a common language and greater efficiency and effectiveness for the customer! If you want to know more, please contact us or visit the ISA SalesWerks page.

Fullerton Tool's high performance 3400 Harmon-i-Cut end mill excels in difficult to machine ferrous materials like cast iron. It features a variable helix, variable index, and variable rake which maximizes tool life and removal rates by minimizing the effects of harmonics. The 3400 Harmon-i-Cut end mill allows the capacity to rough and finish with one tool and is stocked with FC-18 coating.
3400 Harmon-i-Cut High Performance End Mill Includes:

• Available in Ball, Corner Radius & Square End Types
• 4 Flutes
• FC-18 Coating
• Available in Stub, Standard, Extra Long, and Long Reach Lengths
• Center Cutting
• h6 Shank Tolerance 

Get to know our the Fullerton Tool Company team through our rep spotlights that feature team members from our independent manufacturers representative companies. Check out this rep spotlight, which features our 2020 recipient of Fullerton Tool Company's Morgan Victor 5-P's Sales Rep of the Year, Dave Browne.

Get to know Dave Browne, one of our Independent Manufacturers Representatives from Browne & Co. and recipient of the Morgan Victor 5-P's Sales Rep of the Year award. 

Dave has been in the cutting tool industry for the past 36 years, 30 of those years with Browne & Co. He likes representing Fullerton products because the extreme high quality of the tools. When you sell anything, you want to make sure the customer is satisfied and wants to buy from you again. Fullerton products very rarely get returned. When you sell high-quality products, you build business relationships that last a lifetime.
​
Dave has been married to his wife, Tiffany, for 28 years. Together, they have three children: Adam (24), John (21), and Emily (18). They have a dog named Rosie. He enjoys reading (and averages about 50 books per year), kind of enjoys exercising, and enjoys boating on Lake Erie.

Almost a year ago, Allen Benjamin, which has been a part of North American Tool,  was purchased by GWS Tool Group. GWS Tool Group is a US-based, vertically integrated manufacturer of highly engineered custom, standard, and modified standard cutting tools, primarily servicing the aerospace and defense, power generation, automotive and medical sectors. GWS Tool Group has acquired multiple businesses in the course of its growth which now serves as the respective manufacturing divisions for the Company.  

Just because there is a new owner, doesn't mean that the quality of an Allen Benjamin Tap has changed! 

If you’re in the market for high tensile strength carbide taps and metric taps, we can assure you that you’re in the right place. Not only is Allen Benjamin a leading supplier of the industry’s most durable, longest lasting carbide taps, we offer our customers the convenience of ordering online. In this day and age, we believe that quick access and top-notch customer services are critical.

In today’s post, we’re going to look at why it is beneficial to order your carbide taps from Allen Benjamin.

Quality
Allen Benjamin carbide taps are highly efficient when tapping abrasive metals such as aluminum, non-ferrous metals, and exotic materials. With a much higher tensile strength than standard taps, their high-quality carbide taps can withstand the rigorous demands of your application.

Selection
Allen Benjamin offers a staggering range      of carbide taps, metric taps, HSSE taps, tapping fluid, extensions, and more. If it’s taps that you are looking for, you can be confident that they’ve got them and have them ready for delivery.

Service
Allen Benjamin guarantees that all of their products will be the absolute best quality, within standard tolerances and dimensions, and consistent with application specifications. If their goods don’t meet your needs, you can contact us for a return authorization.

At Allen Benjamin, they take pride in offering the industry’s best taps. But, more importantly, they aim to provide our customers with access to a simpler, faster way to order their operation’s critical parts, supplies, and components.

If you’ve been searching for a supplier that will meet your needs and rise to meet your challenges contact us today!

​MRO Solutions was founded in 1998, a Family Owned Company featuring products Made in America. The first products launched were their line of specialty High-Temperature Antiseize lubricants. These products prevent seizing of threaded fasteners and protect metal from corrosion, rust, and galling.

Today they offer over 100 products -- Adhesives, Sealants, Threadlockers, Lubricants, Cleaner/Degreasers and many other Aerosol products. All of their Solutions are High Quality, Time-Tested Formulations that stand up to the rigors of the toughest conditions. Click here for MRO Solutions full catalog.

What's a Nacelle? 
The nacelle of a wind turbine houses the drive train and other tower-top components. It's critical that this drive train is in perfect alignment to insure optimal performance of the wind turbine.

​High quality Precision Brand Products slotted shim is the product of choice for this alignment job.

How does the mechanic carry up and then make sure he's picking the correct size 280 feet in the air?
He uses the new Precision Brand Products Up-Tower Shim Assortment!

Contact Browne & Company for an authorized distributor near you.