Chop saw issue... first cut great, second... nothing?

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Hey all,I have this 14" abrasive chop saw in my garage. I'm trying to cut 1/4" plate sections with it. The first cut is great. Slight pressure on the handle, maybe 20 seconds and it's done. The second cut will start, and never finish. It's like it just stops cutting, even though it throws sparks. I've tried light pressure, heavy pressure, no pressure. I've tried cooling the metal with a spray bottle filled with water. I'm kind of at a loss.I'm not sure how long until it will cut right again, but I've found that the first cut is always the best.
Reply:Is tjis steel or aluminum?Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Sounds like the blade got gunked up. Which way are you cutting your 1/4'' plate in the saw (for your welding table?)Ya gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:If it's steel, and I presume it is by sparks I'll bet the wheel is becoming glazed by having such a big area in contact with the material being cut. Just for the heck of it, try cutting something thinner on edge, a piece of 2 x 3/8 flatbar for example and then trying the thicker section again......Mike
Reply:I ended up cutting it with a ryobi reciprocating saw I got at a yard sale for $10. I took your advice and I looked at the HF horizontal bandsaw. People seem to really like it. Maybe Santa will be good to me this year.
Reply:This is the one I was looking at. Sadly we don't have a local HF... closest one is about 2 hours away.. http://www.harborfreight.com/horizon...saw-93762.html
Reply:I haven't got a PM yet from you, might try again.Thanks,Luke
Reply:All you really need is a circular saw with a metal-cutting blade (not an abrasive disc).  It's a $20 investment.Although a band saw is handy for a lot of stuff, it's kind of limited on plate.  How big are the pieces you're cutting?Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Goofy that I've got video of it, but this is a Freud blade cutting 3/16 plate:Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Learn to use the Chop saw ya got- Zero $ outta yer pocket I do have the little HF Bandsaw, Dewalt Chop saw, Milwaukee Portaband, and the little 125c Miller Plasma Cutter.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749I will be getting one very soon now! Looks like it went pretty easy.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749What kinda wheels are you using on yours? I think mine were 3/32" & they vibrated & cut like crap.Those cutoff saws are barbaric, IMHO. After I bought my first band saw, I got rid of the one I had.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Cool. Lemme know.You Hollywood, chopsawing, movie guys...I banned the use of them in my union contracts....
Reply:Barbaric huh? You'lda loved the Conan sized shop chop with a welded-on pole handle for extra leeverage we had at a former job... Frikshun Monster!I just bought a Milwaukee cold cut saw, I used an Ancient American Trading Tactic called........ "lay-away". http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/t...achine/6190-20City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:the only good chop saw is a dead chopsaw...sawzall a close second...
Reply:Hey, Yaiden I got the HF 93762 and it does a fine job.  I trued it up and tuned it a little according to the Yahoo Groups 4X6 group info and it does very well.  I did a 2 drawer file cabinet for a stand to replace the junk it came with for a stand and changed the lube in the gear box and called it good.  They group has all kinds of hydro down feeds and other mods if you are interested for cheap money.  On sale out the door with 2 good bi-metal blades and the "extended" replacement was 162.00.  Cant beat that for about as low buck as you can get.  Definately worth the investment.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I dont see the point of layaway. Just save your money and buy it?
Reply:Back in the 60s my parents bought some furniture on a layaway plan.I think it was the first time they had ever bought anything  "on time' as borrowing was called back then.My Dad called it his lay awake plan
Reply:I'm not a big fan of abrasive chopsaws either, but I do LUV my Milwaukee dry-cut saw.  Perfect for jobsite use, the vise clamps great (although I've had to replace for about $50 earlier this year after the threads wore out), the metal isn't burn-you hot after the cut, and you've got a nice, finished edge cut at an exact angle.  Not to mention a flat-enough spot and a couple of 4x4's and you've got your own "roller" table on the ground.  I plan to eventually make a true roller table in the shop with a removable mount for it, but I have a feeling I'll put a bandsaw in it instead.
Reply:I wish we had a local harbor freight, I'd go snag a bandsaw right now.
Reply:just 2 hours away -------  SAY Road Tripidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenGoofy that I've got video of it, but this is a Freud blade cutting 3/16 plate:
Reply:Thanks.  It's a cheap Harbor Freight circular saw.  It's not low-RPM, but the Freud Diablo 7-1/4" blades are rated for 5000+rpm (unlike the larger ones which are 1400rpm).Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:actually I just looked it up, it's 3 hours.Why can't I use the 20% coupon online? It's cheaper for me to get it shipped than it is to drive there, but I want to use the coupon. dag nammit!
Reply:I have a hitachi chop saw and with there blades I had the same issue. What I would do is lift it up about 3/4 of an inch at full speed and bumb it against what I was cutting and two or three bumbs and it worked great again. I switched to dewalt blades and they work great and so do norton. I use my chop saw for about every thing and I use a band saw at work with the water cooler and it is awesome for larger stuff but for for the smaller stuff the Chop saw knocks it out twice as fast and is alot more portable.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.Lots of folks hating on chop saws in this thread.Chop saws may have their downsides, but I guarantee you they are the perfect tool for a lot of field work. I set mine on the back of my truck bed and cut purlin, angle iron and square tubing with it all day. Outdoors the dust floats away. Any shavings just land on my flatbed so they don't matter. Oh, and they are cheap and very mobile. Not so much with a bandsaw. When I pack up for the day I just pop it into one of the tool boxes on the truck and lock the door.As to the original issue, I agree with the other guys, it's a glazed blade.Want to know how to fix a glazed blade ?Turn the saw on (with the guard in place of course) and gently tap a piece of scrap against the edge of the blade. Gentle now, tap, tap, tap about as hard as you'd tap a pencil on a desk. This nicks the blade edge, so next time you cut with it, a small bit of the blade will wear off immediately until the nicks are gone away and now you're down to unglazed blade again.Kevin- Springtown, TexasTruck:Chevy cab/ chassis 1 ton dually, big block and flatbedMiller BobcatVictor cutting rigTool boxes crammed full of stuffShop:Millermatic 250Lincoln 135Lincoln 225AC tombstone
Reply:Taiden, when you're abrasiveness blade on your chop saw glazes up( that is what happened to yours) you can do what I do, brush it's teeth!!!  I keep a scrap of 1/2" round bar at the saw. When the blade glazes, "brush" the 1/2" bar, horizontally, back and forth against the cutting (thin) edge of the blade for about 5 seconds. No really pressure needed. Just enough to keep contact. I the spinning cools the blade down, lets the metal to be cut cool a bit, and most importantly the back and forth scrubs off the glazing on the blade. Cuts like new after that. I really need to get a video camera. Things like this are hard to explain and have make sense. Wonder if my wife needs a video camera for xmas???Wear all PPE necessary as always.And as someone else said, cut through the thinnest edge, if possible.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Where did you get yours?
Reply:Chop saws arn not that bad!  I use mine all the time to cut tunbe and square tube.  I even got a wood blade I put on there that I used to build a dog house and a work bench with!On that diablo blade in that link it siad that it will cut 1/8" or thinner.  I seen that you went right through 3/16".  How long of a lifespan do you get from the blades?And for the band saw check out Northern tool  http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...3677_200323677I think some times they offer free shipping, not sure on the bandsaws tho.Last edited by justin_502; 11-14-2010 at 09:44 AM.Miller 212JD2 model 3 BenderDeWalt 14" Chop sawDelta Drill Press
Reply:Here ya gohttp://maine.craigslist.org/tls/2047194968.htmlhttp://maine.craigslist.org/tls/2031745397.htmlEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Duplicate post.Last edited by Jack Olsen; 11-14-2010 at 02:39 PM.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:most of the lowes, home depot and menards carry the horizontal band saws... northern toolhttp://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5120_200365120 i use to use a chop saw, got tired of sucking those fumes and having to go outside to cut metal....  i bought a Buffalo horizontal saw about 10yrs ago... its been a good saw, still use it every week, nearly every day... i had a cheap buffalo chop saw, i actually gave it away after i got the saw...  the saws cool because it will stand up straight, and locks in the vertical position,and theres a small table that attaches to it to turn it into a table saw.. very handy for brackets and stuff... if your cutting metal, go ahead and get the bi-metal blades, they last forever.. i've had mine on my saw for about 2 yrs i think.. i'm going to finish up my sheetmetal brake, then the tig cooler is the next project, after that i might make a frame with casters for my saw.. think i'd just go to sears..http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...8&blockType=G8 and the easiest way to keep a chop saw from glazing is to lift up on it periodically when your cutting to give the blade a chance to cool a little..Last edited by brucer; 11-14-2010 at 02:49 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by justin_502On that diablo blade in that link it siad that it will cut 1/8" or thinner.  I seen that you went right through 3/16".  How long of a lifespan do you get from the blades?
Reply:this one that broccoli posted http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/2047194968.html , think i'd go look at it and take $400 cash with me and see if he bites.. better yet call him and offer him $400
Reply:OMG there is dirt on jacks floorquick take a picture idealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Taiden - My favorite "wheel dresser" is to lightly touch the spinning wheel to the sharp outside corner of a scrap angle, held safely against the stop. With a high horsepower saw it's possible to just "bury" the blade to dress it.------------- Originally Posted by weldbeadthe only good chop saw is a dead chopsaw...sawzall a close second...
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Even the smaller model they make is OK. If you can swing it, the bigger one with the 3/4" blade is super, super nice for the money. I bought one almost exactly like it in 1999 for around $600+ tax. I have been quite pleased, to say the least. I finally upgraded it earlier this year with a few modifications & it's still going strong. if you do spring for the bigger saw, you'll have to make some running gear for it, the China made stuff sucks. I just put some casters under it on a frame & got by for about 11 years.I think the little one is only a couple hundred bucks. A good quality Morse or Starrett Bi-Metal blade will give it the best performance.Good luck on it. Keep yer eyes peeled at local sales & pawn shops. You may get lucky. If you take any road trips, hit the local resale & pawn shops. You could find exactly what you've been looking for!Here's a pic of my rebuilt saw.
Reply:I built my own 16in cutoff saw...Used it for years...till I bought a HF bandsaw...Now I just use for tubing and channel.And it works well for a grinder for fine tuning fitting parts...It's a real bull dog but it's loud and messy...Victor O/A SetHF Band SawHomebuilt 16" Abrasive Cutoff SawRed 225 Buzz BoxCraftsman 5hp. 30gal Sears and Robuck LeathDelta 6" Vert. Belt SanderDelta Drill PressGrizzly Band SawBlue EconotigLongevity 50i Plasma
Reply:Originally Posted by TaidenThe first cut is great. Slight pressure on the handle, maybe 20 seconds and it's done. The second cut will start, and never finish. It's like it just stops cutting, even though it throws sparks.
Reply:Chop saw:Loud?  checkDusty?  checkSparks?  if cutting steel, checkCuts pretty fast?  checkCuts through everything I've ever put in it so far?  check.    Let's see, so far that is steel, some more steel, bar stock steel, tubular steel, plastic pipe  , angle-iron steel, flat bar steel, etc, etc.  It's a CHOP saw, it chops through stuff.  Denrep, as to using a metal-cutting carbide blade in a circular saw, Yeah it works.  Use the right blade at the right RPM for the saw (if using a plain old circular saw, just make sure the saw guard is metal and not a low-end plastic guard).  I've used a MetalDevil (sp?), and a Freud Diablo (Steel Demon ) on 1/8 inch steel plate.  Wear PPE and watch out for the cut edge on the plate (it is 90 degree s-h-a-r-p).  Lenox also makes such blades, including a 7-1/4 5800 rpm 68 tooth 5/8 arbor blade for "sheet metal".http://www.lenoxtools.com/Pages/Prod...cularSawBladesFreud makes a Diablo Steel Demon 7-1/4 5800 rpm 5/8 arbor blade for cutting sheet metal as well, 18 gauge max. Product D0770F.http://www.diablotools.com/blades-ferrous.htmlTo the OP, yeah, sounds like a glazed blade.  Don't 'baby' the blade/cut, plow through it and make the blade and saw w-o-r-k.  Don't bog the motor, but make it work.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Sounds good guys. I'm going to stick with the chop saw for now, gonna go with a nicer blade and see how that works for me. I'd love to have a horizontal bandsaw but I'm not quite made of money right now.I'm thinking of getting one of those circular saw blades for 1/8" sheet.
Reply:One more thang about Cop saws- you need to make sure the material is set up right under where the blade comes down.As you use the saw and wear down the blade you'll need to adjust the Vise- you may need to adjust the Vise even with a new blade depending on the size of the material.And when you want to Mitre Angle you'll need to use a piece of square stock to position the angleEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Also make sure to check your blade over real well before using it each day once you have one come apart you learn quick to check it.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:That pic of the baby with the chop saw is priceless. Has anyone added a laser guide to a chop saw? http://www.amazon.com/Irwin-Industri...9879023&sr=1-2
Reply:Your kidding, right?
Reply:I got a little 7" chopsaw from home depot that pivots & is set up to do miters & it has a laser guide...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Jay O, I ain't kidding. My chop saw has no guide, I just drop it on the cut and adjust my clamping until it's right. I think some kind of laser guide would make setting up a cut a breeze. Not one that only worked when it spins though, that seems dangerous trying to set up a cut with the blade turning.
Reply:if your going to keep the chop saw try a Sait cutting wheel