Cutting fiberglass rods...

[Justin Ludwig]

Don't do it with a good blade!

We were in a hurry to get the paint room drying rack put together so I didn't do any research before cutting 48 fiberglass rods 3/8" thick in half. A few hours later I attempted to cut some soft maple window sills to length. Burn burn burn. Now I'm forced to use a cheap Dewalt blade I've had on the shelf for 3 years that came with my CSMS while it's out for sharpening.

PSA - Use an old blade or a metal chop saw to cut fiberglass rods

[Brian W Smith]

Portaband stuck in a bench vise,with small 2x3" "table" tack welded on.Because of relatively low cost (short),metal cutting blades.This what we rough cut fibre glass and certain CF with,quite effectively.

[Bud Millis]

Justin what you want to do is use blue painters tape at the site of the cuts. Wear a mask when cutting. Using a portable bandsaw or hacksaw (you'll want a fine cutting blade) then cut the rods to size.
By using the tape you'll decrease splintering the rods.

[Justin Ludwig]

My helper wore a mask, I made him. The Forrest WWII did a great job. Sad thing is, I'd had it back from Carbide Processors for about a month from the last sharpening. I will definitely not use a wood blade next time. And I'll be cutting a lot more, because the system I came up with for the paint room works great using 3/8" rods.

Hacksaw would take too long for as many as we were (and intend) cutting. Thanks for the tips, Bud.

[Bud Millis]

Justin, this is what I use:

337930

They have since changed the saw somewhat. You can find them on sale for around $99.00 or just use a 20% coupon. Works great! I love mine and have used it for a lot of projects from stone to steel to fiberglass.

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-amp-deep-cut-variable-speed-band-saw-kit-62800.html


(http://www.harborfreight.com/10-amp-deep-cut-variable-speed-band-saw-kit-62800.html)

[Wade Lippman]

It is a good way to ruin a bandsaw blade also.

[Charles Wiggins]

I always found a hacksaw a good option for such work. It takes a bit longer, but my trusty Harbor Freight blades from China are cheap enough, and no sharpening required. I bought a box of 100 in the mid 1980s and I still have a few left. Seems they don't carry them any longer. (BUMMER!!)