Coverting mitre saw to cut metal

[Mark Prickett 2Participant @markprickett2]

At the moment the only way i have of cutting box section is by eye with a grinder and cutting disk (not very accurate) , id would like to covert a mitre saw to cut metal , just for occasional use , maybe once or twice a year , i realise that i would need a different blade , and have to slow it down , must be a way …..

Any help or advice gratefully recieved as we are all still learning .

All the best Mark.

[Mark Prickett 2Participant @markprickett2]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Mark,

Makita [and others, I am sure] do quite large 'abrasive chop saws'

I think the disk for one of these might be your best option.

MichaelG.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Once had to get an abrasive blade in angle grinder mounted in a stand to cut inconel pipe. It was too tough for standard circular saws or bandsaw.

Martin

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You could look at a "Rage" saw blade as they run faster than the dedicated metal cut off saw and you may not need to mess about with your machines existing speed. Also standard saw blade bore so easy to fit.

Edited By JasonB on 27/12/2015 17:15:46

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

how big is the box section – Aldi do a very cheap base for a small angle grinder(about 10 pounds tho might still be on offer for about 7)(+ also a suitable cheap grinder) – however the base fitted my cheap B+Q angle grinder which with a 0.8mm cutting disk will get thro a 25mm Stainless Steel bar tho the clamp may need sorting out

The Rage metal saw was on offer at Screwfix for about 90 pounds – would easily get thru most box sections tho it does gag on thick stainless steel, do however suggest you use it outside of workshop as throws metal chips quite hard.

However I found investing in a small metal bandsaw was very worthwhile as will chew its way thro most tho again doesn’t like stainless

[Mark Prickett 2Participant @markprickett2]

Box is about 30mm square.

At the mo b + q have this on offer **LINK**

Or would i be better of saving up and getting a band saw ?

At the moment i havent got £20 let alone £60 lol

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Why buy a whole saw, provides speed and dia are right just fir a Rage blade into what you have

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

… or, less than £5 for the abrasive disc

**LINK**

MichaelG.

[Mark Prickett 2Participant @markprickett2]

Thanks ill whip the blade out and have a measure see what size it is , its only a very cheap diy make but is better than i have at the moment !

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 27/12/2015 18:06:08:

… or, less than £5 for the abrasive disc

**LINK**

MichaelG.

Just got to find a 14" mitre saw to put it in and forget what all that abrasive will do to the saw particularly if it's a SCMS

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 27/12/2015 17:56:48:

Why buy a whole saw, provides speed and dia are right just fir a Rage blade into what you have

.

If his budget DIY saw has the power to drive it.

MichaelG.

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

What's wrong with a hacksaw ?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Should not be too much of an issue with the power of a budget saw, the Rage blades at 1.7mm kerf put a lot less load on the machine than a typical buget TCT blade that is likely to have a 3.2mm kerf. Don't know if you have ever used UTK blades Michael but they do make a significant difference I have ones for both my stationary machines as well as my portables 1.2mm keft in the case of the later. I'd also class some of those Rage saws as budget level as they are about 1/10th teh cost of my mitre saw

J

PS UTK = Ultra Thin Kerf

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 27/12/2015 18:21:58:

Just got to find a 14" mitre saw to put it in

… or, perhaps check the catalogues for a differently-sized disk

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Jason,

No, I haven't tried UTK blades yet … and [predictably enough] I don't have the exotic woodworking tools that you use … My best power saw is a little Mafell KSS300

I am not qualified to comment on the Rage Blades … I just thought that for Mark's "occasional use", an brasive disk might be the expedient option.

MichaelG.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

The drop saw in your link rotates at 4000 RPM which would be too fast for cutting metal and if you reduced its speed may not have enough torque and could burn out.

An option would be to replace the saw blade with a friction disk.

Paul.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

The Rage blades are meant to run at about 4,000 rpm.

For those who don't follow what they are about, Rage blades have depth guides (like a chainsaw) so you can't overload the feed rate (except on very thin work) and only about a dozen or so teeth so they run faster. One of my stepsons has got a Festool sliding mitre saw and I hear good reports of them.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 27/12/2015 22:38:45

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 27/12/2015 22:35:42:

The Rage blades are meant to run at about 4,000 rpm.

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 27/12/2015 22:38:45

True, but my 14" Rage 2 runs at 1400 rpm and cuts 1/2" steel no problem, I think the smaller dia blades wouldnt cope….😢

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Its all about cutting speeds and FPM just like turning as the diameter goes up the speed comes down that is why a 14" Rage/Evolution saw runs slower than an 8" one.

Same would apply with abrasive discs, the 14" one Michael linked to runs at 4000rpm but a 9" angle grinder typically runs at 6000rpm so putting an abrasive disc into a slower rotating 8-10" mitre saw won't work very well.

Edited By JasonB on 28/12/2015 07:34:25

[Michael BriggsParticipant @michaelbriggs82422]

I have a Rage 4 saw, it works well but it is a bit brutal, very noisy while cutting and it sprays hot metal chips everywhere. I tried it with stainless steel once, the blade lasted about three seconds. The stainless was nothing special just 5mm thick angle, a new blade set me back £20, mild steel is not a problem.

[David Clark 13Participant @davidclark13]

What about a hand mitre saw. Probably just have to change blade to hacksaw one.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Michael Briggs:

"the blade lasted about three seconds"

Thanks for the warning! I use one of these blades on an old-style radial arm saw but have never tried it on stainless. The blurb on my blade doesn't mention stainless but I shall add a note about it in marker pen.

The blade (made in Japan) is otherwise excellent: a combination of thin kerf, chip limitation and, no doubt, choice of TCT.

Edited By ega on 28/12/2015 11:24:33

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