Carbide tooth saws?

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anyone have one of the handheld carbide circular saws?  I keep seeing adds for them, but have no experience with them, looks like it could come in handy for cutting sheet in the field.   I was doing a job at a local fab shop here last week and they had just bought one and was sawing 2 inch thick catwalk grating with it.  Was just curious as to how the blades hold up, and how well they do.  Thanks ~JacksonI'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Howdy!  I have seen a cordless one demonstrated, and I was very very impressed.  But the material being cut was EMT, electrical metalic tubing.  They also showed cutting strut bar, but I didn't personally witness that. I heard third hand it was also very impressive.  This was a milwaukee brand I believe.  Maybee one of their new lithion ion 28 volt cordless things if I remember right.  It was pretty damn slick.  About the cleanest edge you can get in the field without a file I'd say.  I know one thing about the blades, is that as they wear, the diameter doesn't change, so your possible material size / shape to cut isn't compromised.   Milwaukee tools has some video downloads of their carbide toothed chop saws in action on every day material.  I would check out their site for the videos, their worth a look.  (no I don't work for milwaukee tools, I just like MOST of their stuff.)  Happy welding / cutting!  Brian Lee  Sparkeee24
Reply:We have been using milwaukee corded circular saws with carbide tipped blades for years to cut aluminum. I cut 3/16" to 1/2" aluminum like this on a regular basis. note the picture with the saw in the background. all notching and coping on this chassis where done with the milwaukee. Attached Images
Reply:i run the milwaukee 18v cordless with the carbide blade in it and its the best.  im an electrician so im cutting unistrut, angle iron, emt, sch 40 rigid, i do strictly industrial applications so my saw is getting used everyday and i get about a year out a blade,  or untill my damn apprentice destoys a blade......
Reply:I bought a corded 9" evolution saw. Love it , so I bought another.  I've used it for  just about everything- wood, steel , aluminum.  Now I'm going to get a 14" dry cut chop saw.  I have an abrasive chop saw. The only problem I have is which one  should I buy ? steelmax, milwaukee, dewalt, or  evolution.
Reply:I have the milwuakee 8" with a cord and the 6 1/2 cordless one too.  Cordless works excellect on thin stuff but thicker stuff slows it down but it still cuts it.  Both work very well, i was really really impressed and so is everyone i show them too.  I also have the porter cable 1410 14" chop saw with carbide blade, had it for about a year and i havent touched my abrasive bladed dewalt since i bought the PC.  Porter cable leeks one drop of fluid from the gear housing once in a great while.  Rep says theres nothing in there to leak and basically told me i was stupid.....hasnt caused any problems to date.  They will be servicing it b4 the warranty is up tho.    One thing i have to say is these things are no fun when they bind on something(but what is?).
Reply:I use the milwuakee dry cut and it is great! Attached Images
Reply:Robby,Do you think it would be possible to add a coolant system to that dry cut saw? I've been looking for a cold saw for some time and can't find one for less than $2k. If I'm not mistaken, that dry cut you use is around $500? Thoughts?Syncrowave 250 DX (Watercooled)Millermatic 251Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101H
Reply:The water cooled ones spin at a differant rpm i believe.  I am not sure why you would want to water cool the smaller cheaper saws with carbide blades?  None of mine really even get hot that i have noticed, unless you cut really thick or really slowly on a piece you can almost always put your hand on the piece just after cut and its just warm.  The chips it throws are very hot so that could be a plus.  The higher end ones that are water cooled sure are sweet tho i have used a few.
Reply:I know that cutting tools always last longer if some type of coolant is used. I was thinking the $170 replacement blade would do the same. The cutting speed is different. 1500 rpm for the dry saw and around 50 to 100 rpm for a wet saw. I added coolant to a horizontal band saw that I bought used (and abused) and noticed the blades lasting much longer. Coolant to a carbide cut-off saw was just a thought.Syncrowave 250 DX (Watercooled)Millermatic 251Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101H
Reply:I found blades for these saws on ebay for very cheap. I cringed at the price of replacement blades when they told me.  I think i got four 14" metal blades for about 135.00 on ebay, they are frued in brand and seem to be very nice.  A lot less money then the porter cable one it came with.  I also got one of the milwaukee 6.5 inch metal blades on ebay for $9.00, they are about $50.00 where i buy my blades local.