dry cut blade on chop saw?

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Hi all, new to welding and forum. I bought a Milwaukee 6180-20 abrasive saw for cutting steel. I am now seeing alot of guys really like the dry cut saws and was wondering what the real difference in the saws are besides the obvious being the blade. Can a dry cut blade be used on an abrasive saw or are the machines completely different?  Also if I cut aluminum with my chop saw should I use a seperate blade than the blade used for steel? Will the steel cutting blade contaminate the aluminum? Thankssnoboy
Reply:Originally Posted by snoboyHi all, new to welding and forum. I bought a Milwaukee 6180-20 abrasive saw for cutting steel. I am now seeing alot of guys really like the dry cut saws and was wondering what the real difference in the saws are besides the obvious being the blade. Can a dry cut blade be used on an abrasive saw or are the machines completely different?
Reply:Originally Posted by snoboyCan a dry cut blade be used on an abrasive saw or are the machines completely different?
Reply:Roger that . No worries, I'm not going to swap blades I was just curious as to the machine differences. Thanks for the input. I agree, why would a saw cost twice as much if all we needed to do was buy a different blade.snoboy
Reply:I think it would be like standing in front of a fragmentation grenade,,there would be teeth (shrapnel) going everywhere.Theres no such thing as scrap metal,its all good.
Reply:Why not just get a rheostat(sp?) and slow it down? Or would that lessen(decrease?) the current to the motor.
Reply:You would lose the torque as well, which a gear doubles as it halves the speed.  This is assuming it would even work on that motor.
Reply:I found a non ferrous metal cutting blade that will work on my abrasive chop saw. After talking to the Freud rep. today I ordered the LU89M014 Non Ferrous blade for cutting aluminum. The blade comes in different diameters and the 14" is safe to 5000 rpm. The rep. said it's designed for chop, table saws or radial arms. So I'll give it a shot and report back.  snoboy
Reply:I have no experience with cold-saws or blades for steel, but if you are trying to cut some alluminum, you can cut it with a carbide tipped woodworking chop-saw quite nicely.  I have also used a table saw and router with good results (on alluminum) wear goggles and hearing protection and have at it!good luckAndy