So I have a Milwaukee chop saw. It works great and can't complain until the last two times I have used it. Twice now I have tried to cut 1/4'' steel plate. One was 6'' wide the other was 4'' wide. It seems like it cuts fine until I get almost through it. Then does the metal get to hot or what? I got my cordless Milwaukee cut off caw and finish the cut through the steel. I put the piece of metal back in the chop saw and it works but slowly. Maybe I bought the wrong dewalt blades from lowes but I never have any problem until I tried cutting this thick stuff.
Am I expecting to much from a chop saw?
- Thread starter skipnay
- Start date
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
If the material that you are cutting is starting to change color (dull red) you are probably too hot.
I would also recommend rolling the material so that you are only cutting one side at a time with no additional drag from the area that you have gone through.
I would also recommend rolling the material so that you are only cutting one side at a time with no additional drag from the area that you have gone through.
Scout Driver
Well-known member
This ^^^^^. Swap in a better quality blade. It can make a huge difference in performance. Lesser quality blades will get a "glaze" after only a few heavy cuts and become pretty much useless.
Scott
tubing does the same thing. for a clean cut you really need a cold saw blade but man wear some ear muffs and long sleeves.
pretty common with a cop saw.
as stated mark both sides and cut half and half. ive used a cheap one, dewalt, milwalkee and a makita with good blades and will do this to tubing and angle if you arent careful.
pretty common with a cop saw.
as stated mark both sides and cut half and half. ive used a cheap one, dewalt, milwalkee and a makita with good blades and will do this to tubing and angle if you arent careful.
taumac
Well-known member
I totally agree. Don't cheap out on cutting blades. I tried HF and they cut like **** and wear out way to quickly. I use some Nortonn, dewalts etc from HD or Lowes and they cut better and last longer.
astroracer
Well-known member
I use the HF blades on my 14" HF chop saw. I can tell when they start to "glaze up" and just touch them to a grinder trueing stone. Gets them cutting again with no problem.
Mark
Mark
hf saw and a hf blade i had the saw motor smoking before it would start to cut.....and the only way it would cut. i was cussing the pos china saw. wore the blades out i had andput a dewalt blade in it and the cheap hf saw works pretty good now
astroracer
Well-known member
Never had a problem with the saw itself. It took about an hour to get the vise squared up and true but that's the only issue I had with it. This thing has cut a lot of 2, 3, 4, and 6" tubing. Most of it 1/4" wall.
Mark
I have a Milwaukee cold saw also. I'm not sure if it cuts 6'' flat steel that is why I went with the chop saw... The blade was a dewalt from Lowe's which is about $10 a piece. Yes the sparks slow down and when then happens it just doesn't want to cut. Almost like the material got to hot. I didn't I think I tried to cut to fast because I was letting the blade do the work slowly cutting.
TMcCay
Well-known member
If you try a Forney blade (better) or a Norton or Radnor blade (best IMHO) you will be surprised at how much easier it is to cut and how long the blades last.