Tell me about dry/cold cut metal saw blades

Horsetrading around a bit I ended up with a Ryobi miter saw that I don't need as it's no. 4 now on the shelf. I can't seem to get rid of it for half of new so I guess I'll try and repurpose it. It's a 10" model that spins at 5000 RPM.

So, I see a metal cutting blade for faster saws made by Sword Cutting Tools or SCT. They state, "Not for cutting aluminium or Slow RPM Saws like Dry Cut & Cold Saws." And they have a 7" model which I could use with a riser block. The TPI feed would be essentially less given the same downward pressure.

I could also use a typical low rake angle 60 T blade for AL on the same saw.

So the question is, is this nearly as good as buying a dedicated slow speed dry cut saw? Let's not get into a discussion about 12" and 14" saws. I have a 14" chop saw that I have used many times with an abrasive metal cutting blade. And yes, it wanders. So a SCT 14" might be in the cards if it works as advertised.

One last thing in the favor of a wood cutting saw used for metals: compound miters. I don't think the Evolution does that.

Please, if you don't own a regular wood cutting miter saw used for metals, let the folks who actually know reply and learn for yourself.

TIA.

In the old days they made metal cutting saw blades for high speed table saws and circular saws that had no teeth just vents. They basically cut steel by friction. I use to use one of these all the time to cut golf shafts. I would not try a carbide tipped saw with a high rpm saw. For that I use my Porter-Cable dry cut saw.

I have an old miter saw that I used to use with a 60 tooth 10 inch blade for cutting al. it worked well but did throw hot chips around.

I have also used the same blade in my table saw to rip AL.

Don't know if that helps.

Also keep in mind that most metal cutting chop saws use a vise+fence combo, where wood saws only use a fence.

Personally I would not attempt to many metal cuts without a vise.

But... interested to hear whats out there.

My Ryobi has the vise/clamp that the cut off saws have.

Still interested in this: Sword Cutting Tools or SCT. They state, "Not for cutting aluminium or Slow RPM Saws like Dry Cut & Cold Saws."

Zeke said:

My Ryobi has the vise/clamp that the cut off saws have.

Still interested in this: Sword Cutting Tools or SCT. They state, "Not for cutting aluminium or Slow RPM Saws like Dry Cut & Cold Saws."

Click to expand...

can you post a link?

I don't use a miter saw for cutting metal, but I can tell you that you're out of the rpm range and torque needed to cut bar stock and achieve a decent blade life. I'm not familiar with Sword Cutting Tools (I couldn't find their website?), but as a frequent user of two dry-cut saws, I wouldn't recommend anything lesser to cut metal.

I have an Evolution at home and a Morse at work. They both spin at about 1400 rpm and have geared-down arbor assemblies, so they are torque-ie. I'm in a satellite machine shop and bought the Morse to cut stainless steel bar stock in-lue of making room for a horizontal band saw. I'm happy with both purchases.

Zeke said:

My Ryobi has the vise/clamp that the cut off saws have.

Still interested in this: Sword Cutting Tools or SCT. They state, "Not for cutting aluminium or Slow RPM Saws like Dry Cut & Cold Saws."

Click to expand...

I'm guessing they don't have the proper tooth geometry and/or coating for aluminum and they are not efficient spinning at only 1400 rpm.

Sorry you guys couldn't find the blade I'm talking about. Here.

I've never used anything like that before, but it looks like a good alternative to abrasive discs.