Portable saw for metal

[EdK]

I just picked up a "circular" saw for metal at Tractor Supply for about $125... WOW! I wasn't too sure about it, especially looking at the carbide-tooth blade that looks better suited for wood judging by the tooth spacing. However, it powers right through 1/4" steel like plywood!!! The instructions include a chart showing it being able to cut up to 3/4" steel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



A friend tried mine and headed off to TSC to buy one for his shop. It comes with a 5 Year Warranty, too.



Thought I'd pass it on.



Ed

 

[JFaulkner]

A standard circular saw works great for metal. For aluminum you just use a standard carbide wood blade. As a last resort you can use the same blade to cut steel but you just turn the blade backwards. (and grab some ear plugs)

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Other than the blade, what makes the purpose-built metal cutting circular saws different than a standard direct-drive wood cutting saw?



I've never used one, but I know folks that have those metal cutting circular saws and absolutely love them.



Thanks,



Matt

 

[EdK]

Metal Saw

Well, two things stand out: (1) not much plastic and the guarded areas are all metal to stand up to the hot shavings and (2) it turns at 3500 RPM.

 

[rbattelle]

Being too cheap to buy a metal cutting saw, I recently used my worm drive saw and an aluminum oxide wheel to cut a large quantity of 2x4x0. 12 A36.

It worked fine, but the life on the abrasive blades was short. The metal cutting blades are nice, but also very expensive.

Ryan

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds like I won't be using my Skilsaw on metal anytime soon.



Matt

 

[rbattelle]

Why not? Worked pretty well for me.

Ryan

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I'd rather not run metal shavings/dust through my perfectly good Skilsaw. I barely use it at all, so it should last a lifetime. For the kind of metal fabrication I hope to do as a hobbyist in the future, I need to get the right tools.



Matt

 

[rbattelle]

Bah! The Skil is a hard saw. But I understand your reluctance. Usually I tend to baby my machinery. I figure the Skilsaw is tough enough for the work I did. I wouldn't cut anything thicker than about 1/8" with it, though.

I got my oil temperature up to about 170°F cutting 11 ga. !

Ryan

 

[Nate]

I just use a chop saw made to cut metal. They are only around $150-200.

 

[EdK]

I noticed another difference with the metal cutting saw; the guarding stays completely against the work capturing every bit of the hot shavings. It's kind of a pain on a small piece of angle because you can't see the blade at the point of the cut. I measured from the blade to the right and left sides of the "shoe" and use those edges as guides for the cuts on small stuff.



Ed