Dry Cut Saw usage???

admin

So, I bought a Milwaukee 6190-20 dry cut saw about a month ago. Great tool! Until recently... I've been cutting mostly 1x1x0.125", 2x2x0.083", and 2x2x0.065" square tubing. About an even mix of straight cuts and 45-degree miters. Always clamp the stock in the vise, which is located in the frontmost position (necessary for the blade to make it all the way through a 45-degree cut in 2x2 tube). Everything was working brilliantly, until a couple of weekends ago. The blade seemed to go completely dull over the course of about a dozen cuts. It would cut flat bar (clamped vertically) and angle iron without much trouble, but didn't seem to be able to get through the flat tops of square tube. Continuous sparking, combined with a minimal amount of progress through the metal. When it became obvious that the blade was straining, I stopped using the saw, figuring that it would be more difficult to have the blade sharpened if forced it through the cut and destroyed the carbide teeth.Got the OEM blade sharpened and put it to work last weekend. Don't think it lasted for 15 cuts before I started getting the same behavior again! Called Milwaukee and was told they don't recommend having the blades sharpened. They also suggested increasing pressure on the blade until all sparking stopped (not that I'd ever seen much...until the blade dulled), and to make sure that the workpiece was clamped so that the center of the blade was in line with or behind the workpiece (which I'd been doing since the 3rd or 4th cut). Doesn't seem like the stock blade is much good at this point, so I ordered a 72-tooth Metal Devil replacement. Don't know if the local sharpening service bungled the sharpening or if I ruined the blade the first time it went dull. I was getting quite a bit of sparking during the last cut or two on the dull blade, but at the same time it never got hot enough that it was a problem to touch. Almost seems like the tops of the teeth might be dull or improperly sharpened, which is why the saw can cut through flat bar and angle iron but not make the long flat cuts through the tops of 2x2 square tube.Anyone have advice for extending the life of my expensive new blade? At this point, I think I'm following Milwaukee's rather minimal guidelines for using the saw: clamp workpiece in vise, make sure center of blade is in line with or behind the center of the workpiece, increase pressure on handle to minimize sparking, don't attempt to cut hardened material, etc. Love the accuracy and speed of the tool... when it's working... but can't afford to spend $100/month on blades! Appreciate any advice you might have!
Reply:I believe the Mil blades just ain't so hot. My MIl 8" blade wasn't near as good as the Metal Devil I replaced it with. They make a much better blade, IMO. Cheaper too.
Reply:I too have the same saw and my blade went tango uniform while cutting 2 and 1/2' round bar 12L14.  It was very disapointing I hadn't cut that much with it.  Spoke with the shop where I had it sharpened and they recommended a grease stick, so I picked one up, an Osborn Code no. 47015, I think it was about six bucks.  You simply hold it against the blade and it picks up the grease.  Now I have no real data to say it works better than before but it does "feel" to cut better.  I thought I read somewhere that the blade could be sharpened three or four times.  Sounds like a new Milwaukee Blade is not the way to go on the replacement blade.Miller 210Miller Spectrum 300 PlasmaMiller EconotigJet Mill/DrillGrizzly 14x36 LatheVictor Oxy/Act
Reply:Originally Posted by HammerfestI too have the same saw and my blade went tango uniform while cutting 2 and 1/2' round bar 12L14.  It was very disapointing I hadn't cut that much with it.  Spoke with the shop where I had it sharpened and they recommended a grease stick, so I picked one up, an Osborn Code no. 47015, I think it was about six bucks.  You simply hold it against the blade and it picks up the grease.  Now I have no real data to say it works better than before but it does "feel" to cut better.  I thought I read somewhere that the blade could be sharpened three or four times.  Sounds like a new Milwaukee Blade is not the way to go on the replacement blade.