Best Diamond Blades for the Stihl TS 500i
What size blade does the Stihl TS 500i take?
The Stihl TS 500i takes a 14-inch (350 mm) diamond blade with a 20 mm arbor (or a 1-inch arbor with reducer bushing), rated to a maximum spindle speed of 4,780 RPM per Stihl's instruction manual. Any quality 14-inch blade in that arbor size fits.
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The Stihl TS 500i Cutquik® takes a 14-inch (350mm) blade on a 20mm arbor, 4,780 RPM max spindle — the blade-size answer up front, straight from Stihl's instruction manual. The saw itself is Stihl's flagship cutter: 72.2cc, 5.3 hp, and the first fuel injection on a handheld cut-off machine, per Stihl. Injection matters in the field for one reason — the carburetor that stale premix gums up over a winter doesn't exist on this saw. Below: exactly what fits, one spec-sheet error to ignore, and the blade that earns the 5.3 hp.
Stihl TS 500i — Tool Specs
| Engine | 72.2 cc 2-stroke, electronically controlled fuel injection |
|---|---|
| Power Output | 3.9 kW (5.3 hp) at 9,300 RPM |
| Max Blade Diameter | 14 in (350 mm) |
| Arbor / Spindle | 20 mm (1" blades mount via reducer bushing) |
| Max Spindle Speed | 4,780 RPM per Stihl's instruction manual (ISO 19432) |
| Max Cutting Depth | 4.9 in (125 mm) |
| Weight (no fuel, no blade) | 22.5 lb (10.2 kg) with electronic water control |
| Fuel Capacity | 24.5 oz (725 cc) — 50:1 premix |
| Wet / Dry Rating | Both (electronic water control standard) |
Tiered Blade Picks
Good — Most Cured-Concrete Work
The Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Ultra Value Diamond Blade ($69.99) fits the TS 500i and is our pick for occasional to regular cutting on cured concrete.
Better — Reinforced Concrete / Pro Sweet Spot
VA 14" Premium Sparkie ($174.30). The TS 500i's 5.3 hp is the most power Stihl puts behind a 14-inch wheel. VA sells the Sparkie as its premium multi-purpose blade for concrete including reinforced, which suits a saw bought for production cutting. See the 14-inch roundup for full specs.
Best — Production Cutting
VA 14-inch Supreme Pro ($104.88). VA ranks its Supreme line above its Premium line and describes it as "specifically engineered for long life in a professional use setting." The Supreme Pro is VA's asphalt-and-concrete multi-purpose blade, with what VA calls a medium-hard bond and laser-welded 10mm segments, and it fits the TS 500i on its 1-inch arbor with the 20mm bushing. It has no Amazon ratings yet, and neither VA nor this site publishes a life figure for it. The TS 500i's electronic water control makes wet cutting routine, and the blade is rated wet or dry. Details are on the Supreme Pro page.
Every Amazon-Available Blade That Fits the TS 500i, Lowest Price First
Every blade and wheel below fits this saw and is sold on Amazon. The order is price, not rank.
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Basic Diamond Concrete Blade
VA's entry-tier 14-inch blade, with a medium bond and 12mm sintered segments, at the lowest price in VA's 14-inch lineup on Amazon. VA rates it for granite and river-rock aggregates.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,460 RPM · medium bond · wet-or-dry
$54.99
★ 4.6 (12)
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Ultra Value Diamond Blade
Value-tier 14-inch general-purpose segmented diamond blade. Fits Stihl TS 420, Husqvarna K 770/K 970 via the included 20mm bushing.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · medium bond · wet-or-dry
$69.99
★ 4.2 (10)
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Medium Bond Diamond Blade
VA's True Blue blade, which VA's website marks "Made in America." It is a 14-inch medium-bond blade with 12mm laser-welded segments, rated to 5,500 RPM.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · medium bond · wet-or-dry
$74.27
★ 3.5 (2)
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Diamond King Diamond Blade
VA's 14-inch Diamond King, listed for concrete, asphalt and masonry on one blade. 10mm laser-welded turbo segments, cooling holes, undercut protection. No ratings yet.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · multi-purpose bond · wet-or-dry
$93.88
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Supreme Pro Diamond Blade
VA's Supreme-tier 14-inch blade, its professional line, listed for concrete and asphalt on a single bond. Laser-welded, 10mm segments, no Amazon ratings yet.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · multi-purpose bond · wet-or-dry
$104.88
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Concrete Cut-Off Wheel (10-Pack)
Type 1 reinforced abrasive wheel for occasional concrete and masonry cuts. 14" x 1/8" x 20mm arbor, 10-pack. Diamond is cheaper per cut on ongoing work.
14″ · 0.7874″ arbor · max RPM · resinoid bond · dry
$119.56
★ 3.6 (4)
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Premium Sparkie Diamond Blade
VA's Premium-tier 14-inch blade, sold as a multi-purpose blade for concrete including reinforced, asphalt, pavers, block and light steel. Laser-welded turbo segments.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · multi-purpose bond · wet-or-dry
$174.30
★ 5 (1)
If You're Cutting Asphalt or Green Concrete
Different substrate, different bond. These hard-bond blades fit the TS 500i but are built for soft, abrasive material — not cured slab. If asphalt is a regular part of the work, the asphalt blade guide covers bond choice and undercut protection in depth.
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch Asphalt Diamond Blade (Undercut Protected)
Hard-bond 14-inch asphalt and green-concrete blade with undercut protection on the core. Built for the abrasive slurry that eats steel cores on soft substrates.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · hard bond · wet-or-dry
$102.99
★ 3 (1)
Virginia Abrasives 14-Inch BD Asphalt / Green Concrete Diamond Blade
Hard-bond 14-inch diamond blade engineered for asphalt + green concrete. Alternating drop segments + U-slot gullets clear sticky tar slurry.
14″ · 1″ arbor (20mm bushing) · max 5,500 RPM · hard bond · wet-or-dry
$63.38
★ 5 (1)
Compatibility Gotchas
| Issue | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Arbor mismatch | TS 500i spindle is 20mm. Most pro 14" blades ship 1" with a 20mm bushing — seat the bushing fully before torquing, same as the TS 420. |
| Ignore the 5,350 RPM spec-sheet number | Retailer listings widely quote 5,350 RPM for the TS 500i — that's the TS 420's number, recycled. Stihl's instruction manual rates the TS 500i at 4,780 RPM max spindle speed. Either way, standard 5,500 RPM-rated 14" blades clear it with margin. |
| Blade RPM floor | Blade max RPM must meet or exceed 4,780. Every quality 14" pro blade rates 5,500+ — safe. Never run a blade rated below the saw's spindle max. |
| Bond / substrate mismatch | Hard bond for green concrete or asphalt; medium for cured; soft for rebar-heavy or hard aggregate. The saw's power doesn't fix a wrong bond — it just glazes the blade faster. |
| Wet plumbing | Electronic water control is standard — set flow from the handle. On concrete, OSHA Table 1 lists water fed to the blade as the only control for a handheld saw. |
Stihl's Own OEM Diamond Blades for the TS 500i
Stihl manufactures its own diamond blade line under part-number families D-G (premium production), D-BA (premium concrete + asphalt), and D-B (concrete-focused, multiple tiers). Sold exclusively through Stihl servicing dealers — the same counter that sells the TS 500i. Listed here for honest comparison against the aftermarket picks above.
| Blade | Model # | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stihl D-G80 | 0835 070 8000 | Premium production cutting on cured concrete + reinforced. The natural OEM pairing for the TS 500i's duty cycle. | $200-260 |
| Stihl D-BA90 | 0835 094 8013 | Premium dual-purpose — cured concrete + asphalt on the same blade. | $180-230 |
| Stihl D-B20 | 0835 090 8054 | Mid-tier "quality" grade for cured concrete on regular contractor work. | $140-180 |
| Stihl D-B10 | 0835 090 8052 | Economy-grade concrete blade — undersized for what the TS 500i costs to run. | $110-140 |
Stihl OEM trade-off: dealer-warranty support and one-counter service are real benefits on a $2,100 saw — if a segment separates within warranty, the dealer handles it. The aftermarket picks above cost less per blade (the Ultra Value is $69.99 and the Sparkie $174.30, against about $200-260 for the D-G80 at dealers) and arrive via Prime, but warranty and service are on you. Crews that bought the TS 500i for daily production are usually already in a dealer relationship — for them the D-G80 pencils out; for everyone else, the VA picks win on per-foot cost.
Buying the TS 500i Itself
The TS 500i is dealer-only. Stihl sells exclusively through servicing dealers — no Amazon, no big-box, and any online listing claiming otherwise is gray-market with no warranty. Stihl's own site lists it at $2,099.99; dealer pricing varies. Find your dealer at stihlusa.com. What you CAN get shipped: the blades — the $70 VA Ultra Value fits the 20mm spindle and arrives via Prime.
Operator Hazards & Field Notes
Kickback geometry
Cut with the lower-front quadrant of the blade. The TS 500i's extra power raises the stakes on upper-quadrant contact — blade rotation drives the saw up and back harder than a TS 420 would. Two hands, stable stance, and relieve long kerfs before they pinch.
It's still a 2-stroke
The most common TS 500i misconception on jobsites: injection does not mean 4-stroke. Fuel is still 50:1 premix. What injection removes is the carburetor — the part that stale fuel gums and that fails first on saws that sit between jobs. Cold start is prime-and-pull per the manual; there's no choke lever to hunt for.
Fleet / OEM blades
Stihl sells saws and OEM blades only through servicing dealers — no online channel. Aftermarket blades fit the same 20mm spindle and ship via Amazon with the reducer bushing. If warranty coverage on aftermarket blades matters to you, get the dealer's answer in writing — see the Stihl roundup.
Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — the hazard nobody plans for
Handheld gas cut-off saws are among the highest-vibration tools on a jobsite, and sustained exposure causes Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) — permanent nerve and circulation damage that first shows as numb, blanching fingers. The EU Physical Agents Directive sets a daily Exposure Action Value of 2.5 m/s² and an Exposure Limit Value of 5.0 m/s² (A(8) over 8 hours); US OSHA addresses vibration under the General Duty Clause. Stihl publishes the TS 500i's declared handle vibration values in the instruction manual and at stihl.com/vib — run them through a HAVS calculator and cap daily trigger time. A sharp, correctly-bonded blade vibrates far less than a glazed one — blade choice is also a vibration-control decision.
Why Blade Choice Matters on the TS 500i
The TS 500i's spindle profile and power output determine which blade bond pairs well with which substrate. Wrong bond, wrong tool — even a premium blade can glaze. Work through our Diamond Blade Buying Guide for the bond-substrate matrix and our RPM Guide for max-RPM cross-reference.
Under OSHA Table 1, a handheld power saw cutting concrete needs an integrated water delivery system that continuously feeds water to the blade. Table 1 lists no vacuum option for this saw. The operator also needs an APF 10 respirator indoors, and outdoors once cutting passes four hours in a shift. See our Silica Dust Safety Guide for crew protocol.
Related Saw Landings
- Best Diamond Blades for Stihl TS 420 — the lighter, cheaper stablemate
- Best Diamond Blades for Husqvarna K 770 — the volume rival
- Best Diamond Blades for Milwaukee MX FUEL COS350 — battery alternative
- Best Diamond Blades for Stihl Saws — full Stihl lineup
- K 970 vs K 770 vs TS 420 — head-to-head — how the class shakes out
Frequently Asked Questions
What size blade does the Stihl TS 500i take? ▼
The TS 500i takes a 14-inch (350mm) blade on a 20mm arbor — the same format as the TS 420, Husqvarna K 770/K 970, and Milwaukee COS350. Blades cross-fit across all of them with the right arbor/bushing combination.
What's the max RPM on the TS 500i? ▼
Stihl's instruction manual rates the TS 500i at 4,780 RPM maximum spindle speed (measured per ISO 19432). Many retailer spec sheets list 5,350 RPM — that figure belongs to the TS 420 and gets copy-pasted between listings. Trust the manual. Any 14-inch blade rated 5,500 RPM or higher is safe on this saw.
Does the TS 500i take mixed fuel? ▼
Yes — 50:1 premix, same as every Stihl 2-stroke. Fuel injection replaces the carburetor, not the 2-stroke engine: oil still goes in the tank. The injection system meters fuel electronically, so there's no carb to gum up and no choke to fumble on cold starts — but stale fuel still loses octane, so don't run premix older than a couple of months.
TS 500i vs TS 420 — what does the extra money buy? ▼
Displacement and injection. The TS 500i runs 72.2cc and 5.3 hp against the TS 420's 66.7cc and 4.4 hp, and swaps the carburetor for electronic fuel injection — faster cold starts, no choke, steadier running under load, no carb-gumming from stale premix. It carries one more pound (22.5 vs 21.5 lb) and a real price gap: Stihl lists the TS 500i at $2,099.99 against a typical $1,050-1,200 TS 420 street price. Daily production cutting justifies it; occasional cuts don't.
Wet or dry cutting on the TS 500i? ▼
Both. The TS 500i ships with electronic water control — flow adjusts from the handle and the setting holds between cuts. On concrete, OSHA Table 1 lists water fed to the blade as the only control for a handheld saw, so plumb it wet.
What's the best all-around blade for the TS 500i? ▼
For occasional cured-concrete work, the Virginia Abrasives 14" Ultra Value (around $70) fits the 20mm spindle via its bushing. For production cutting, VA sells the Premium Sparkie for concrete including reinforced, and the Supreme Pro as its professional tier. Stihl sells its own blades through its dealers.
Matt Lipman is CEO of Capstone Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: CAPS) and a board member of Virginia Abrasives. He discloses this relationship on every article that recommends a VA product.