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This saw deserves a look for all those metal workers sitting on the fence debating the pros and cons. the cuts are far superior and true not to mention wickedly fast even with thick steel stock. The Milwaukee saw is so darn smooth on start-up you would not know that it sports a multi-horse power capacity. What a great saw. Just do it, you wont be sorry. I had reservations on the concept of a metal cutting saw that uses a metal blade and the idea of a blade that costs almost half of the new price of the complete unit. Wish I would have bought one sooner than I did. If the number of cuts are indeed possible ,it is far more economical that the horrible dusty, toxic vapors one must endure with the conventional abrasive chop saws.
Highly recommend it for it's quality, low vibration and ruggedness. I go through these saws about every two years. This is my fifth and best one yet.
I've cut 3x3x1/4 steel tube with not much more than a light downward pressure. When the upper motor is in the locked down position it is well balanced for carrying. Like others have mentioned, this saw requires a lighter touch than an abrasive style chop saw. I purchased this after comparing the Dewalt & Porter Cable versions in person. It is much faster to clean up the chips from this saw vs the dust from an abrasive style chop saw. The stock stays put while cutting. The saw works great, the angle fence is easy to adjust. Very easy to release tension on the vise.
I have not experienced any issues with the blade. I have run about a dozen cuts of small stuff.
No heat to speak of. Very clean cuts.
I was using an abrasive saw for a few years as a hobbiest. Just like a drill bit, too much heat will kill this blade.
Adjusting the fence for angle cuts is a breeze.I would not have any reservations recommending this saw to a friend. I started looking at this saw and read reviews from every source I could find before deciding to purchase it.It is a great saw.
As the instructions state and other reviewers state, you HAVE to be aware of the cutting rate and force you place on the blade.
Use a cutting oil. Regardless, all metals need lubrication to cut them.HEATHEAT is the #1 killer of a cutting edge, HEAT is a product of FRICTION, and FRICTION is greatly reduced by two things: 1( LUBRICATION and 2) CUTTING SPEED for the material being cut. This will,in turn, make it more difficult to cut the material requiring more pressure and produce more heat which will ruin the cutting edge on even the toughest cutting material - even carbide. It will ruin the cutting edge of even the toughest materials and it can work-harden steels.
Metallurgy 101LUBRICATIONThere is not a common metal out there that does not require some sort of lubrication while it is being cut. (any oil - even WD-40 in a pinch),and don't force the blade through the material - let it find it's own pace through the material. If you need to do a bunch of cuts then do a few and let the blade cool down and resume when the blade has cooled.MY SUGGESTIONSWhen using Carbide to cut metals use a small amount of LUBRICATION on your cuts and SLOW DOWN. Furthermore, there is not a material from which cutting blades are made which do not require the same.
Cutting the material too fast will produce too much heat and will effectively harden the material on the spot. If you do this I guarantee you that your blades will last much longer and your cuts will be truer.The term "Dry-Cut" really means "Dull Blades" - use lubricant.Milwaukee 6190-20 15 Amp 14-Inch Metal Cutoff MachineDEWALT DW872 14-Inch Multi-Cutter Saw Having machined the most common metals in the industry - Steel (hot or cold rolled), Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, and Stainless Steel - I can say unequivocally that lubrication is a must for a great cut and long cutter life.The harder the cutter material the longer it will last - that is why carbide lasts longer than high speed steel cutters. Aluminum can be cut much faster than Stainless Steel, Therefore, aluminum has a higher cutting speed than Stainless Steel.HEAT is a double-edged sword.
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