Quartzite is one of the hardest natural stones used for countertops, and it varies a lot from slab to slab. Some slabs cut much like granite, while others are far more abrasive. A few good habits make a big difference to blade life and cut quality.
1. Use a blade made for quartzite
The Queen is our Silent blade designed specifically for quartzite, with a 20H diamond height and a 60/50 arbor, in 14 and 16 in. The Queen never needs to be resharpened.
2. The V-Array: made for quartz and granite
The V-Array is made for quartz and granite, and it also cuts quartzite well. It cuts Taj Mahal very well, but if you only cut Taj Mahal the diamond will close and the blade will slow down. To open it again, cut some quartz, preferably white quartz.
3. Cristallo: The King, around 2000 RPM
The King is a porcelain blade, and porcelain blades in general have a lot of cutting power. For Cristallo, which is also a quartzite, The King is the best choice if you want high cut quality, with very straight edges and no chipping, especially on 45-degree miters. We recommend running it at around 2000 RPM (around 1800 RPM with the 18 in blade), or as close to that as your machine allows, since some saws cannot reach 2000 and run at 1500. That is lower than normal and applies only when cutting quartzite; for porcelain, use the normal range. It allows a good number of large cuts, around 6 or 7 Cristallo slabs, which is a lot for a porcelain blade.
Safety Kut also cuts Cristallo very well, but it wears faster than The King. Both are porcelain blades that cut Cristallo and quartzite very well, but they wear quickly on these materials. Many people also cut Taj Mahal with Safety Kut or The King, and Taj Mahal wears them even faster than Cristallo.
4. Run inside the RPM range
The Queen is rated at 1500-1800 RPM in both 14 and 16 in, which is lower than our porcelain blades. The V-Array is rated at 2000-2600 RPM in 14 in and 1800-2400 RPM in 16 in. The exception is The King on quartzite such as Cristallo, where we recommend around 2000 RPM (around 1800 with the 18 in blade), or as close as your machine allows, only for cutting quartzite. See the full table in our RPM guide.
5. Give the blade plenty of water
Keep a steady flow of water at the cut. It keeps the blade cool and flushes slurry out of the kerf.
6. Let the blade do the work
If you have to push harder to keep cutting, the diamonds may be closed. Do not force the cut. With the V-Array, open the diamond again by cutting quartz as described above.
7. Inspect and support the slab
Look over the slab before cutting. Natural quartzite can contain fissures that open when you cut. Support the slab well on both sides of the cut and plan cuts so the offcut does not pinch the blade.
Browse our quartzite blades. Always follow your saw manufacturer's safety instructions and wear protective equipment.