Radial Arm Saw vs "Chop Saw"

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What is the real difference between the two?  I found metal cut off blades that will fit my Ryobi radial arm saw, and was wondering whether it'd be applicable?  Im not looking to cut anything thick (maybe 1/8" square tubing).Ideas?ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:Motor speed is the larges factor.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Although I'm a woodworker, I've never owned or operated one. I believe that radial arm saws are up-cut instead of down-cut(?).  i know that they have a bad reputation for kick back.  If this is true I don't think it would be good for metal.  Maybe someone here has used one and can verify that fact.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:I was looking into what I posted and found that they are downcut, but upcut when rotated parallel for rip cuts.  For chop saw purposes you wouldn't use it in the rip cut position. In that position they have a tendancy to kick back w/o proper setup.Check out the link for more. http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/woodworking/radial.htmlIf you want the saw for cutting metal only get a metal chop saw. I use my wood chop saw for metal sometimes with a blade change.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene
Reply:For me its just that Ive already got it sitting here not doing anything since the last house project is finished.  Would rather spend my $ on more rods to practice than have to go buy another toy...Wouldnt the radial with a good abrasive blade work fine for these applications, and for anything more use OA?Last edited by DirtyLittleSecret; 02-01-2007 at 10:48 PM.ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:For a while I was using a Makita wood miter saw with abrasive blades its definately not the best thing to useit spins the blade way too fast and in turns sometimes just heats up the metal instead of giving it a nice clean cut I just bought a Rigid chop saw and it really cuts so much better If you have the money I would buy the chop saw but if your really broke you could use the wood saw with an abrasive blade but it wears out the blades really fast and in a short time you will waste more money going through blades and getting bad cuts it would be better to just buy a chop saw
Reply:Proper tool for the job.A radial-arm saw is usually not the right tool for cutting metal.  Even if you change the blades.  And if you did use it for metal, you now have metal dust and grit and chips everywhere.  Do you realize how much of a mess it makes when you get a little bit of iron dust/grit from the grinder or flap-disc onto a piece of wood you were working on earlier?  Been there, done that, the glue was drying on some wood so I moved over to some metal working and SOMEHOW got steel grinding dust/grit onto the wood pieces 10-20 feet away.  Arrrgh!  Black spots all over the oak!Get a metal-cutting chop saw.  Or a metal-cutting bandsaw.  And decent blades for either.A chop saw is only like $100-$200 new.  The smaller low-end-but-capable bandsaws are about the same on sale.And no, a chop saw for metal is NOT the same thing as a power miter saw for wood.
Reply:Originally Posted by MoonRiseProper tool for the job.
Reply:That's what I was thinking on the "flip side of the coin".  A saw may be a saw, but its the end cut that matters...So what are some good cost-benefit chop saws?ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!
Reply:Originally Posted by DirtyLittleSecretThat's what I was thinking on the "flip side of the coin".  A saw may be a saw, but its the end cut that matters...So what are some good cost-benefit chop saws?
Reply:it would work with some refabs to the saw a radial arm saw would have to have a clamp that would hold the metal and the cut would have to be done in the pull stroke(to throw waste away, down) of the radial saw so there would be no kick back. but it would grab a chop saw and a miter saw are about the same(in the way the blade meets material) i have a radial arm saw an am thinking the same  use to cut metal but im SURE   it  CAN BE  DONEgo for it .       go for it
Reply:NO, NO, NO, NOD O N T.......U S E.......T H E........R A D I A L........A R M.......S A W.the radial arm saw is the most dangerous saw in the wood working field.  every carpenter i know of respects them.  you have a freefloating 10" saw that pulls itself toward the operator.  it climbs the material and shoots itself toward the operator when it gets in a bind and torques up.  putting an abrasive blade in it and trying to cut metal will only increase the probability of injury.  also the shroud will not properly deflect sparks and any shrapnel if the blade grenades caused by too high of RPM.buy a chop saw and use the radial arm saw for what it is best at....wood.
Reply:what scott saidChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I used a cut-off wheel in a makita grinder to chop 14 pieces of 1" square tubing for my deck handrail.  These are the very thin grinder wheels.I had no problem holding the tool square and the saw cuts look good.After I completed the railing I found a $20 Harbor Freight tool that holds a grinder and makes it into a mineature chop saw.  Wish I found that before my project, but the grinder worked fine anyway.Just use EXTREME care to not bind the thin wheel in the cut-they can explode if twisted-and ALWAYS use eye protection!
Reply:Originally Posted by DirtyLittleSecretThat's what I was thinking on the "flip side of the coin".  A saw may be a saw, but its the end cut that matters...So what are some good cost-benefit chop saws?
Reply:I know it is a bummer having A tool laying around doing nothing, I would not use it as a chop saw. Radial arm saws usually have lower hp ratings than chop saws, and if that blade catches...LOOK OUT!  I have several Makita cold saws at work...Love them! I have looked into these plans http://www.green-trust.org/junkyardp...shopPlans.html to modify the plan to accept the 12" Tenru metal cutting blade. You would have to lower the blade speed with the pulleys to lower than 2000 rpm. I was thinking 1500 for better blade life."If you live in Sacramento you have seen my work."
Reply:you can get a chop saw for under $100. Its pretty simple to build your own if you have an electric motor laying around.
Reply:Radial Saws Look Like A Skil Saw On An Overhead Rail.chop Saws Are Much Safer For Metal.KISS...KEEP IT SAFE STUPID
Reply:Thanks guys.  Funny how Ive got both a compact miter and a radial arm saw.  Now I gotta figure out how Im gonna explain to the Mrs that there will somehow be room for another saw that looks the same...Like you said though...the right tool for the right job.  Amazing the differences this has made in my life.ThermalArc 185MillerMatic 180 w/ AutosetVictor Cutskill Oxy/AcetyleneThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38and spite!