Wait, what was the trick? I'm always curious about the little shortcuts old school guys swear by, especially with saws that can be finicky in dry heat like Phoenix. Was it something about keeping the blade cool or adjusting the water flow to avoid chipping?
Bet the trick was about minimizing water pooling on the blade guard so dust doesn't turn into mud in 110 degree heat. Phoenix dry air makes slurry dry instantly on fresh cuts, causing more chipping than normal if you don't adjust the flow. Old timers know water wars out there better than any new saw spec.