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Sears is selling a dual blade circular saw, listed as " it will cut steel " It cost - $100 - the replacement blades are $39. Has any one ever used it . I am thinking this it what i need to cut my AC compressors to get at the goodies . cut offs work but really don't last that long . sawzall to slow . There is a steel cutting blade for $60 at Lowe's, so it is coming down to the $60 blade or the $100 dual blade circular saw (it's on sale normally $150)
I have used them before. They will cut metal cleanly as long you are using the metal cutting blades. My issue wit them is this...the metal will really FLY everywhere in good "chips" so make sure you are wearing something over your eyes. And you have to have a REAL good hold onto them...they will try to rip out of your hand if you hit a nut or something like that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Copper Head
It seems that a few months back someone posted about these and the general take on them was they were junk...never used one myself but I do save my old 7 1/4" circular saw blades and use them to cut aluminum down to size. Use eye protection and if ur not thick skinned cover it up. Some people will put the blade on in the opposite spinning direction that it would normally go on, personally doesn't matter to be.
I'll let you know .
this saw works at 4600 RPM ' s , I consider that fast, for copper or AL - lubricating sticks are recommended
I expect (demand) it to cut metal like butter and cut many times till dull other wise no point to another tool that does nothing new.
I remember seeing a saw like this on TV it looked like a miracle saw, the patent must have been sold off cause now i am seeing the same type of tool in more and more stores .
If you do get one please give us a complete review, Mike.
will do - One of the interesting things about this work is the chance to really try to work with materials that others will never get a chance to try. It's called experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by miked
OK here's the deal ,
Sure it will cut the housing on the compressor but your not going to do it all day long as the motor over heats and starts to slow to finally stop . so then you have to wait for it to cool down till it's ready. It cuts all soft metals well
and if you have the money to burn it will be a ok tool for certain cuts cause it is fast .it makes a huge mess with metal flying about .
For me it is not heavy duty enough, If the motor could work harder take more abuse then i feel you could get enough cuts worth the cost of blades @$40 but who needs a tool over heating - this shows me 1) amps to low 2) venting problems 3) Motor with skimpy amt of copper or even copper coated 4) A needed redesign like worm drive gearing .
I will not take this apart but since i have seen the construction of many motors and tools that i scraped .I'd say this tool is nothing more then a cheap tool with no real back bone.
Thanks for the review Copper Head.
Thank you for saving me and others some money, Mike.
Next update
Aside from danger factor with this tool - as you can get hurt , One might still be best off with tools that are slower and safer , ANYWAY I completely burned it out in 45 min or so Blades still sharp just the same . It's going back to sears.
I would only use this tool for cuts that require a savings of time Like the brackets of a AC motor if your not in the mood to use screwdriver it does cut the ends of AL / copper / or brass radiators fast
Shoot, I always use my skill saw or sawzall for that. Whichever is closest.Quote:
Originally Posted by Copper Head
I use a 9 inch angle grinder for cutting open AC or fridge/freezer casings, works well.
The discs are NZ$7 or cheaper & that will cut over 20 casings.
Theres a nice video on UTube from a Aussie guy who has made a motorised turntable that rotates the unit while he cuts it in 1/2 using a grinder.
Those double disc saws are really only for drywall & wood & light craft metal jobs.
i've seen this one. its a nice setup and i think he's using a 9" grinder with a foot petal to rotate the compressor which is mounted to a table. Aussie50 on youtube does a lot of good videos like thisQuote:
Originally Posted by eesakiwi
For anyone not familiar with Aussie50.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLU-qtek12g
been checking him out
Next up RIDGID TwinBlade Saw
Specifications Motor: 120 V AC, 10 Amp
No Load Speeds: 5,500 RPM
Blade Diameter: 5 in.
Inner Blade Arbor: 1-1/10”
Outer Blade Arbor: ¾”
Cut Depth: 1-1/32”
more amps more rpm smaller blade compared to sears
Its all about 'meters per minute' & the surface speed of the cutting edge.Quote:
Originally Posted by Copper Head
Smaller dia needs higher revs to do the same work at the cutting face.
Thats why I remove the cutting disc from my grinder as soon as it will fit into a smaller grinder.
Ie, I wear a 9 inch disc down to 5 inch dia, then I remove it & put a new one on, the worn disc then goes onto my 5 inch grinder.
I try to use the largest dia disc as possible, a 9inch dia disc has 28 inches of face, while a 5 inch has 15.1/2.
Theres still more to it too, angle of approach to the work & actual cutting face coverage, ie smaller angle means the discs grit breaks down as its being used & dosen't come loose from force.
Cutting face coverage,its better to have a 3mm x 20mm face cutting than a 3mm x 3mm cutting face.
Theres a greater impact on the disc with a 3mm x 3mm face & the grit breaks off & then isn't around to do any actual cutting.
They taught me all this in my Apprenticeship......
I still feel this tool might be OK, I just need to see it's true working parameters. I did snap the arbor axle on the second one The blade free wheeled after that. On to #3
# 3 is working but spring for Gard popped off , This saw is great for cutting plastic , copper pipes , wood and if a nail or two come your way . It cuts AC fan motor axles well. The saw is awkward to use & if you jam the blade you have a completely good chance the saw is done .
Any one who gets this saw needs to get a sears warranty on it.
Spending $100 to $150 on a good grinder seems like a good choice compared to this saw in the long run i think i will go that direction
Often i will start with a tool like this and see if it will prove good if not i leap to another add a little $$ and after a year or more I might have a $400 tool that i inched my way to, & finally like
I returned the tool to sears for good - AND - the winner is, a fiber cutting blade for my 4 1/2 makita grinder one blade seems to cut 3 units then blade is completely done. It cuts fast safer then the duel saw & at least i can get them open. the price is from 1.77 basic to 3.70 for the extend performance fiber cutting blade . Next I need to find who has them for the least $$ .Also once i start the cut I'll go deep to copper then with a flash lite i can see if copper coated .
My next tool is a 7 inch grinder. Did see a plasma cutter at tractor supply for $800 but sales men said it only really works well on metal with no paint at all ??
I've never had any problems cutting through paint with my plasma cutter.
Sales guy who probably never tried one , Thats a tool i would like to have