[TheForge] Re: Chop Saw Irritation

[Adam Whiteson]

I have the same problem.  At first I thought it was a hard spot in the steel 
but I notice that regardless of the material, it only happens on thick stock 
(about 1" dia") and always in about the same place.  It can happen on thin 
stock too if I am trying to cut it on the flat.   Then I tried cooling the 
cut with water which made no difference.  Anyway, I have used these blades 
to chop red hot metal with no problem.  Then I tried several different 
blades - also not much difference.

Now I am convinced its a chip clearing problem and that when the cutting 
path in the steel gets too wide, the blade cant clear the cut material.  In 
fact I suspect that the absence of sparks is the *cause* not a symptom of 
the problem.  In any case, loosening the clamp and rotating the work a bit 
seems to solve the problem. 

Adam 

RW writes: 

> Has anyone noticed that while cutting through a piece of mild steel,
> especially hot-finished, that the sparks are abundant and the wheel seems to
> be moving right through the piece, then suddenly, the sparks diminish to a
> small stream and it seems that one has encountered a "hard spot".  Sometimes
> extra pressure seems to get the wheel through this spot but sometimes
> nothing helps and the wheel just stays there not moving.  The Instructions
> say, let the wheel do the work.  Do not bear down on the metal.  But
> frequently that does not work.  What is going on here?  What can be done to
> resume a nice straight and easy cut?
> RW 
> 
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