Carbide Blade Chop Saw

[Bert Bitter]

Got the old abrasive 14" chop saw. Loud, sparks and dust every where. I've moved it outside.

So how hard could it be to make a Steel blade carbide chop saw? I think a slower speed and a little more torque with a good mandrel should do it. Anybody else try this? I've also heard that the blades last longer and in the long run are cheaper than the abrasive blades and don't need coolant.

Regards
Bert

 

[schmism]

you might do some research first. I dont think it will be that easy. a quick google of cold saws (which i what you want to convert it to) indicates high HP and very low speed. like 3-5 hp and 26 rpm blade speed. significantly diffrent specifications than your current saw.

 

[gsganzer]

Milwaukee makes one.

Milwaukee dry cut saw

 

[wingbone]

Keep an eye on craigslist. I actually searched occasionally places that weren't local and found one in Ohio(I'm in SC). I got a Porter Cable 1410 for $90 plus shipping which I considered a great deal. They pop up from time to time. There is actually a Milwaukee on the craigslist in Madison right now, but they are asking $350. I haven't even used mine yet but I've read nothing but great reviews on them.

 

[Travelover]

Harbor Freight makes one that has gotten surprisingly good reviews here on TBN.

 

[Millsonwheels]

I saw that the one on the link there is rated for 1500 rpms would this particular blade operate better at a slower speed than that?

 

[wingbone]

The only HF saw I have seen is the circular saw type metal saw, not the chop saw type. If they do make a dry cut chopper at a good price, it'd be a great seller. I've heard the circular saw works great, too.

 

[jenkinsph]

Dewalt, makes a carbide blade for chop saws that works very well, I have used one to cut steel pipe and box tubing. Works at normal speeds for all chopsaws, not nearly the amount of sparks as an abrasive saw.

 

[Jeepnford]

There's a company called Evolution that makes a dry cut chop saw. I have one of the circular types and it works pretty good.

 

[oughtsix]

Got the old abrasive 14" chop saw. Loud, sparks and dust every where. I've moved it outside.

So how hard could it be to make a Steel blade carbide chop saw? I think a slower speed and a little more torque with a good mandrel should do it. Anybody else try this? I've also heard that the blades last longer and in the long run are cheaper than the abrasive blades and don't need coolant.

Regards
Bert

Wow, the replies didn't really seem to answer your question. Yes, it seems easy enough. A 1725rpm 3hp motor and a couple of pulleys driving an arbor with a slightly bigger pulley so it runs a little slower ~1500rpm.

I haven't been able to figure out the arbor yet though. I'm thinking something around 1.25" cut down to 1" on one end and threaded. It seems like most saws use a left hand threaded nut. I have an old Atlas 12" lathe but no threading capability. A couple of round disks like washers to distribute the clamping force on the blade.

Then just a couple of pillow blocks to hold the arbor.

Then I start wondering what would happen if you put a mist coolant system on such a beast? Would it greatly extend the blade life by keeping the heat down?

Yes, I have considered it quite a bit. I gave up and purchased an old industrial Radial Arm Saw which works beautifully with an abrasive blade. It is a 3ph saw so I am running it on a VFD. I have a bid on a Freud Diablo Steel Demon 12" blade. I don't know if I will have enough torque to drive this dry saw blade though.

What to use for a vise to hold the work though?