Dewalt 14" chop saw blade suggestions

[Haywire]

A buddy of mine and I went in on a Dewalt 5.5hp 14" chop saw from Lowes so we could make more accurate cuts for our little projects... my tractorette and his toyota offroader.

The first thing I cut was some 2x2x1/4 square tube and it seemed really slow, especially on the top flat and bottom flat. I cut some 1.25IDx1/4" pipe also, and that seemed slow to me.

Are all abrasive wheels made equal or is there a brand of wheel that performs better than the dewalt standard that comes with it?

thanks,
Ian

 

[jayste]

I usaully use the standard wheel/blade that lowes sells. I know they make some for other types of circular saws that have carbide teeth but I'm unaware of such creatures for abraisive cut-off saws. How's your electric supply to the saw? Are you using an extention cord? Just wondering if maybe you're "starving" it for electricity and it's not kicking the breaker/fuse. Keep in mind that material with a wall thickness of 1/4" or more will take a little time and effort for most saws.

 

[J_J]

Slow on the top and bottom, is to be expected. When cutting a large surface, the saw is cutting more steel, whereas, when you get to the thin stuff about 1/4 in down, it cuts right through. If you take a 1/2 x 2 in bar, and try to cut it flat, it goes rather slow. Now, sit the bar up vertical, and it cut much faster.

I use the Norton wheels.

Have you tried the Porta-Band Saw. Something like this,

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/t...=Saws-Band-amaz_shop&infoParam.campaignId=T9I

Some are battery driven and others are corded.

 

[Haywire]

I had it on a 15' 14ga extension cord. That met the requirement in the chart in the paperwork. I must say the motor didn't seem weak. I could bear down on it pretty good. I didn't do much of that though, I knew better than to load it up too much. Didn't want to let the smoke out. We all know that these things run on smoke. As soon as you let it out, it stops working.

Ian

 

[SandburRanch]

A buddy of mine and I went in on a Dewalt 5.5hp 14" chop saw from Lowes so we could make more accurate cuts for our little projects... my tractorette and his toyota offroader.

The first thing I cut was some 2x2x1/4 square tube and it seemed really slow, especially on the top flat and bottom flat. I cut some 1.25IDx1/4" pipe also, and that seemed slow to me.

Are all abrasive wheels made equal or is there a brand of wheel that performs better than the dewalt standard that comes with it?

thanks,
Ian

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Hey Hay, make a few cuts with a low tech hand hack saw and your chop saw will seem fast. :laughing::laughing:

 

[jayste]

I had it on a 15' 14ga extension cord. That met the requirement in the chart in the paperwork. I must say the motor didn't seem weak. I could bear down on it pretty good. I didn't do much of that though, I knew better than to load it up too much. Didn't want to let the smoke out. We all know that these things run on smoke. As soon as you let it out, it stops working.

Ian

Ok. Just had to ask. Hope I didn't offend you. Like JJ said it does depend on the area and how much surface contact that you have. His example of the flat bar (whether it's laying flat or held vertical) is a good one.

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Hey Hay, make a few cuts with a low tech hand hack saw and your chop saw will seem fast. :laughing::laughing:

NOTHING aggrivates me more than not having enough power to do the job!!

 

[Leejohn]

Your wheel is loading up. Get you a wheel dresser, the one that looks like a stone not the one with all the little wheels. When it loads up all you have to do is just hit it just a sec. It well clean it and cut good until it loads up again.

 

[moored4]

Your wheel is loading up. Get you a wheel dresser, the one that looks like a stone not the one with all the little wheels. When it loads up all you have to do is just hit it just a sec. It well clean it and cut good until it loads up again.

Say What? Chop-saw

 

[2manyrocks]

Go back to a hacksaw for a few cuts and then it will seem lightening fast.

Cutting steel is going to seem slow if your frame of reference happens to be cutting wood with a power miter saw.

 

[Haywire]

I was back at it out there today, and it seemed like a different machine.:confused3: I cut one piece of 2x1/4 flat stock (vertically), and it did very well on that. Then I made another cut on the 2x2 sq tube again and it still did well. I think I could safely say it cut the tube twice as fast as yesterday without exaggerating too much.

I dunno. Maybe it knew I was out blade shopping this morning.

Jayste... no worries. I didn't take it like that. It was a legitimate question. :thumbsup:

Ian