How sharp will chop saw metal fragments be?

[bod1]

I've struggled along using an angle grinder for cutting steel bar but am thinking of getting a DeWalt D28730 abrasive chop saw since I now need to make many 100's of cuts through 12mm square bar. Problem is I'm on the driveway to do this and am worrying about the amount of sharp metal fragments I might create with the chop saw. I'm figuring that they will be small and not sharp unlike machine shop swarf but wanted to ask those that know. If they are sharp any pointers on keeping things manageable? Thanks

 

[Erie Fred]

if your buying the abrasive model, the "chips" are simply grinder dust/grit.

Or are you looking at the carbide tipped saw blade version ?

 

[hotponyshoes]

On the carbide saws the chips vary depending on the material, blade, feed rate and so on..

If you are only cutting steel than buy/make a magnetic brush.

 

[Richiew]

Abrasive cuts are just dust as Fred says.

 

[fractured]

The abrasive saws create dust as stated above. Lots of sparks too. And noisy. Wear a dust mask - dust goes everywhere. Abrasive blade wears down so smaller cuts as the blade reduces.

I have a TCT blade Makita. Screeches, cuts quick, cuts clean, tiny bits of sharpish swarf but stays local to the machine.

Personally I much prefer the TCT blade machine. If I was cutting lots of square bar then TCT would be my choice.

 

[gaz1]

if i was cutting up that many bars id be fitting them into a wood clamping frame as full lengths

the frame becomes a grinder straight cut guide then its cut through a few lengths with a the big 9" grinder

reload and cut again until all lengths are done

 

[Parm]

Much more sharper than you think they will be

ive see the results of folk that thought otherwise

 

[MattF]

Would not a handheld else horizontal bandsaw be a better option for the task? Quieter, & just filings. No dust nor shards.

 

[brightspark]

id be wearing gloves and goggles and stick a sheet on the floor to catch it you end up with rust on your drive and i wouldnt be doing it near windows or a vehiicle

 

[bod1]

Thanks for all the advice
So it it:
TCT: much faster to cut and more swarf, but the DeWalt saw is twice the price!
Abrasive: lots of dust, slower to cut, less or no swarf
Any thoughts on the speed difference between TCT and abrasive for a cut through 12mm square bar mild steel?

 

[JOEPRO]

id be wearing gloves and goggles and stick a sheet on the floor to catch it you end up with rust on your drive and i wouldnt be doing it near windows or a vehiicle

The rust is an issue for sure. If weld a car outside and grind at it I make sure to cover the tarmac with cardboard etc and clean up well after.

Otherwise there will be a rust sh#t stain for years after and powerhosing does not remove it. There is likely special stuff for it which I must look into as there is one bad rust patch in my back yard.

 

[MattF]

Put a mild acid on it.

 

[brightspark]

The rust is an issue for sure. If weld a car outside and grind at it I make sure to cover the tarmac with cardboard etc and clean up well after.

Otherwise there will be a rust sh#t stain for years after and powerhosing does not remove it. There is likely special stuff for it which I must look into as there is one bad rust patch in my back yard.

whats the stain on concrete as above if it is try brick acid might eat the surface if your not carefull though

 

[500e]

Much more sharper than you think they will be

ive see the results of folk that thought otherwise

Our Vinalay floor can vouch for that

 

[bod1]

Would not a handheld else horizontal bandsaw be a better option for the task? Quieter, & just filings. No dust nor shards.

I hadn't even thought of it as an option! - any idea how fast it is for a cut through 12mm square bar mild steel? Any good makes? Battery or powered? Thanks.

 

[outofthefire]

Personally for 12mm square I'd stick with a 4.5" grinder and a thin disk. I've never been right impressed with abrasive saws, they're noisy and particularly inefficient. I'll bet you do at least 2 cuts with a thin disk to 1 on a chop saw. A bandsaw would be better, but again probably no quicker, but you can stack your bars up and cut a few at once, plus you can leave the saw to do the cutting while you do something else.

 

[brightspark]

hand held bandsaws are prety quick seen them been used for cutting steel pipe work out try and get a clarke bandsaw there pretty good

 

[500e]

@brightspark Sodium hypocrite, Milk stone remover should see it off dairy product

 

[Gritineye]

Many years ago I got some box steel cut to length and the chap used what looked like a very fine tooth chop saw that ran really slow.

No noise it just sort of grumbled it's way through and chips stayed in a tray in front of it.

No idea what sort it was but I've wanted one ever since!

 

[Parm]

Many years ago I got some box steel cut to length and the chap used what looked like a very fine tooth chop saw that ran really slow.

No noise it just sort of grumbled it's way through and chips stayed in a tray in front of it.

No idea what sort it was but I've wanted one ever since!

Cold saw, very good, but slow