Abstract: The present invention addresses problems in the diamond saw blade and segment art. One aspect of the invention comprises a method for making handleable, strong, discrete, metal-clad abrasive pellets. This method comprises the steps of:(a) spraying onto a bed of gas-fluidized abrasive particles a slurry of metallic powder, a binding agent, and a volatile solvent until substantially all the abrasive particles are coated with at least about 20 wt-% of the metallic powder;(b) recovering the metal powder coated abrasive particles; and(c) heating said recovered coated particles under conditions to form a sintered continuous metal coating enveloping said abrasive particles. The resulting sintered metal-clad pellets form another aspect of the invention.