Hollow sintered diamond burs with a metallic binder have precisely graded diamond particles bonded to the entire head, making them able to cut consistently over a long life. They have higher durability than plated diamond burs and can be used in a variety of applications including rotary and handpiece use. They can be used to shape and grind materials such as glass, stone and some hard woods.
Plated diamond burs are usually only coated with one layer of diamond, while sintered diamond burs contain multiple layers of high-quality grit throughout the whole head. Consequently, they cut quite differently and last ten times longer than coated burs when used correctly. They can be redressed by using an aluminum oxide stick to reveal fresh layers of diamonds and continue cutting for a very long time.
Despite the many benefits of utilizing sintered diamond burs, there are some important factors to consider before purchasing a set. The type of material being worked on, sterilization and disinfection procedures, storage conditions, and the number of times they are used may have an impact on their life span.
In addition to these, the size of the grit and the bonding agent used in a sintered diamond bur also influence its performance. For example, a coarse grit sintered diamond bur has a greater surface area that can be worn down by friction and is better for roughing out large areas than a fine grit bur. However, the latter will wear down faster because it has a smaller surface area and is exposed to more abrasive forces during cutting.
These diamond burs are perfect for gem carving, pre-forming and shaping in glass, stones, ceramics, bone, metals and some hard woods. They have a tapered inverted cylinder-shaped tip with a shaft that’s 3/32″ in diameter and fits into a Foredom, Dremel with a 3/32″ collet, or any flex shaft hand piece that accepts a 3/32″ shank. They come in a range of sizes from 1mm to 10mm and are available in two different grits, 120# or 240#.
These are the highest-performing rotary sintered diamond burs for lapidary, engraving and jewelry work. They have a thicker, more rugged diamond impregnated head than plated burs and can be used on tough materials like zirconia and alumina. They can also be used on softer materials like porcelain and opals, but must be dressed more often than a plated bur to ensure consistent cutting and long life. They are the choice of the serious carver and will outlast electroplated diamond burs by a significant margin. They can be redressed easily with an aluminium oxide stick before and after each use to reveal a fresh new layer of diamonds.