Chop saw, dumb question

[IA Roy]

Is it possible to use a metal cutting chop saw blade on a woodworking chop saw or a radial arm saw. Are the arbors close? Is the speed correct?
Anyone tried it?
Thanks, Roy

 

[Pat-CT]

I dont think they have the torque to keep the blade spinning, nor the rpm

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've always wondered why the metal chop saws never had the precise angle adjustment like the wood saws. I think a metal blade will fit on but considering that the wood saws are mostly plastic, instead of metal, you'd have a pile of melted plastic if you did much cutting. Dave

 

[markiz41]

Precisely. Any heavy cutting will melt down the plate and dust collection chute. Now, if you don't care about that - it's up for the job.

 

[spacechem]

I've seen two types of metal-cutting chop saws. One has a toothed blade and turns very slowly, sawing thru the metal. The other one spins much faster and uses an abrasive wheel to grind thru.

I know this doesn't answer your question. I've wondered myself whether I could mount a cutoff wheel on my woodworking chop saw. I've never tried it, as I didn't like the idea of that many sparks flying in my wood shop.

 

[Dick2]

Probably depends on the make and power of the saw. I've use a metal cutoff blade on my Milwaukee chop saw a few times without any problems.

 

[veggiesmn]

I have an old dewalt that I have been using that wat for years. It works good but there is no work clamp.

 

[ericlb]

remember the cheap drill presses where you clamped your hand held drill in them,[ back when advertising people would have you believe you could build a house using only attatchments for your electric drill] i wonder if somebody could fab up a chopsaw unit to clamp in a right angle grinder , with a good adjustment system for precision work, just a thought

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yes you can use a metal cutting chop saw blade on a woodworking chop saw or a radial arm saw. The problem is you will ruin the wook cutting saw in just a few cuts. Not made for metal abrasive work. Tom

 

[Anonymous-0]

There are no dumb questions ,,only dumb answers

 

[supergrumpy]

if you don't use it much, harbor freight puts 14 inch chop saw on sale pretty often, draws 15 amps so you need heavy circuit to run it, has clamp to hold the stock

blade that comes with it is china made, cuts pretty good but doesn't last long, h/f sells 14 inch russian blades that do not cut after first 1/8 inch, suspect that scoundrel Putin is behind that bit of treachery

Tractor Supply sells American blades at reasonable price, try them after you burn up first blade

 

[Mike (WA)]

So by your logic, tree farm, you should be able to use metal cutting bits on a router, too, eh? I can just see those 10,000 RPM babies cutting through iron like butter. Why would anyone ever want a milling machine?

"Duh" right back at ya, big guy. . .

 

[Mike (WA)]

Turns too fast for a blade with teeth, but you can use an abrasive wheel. Hard to take a small enough "bite" to keep it from jamming. I'v used an abrasive wheel on my Sears radial arm saw with some success, but again, hard to keep it from jamming. I found an old power hack saw, and it's much more satisfactory.

 

[Davy Fireball]

my dad has a old montgomery ward table saw that had the motor & belt he put on a metal cutting wheel and ripped aluminum stock -

 

[bc]

I have one of those Eric. Bought it with a cheap 4 1/2" angle grinder from one of those traveling tool shows. It's cheaply made. I've never used it. Have to think harbor freight probably has one.

 

[rockyhawaii]

I have a case of Chinese chop-saw blades that was given to me. I can't read Chinese so don't know what the label says, but they should last forever because they don't cut through a darn thing that I've tried to saw through.

 

[Barnheater]

Hi Grumpy, it might sound stupid but I had some of those wheels that would quit cutting like you said, I was shortening axles on a fella's pulling tractor at the time. I don't know why but it would cut great at first then quit, I found out if I flipped the wheel over (reversed the rotation) then it would cut again but just for a short time. Sure was a pain in the butt, but I finally got the job done. Needless to say that was the last "bargin" wheels I bought.

 

[bc]

Another dumb question: I have both a metal chop saw and a wood chop saw. I have some decorative brick to cut for edging in places. Maybe a dozen cuts at the most. The soft stuff you can by at the discount stores and not hard street or building brick.

Can I cut it in my metal chop saw or do I need to get a special concrete blade?

I have tried putting a 7.25" concrete blade in my skil saw but it doesn't want to cut very easy or deep. Kinda scary trying to cut an 8" by 12" paver in two so I give up as it tries to kick back towards my leg.

What about ceramic tile? Put a diamond or tile blade in the metal chop saw and lay the water hose by it? Or will the metal blade cut tile as well?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Roy I have a 14" industrial chop saw and when the blades get too small to work well (about 7") I put them in a 71/2" skill saw and they work like a champ for cutting roofing sheets or 14ga sheet steel. Hope this helps. DON'T FORGET THE SAFETY GOGGLES !!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RobMD]

hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

Hmm, damn those things do last a long time!

 

[charles todd]

Woodworking and metalworking tools are not created equal. Not that they are lesser than the other, just designed for a specific task. HFT (Harbor Freight) has a 14" chop saw on sale for $60 with the coupon, $80 or $90 w/o. Grizzly Tools has a porta-band with a removable chop saw base for about $140. This is what I bought. It will not cut angles, but that is what the grinder is for.

Good luck,

CT