Jon Murphy
11-13-2012, 5:25 AM
I am normally on the Wood Turner's forum but it seems to me this one is the best for my question. I am going to ask about the blades for a mini cut-off saw for cutting metal alloys.
I have a Proxxon mini miter saw, the rpm is 5400 (no load) and the blade diameter is 3 1/4". I make my own hollowing tools for my wood turnings, and have to cut shafts from O-1 steel and cutter bars from 10% cobalt HSS. Working with the thinner shafts and cutters (1/2" round shaft, 3/16" square cutter bar) I have no problem - but I'm chewing up the aluminum oxide blades for ferrous materials. Admittedly it is my fault to some extent - if I'm cutting too thick a piece the expansion of the metal in the kerf grabs the blade and tears up the arbor hole.
What I want is a metal cutting blade that itself is metal, at least at the arbor hole - or one which cuts a wider kerf at the edge so it won't grab. My vendor has a Diamond blade, but it is listed as proper for tile, stone, etc. As that blade is $66 I don't want to buy it as an experiment unless someone here thinks it might work (if it doesn't I won't blame you, just want your thoughts).
It seems to me that my mini cut-off saw should be able to cut through anything it can hold - as long as the width of the cutting edge of the blade makes a kerf wider than the blade so that the rest of the blade isn't rubbing on the workpiece. BTW, my arbor is 10mm.
Best, Jon
I have a Proxxon mini miter saw, the rpm is 5400 (no load) and the blade diameter is 3 1/4". I make my own hollowing tools for my wood turnings, and have to cut shafts from O-1 steel and cutter bars from 10% cobalt HSS. Working with the thinner shafts and cutters (1/2" round shaft, 3/16" square cutter bar) I have no problem - but I'm chewing up the aluminum oxide blades for ferrous materials. Admittedly it is my fault to some extent - if I'm cutting too thick a piece the expansion of the metal in the kerf grabs the blade and tears up the arbor hole.
What I want is a metal cutting blade that itself is metal, at least at the arbor hole - or one which cuts a wider kerf at the edge so it won't grab. My vendor has a Diamond blade, but it is listed as proper for tile, stone, etc. As that blade is $66 I don't want to buy it as an experiment unless someone here thinks it might work (if it doesn't I won't blame you, just want your thoughts).
It seems to me that my mini cut-off saw should be able to cut through anything it can hold - as long as the width of the cutting edge of the blade makes a kerf wider than the blade so that the rest of the blade isn't rubbing on the workpiece. BTW, my arbor is 10mm.
Best, Jon