Replies

1. 
   Piccioni | Jun 30, 2005 08:47pm | #1

   I have used a 10" saw to chop aluminum and I have used both table saws and miter saw to cut thin guage sheet metals.

   You have to be real careful with the chop saw - if the blade grabs the material you can get hurt (my thumb got hyper extended & still isn't better). I suspect the problem stems from the fact tubes, etc., are hollow.

   I wouldn't use an abrasive blade in such a saw because I figure it would gum up the motor real quick.

1. 
   TxSportShoot | Jun 30, 2005 10:37pm | #2

   THANKS!

    

2. 
   cowtown | Jul 08, 2005 09:37am | #3

   Start cutting metal on a WWing saw, and yer gonna jam up the works sooner or later, particularly with any aluminium frame saws.

   For cutting metal, it it likley cheaper and more cost effective to get an imported metal band saw, which would likley cost less than an wwing mitre saw anyway.

   One advantage that these things have is that you set them to cut, then go off and do some other task, they cut and then shut off.

   Most importers have them likely (a quick cost conversion) around the 250$mark. More for behemothes.

   Big plus is that there are minimal sparks, unlike abrasive disks. Yer fire insurance folks will like that.

   A modicum of care of the bandsaw type blades is likley cheaper than abrasive discs too.

   Eric in Calgary.

3. 
   Steve50 | Jul 08, 2005 03:13pm | #4

   Several years ago I did this with a 12" Dewalt and an abrasive blade to cut duct work.  I didn't really want to do this but apparently the rental place didn't understand the term "reservation" on an abrasive chop saw.  These are my experiences:

   - Remove the plastic throat plate (it will melt)

   - Blow all sawdust from the saw before use (it will smoke and could catch on fire)

   - Grit will get into the ways and will cause difficulty moving the saw to miter positions.  I don't know what the longer term implications of this grit is but I did lubricate with Tri-Flo to make it easier to move.

   In retrospect, while it can be done, I wouldn't do it again.

4. 
   chips_shavings | Jul 16, 2005 07:25pm | #5

   I used a DeWalt miter box saw to cut aluminum door frames, with the proper metal cutting blade I had no problem. But you have to remember what you are doing  when using the saw. As with any piece of equipment you have to be careful. The saw I used had a Freud/Diablo non-ferrious metal blade (the gold one), as I remember it had 90 teeth.  The frames where used on commercial offfice jobs.  Hope this is of some help to you, be careful.