Have you tried the HF metal cutting Circ Saw?

[Steve C]

I will let the ability of the saw speak in this pic. the first post has a pic and this is a close up of it. The horizontal plate is 1/4" and the saw handled it without a grunt. The red vertical plate is 3/4" thick except at the bottom where it cut through a weld. This was the limit of the saw. The blade still is cutting well and I will continue use it instead of my chop saw. I cant speak for how it would do in aluminum or brass though.

wow....I think I need one of those.....

I have a milwaukee cordless metal cutting saw but I don't think I would try to cut 3/4" material with it. The blades cost to much!

 

[dcyrilc]

If harbor Freight has them for $17.99 that's a bargain. It's hard to image they are as good as Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Dewalt etc but for 18 bucks they're sure worth a try. I know the Milwaukee's are designed to be used on worm drive/left hand drive saws but can be used on any standard circular saw..just have to be sure to turn it around when putting it on a right hand drive. I purchased mine off eBay. I know our local True Value Hardware store carried DeWalt and Milwaukee brands. Try this link, you want to stick with the ferrous metal blades. Ferrous metal cutting blade - Shop sales, stores & prices at TheFind.com

Thanks,
I'll look for ferrous metal cutting blades at my local hardware store now that I know what to look for.

 

[Jeepnford]

I found some trailer hinges here etrailer.com - Enclosed Trailer Parts Door Hardware you might be able to use as pivot bushings. As for rippers,you can buy King Kutter rippers at most stores that sell their eqpt. When I built my grapple I just orderd ripper teeth directly from KK and welded them on.

 

[J_J]

I have both the 8 in metal cutting and t;he 14 in cut off saw. The blades for stainless and ferrous is different. It has to do with the rake of the teeth and the number of teeth. If you do a search on the Internet, it will explain all that. The rpm on a regular saw is to fast, so it is not a good idea to just put a metal cutting blade on a regular saw.

Dewalt Metal Cutting Circular Saw Blades

Dewalt DW7747 14" x 70T Saw Blade (Ferrous Metals - Stationary)

Here is a small grapple I built using the ripper shanks.

 

[dcyrilc]

I have both the 8 in metal cutting and t;he 14 in cut off saw. The blades for stainless and ferrous is different. It has to do with the rake of the teeth and the number of teeth. If you do a search on the Internet, it will explain all that. The rpm on a regular saw is to fast, so it is not a good idea to just put a metal cutting blade on a regular saw.

Dewalt Metal Cutting Circular Saw Blades

Dewalt DW7747 14" x 70T Saw Blade (Ferrous Metals - Stationary)

Here is a small grapple I built using the ripper shanks.

JJ,
How well does that grapple work with the short bottom teeth compaired to one with longer bottom teeth?

 

[J_J]

Since the longer shanks are a little higher, the points touch well, and actually go past to close tighter.

I use the bottom shanks as a root rake.

 

[Kernopelli]

The rpm on a regular saw is to fast, so it is not a good idea to just put a metal cutting blade on a regular saw.

Before purchasing a blade, I contacted Milwaukee Tools by email and asked specifically about using their blades on standard circular saws. Their response was it is fine and the most common use for many of their metal blades. The only caveats they offered were: To choose the proper blade for the type of material being cut and orient the blade correctly for left/right drive saws. I'm still using the original one I purchased after 1 1/2 yrs. Seems to work pretty good to me. I do think you make a valid point, the majority of saws spin in the +/- 3500rpm range but some models do spin over 5,000rpm...probably not the best choice.

 

[dcyrilc]

Since the longer shanks are a little higher, the points touch well, and actually go past to close tighter.

I use the bottom shanks as a root rake.

Thanks for the explaination JJ,

I was wondering if you lost much for carrying things with the shorter bottom length. However, I imagine that the shorter length is probably less likely to bend when digging with them. Probably less cost and weight than the other style of rake/grapple as well. All-in-all, I like your design. Thanks again.

 

[J_J]

The rpm on a regular saw is to fast, so it is not a good idea to just put a metal cutting blade on a regular saw.

Before purchasing a blade, I contacted Milwaukee Tools by email and asked specifically about using their blades on standard circular saws. Their response was it is fine and the most common use for many of their metal blades. The only caveats they offered were: To choose the proper blade for the type of material being cut and orient the blade correctly for left/right drive saws. I'm still using the original one I purchased after 1 1/2 yrs. Seems to work pretty good to me. I do think you make a valid point, the majority of saws spin in the +/- 3500rpm range but some models do spin over 5,000rpm...probably not the best choice.

The average 14 abrasive cutoff saw turns about 3600 rpm, where as the cold cut saws usually turn at about 1800 rpm.

Way before they came out with the cold cut saws, I was using a carbide blade to cut sheet metal and light angle. I would lose some teeth, and now I know why. Go slow was the answer.

I guess there is a proper speed for the smaller 7 or 8 in blades, that should be used. It has to do with the velocity of the teeth, and there is a big difference in the velocity in a 7 in bld compared to a 14 in bld.

 

[GeneD14]

I have both the 8 in metal cutting and t;he 14 in cut off saw. The blades for stainless and ferrous is different. It has to do with the rake of the teeth and the number of teeth. If you do a search on the Internet, it will explain all that. The rpm on a regular saw is to fast, so it is not a good idea to just put a metal cutting blade on a regular saw.

Dewalt Metal Cutting Circular Saw Blades

Dewalt DW7747 14" x 70T Saw Blade (Ferrous Metals - Stationary)

Here is a small grapple I built using the ripper shanks.

JJ, That little grapple looks cool. I'm going to have to keep that one in mind for a future project. Good work!