Nowadays, it is not enough to own a Cold saw blade guide; you must do well to master its use. Beyond this, there arises a dire need to be able to troubleshoot simple problems.
The ability to effectively troubleshoot these problems and solve them makes you a master of the Cold saw blade. Instead of this, we have decided to curate this article to serve as a guide through troubleshooting and correction.
In subsequent paragraphs, you will find answers to problems most Cold saw blade users encounter.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is a cold saw blade?
- 2. How to use the cold saw blade correctly?
- 3. How to change the blade in the Baileigh cold cut saw?
- 4. Why is my cold-cut saw blade jumping while cutting?
- 5. How long do cold-cut saw blades last?
- 6. Where to get cold saw blade sharpening?
- 7. What factors affect sharpening?
- 8. What is needed to sharpen a cold chop saw blade?
- Conclusion
1. What is a cold saw blade?
A Cold saw blade is used for cutting metals at low speed; however, its teeth design is unique. The teeth design is such that heat is dissipated quickly to the chips generated during cutting. In turn, it helps keep the temperature of the blade and workpiece in check and prevents overheating.
Cold saw blades are used for cutting ferrous and non-ferrous metals. You stand to gain more when you use the cold saw blade. Your blade and workpiece remain cool through cutting, implying minimal discoloration and sparks occur.
Presently, there are two prominent types of Cold saw blades- High-speed steel (HSS) and Tungsten Carbide-tipped (TCT). Interestingly both types of blades are re-sharpenable when they become dull. For the HSS blades, they cut ferrous metals in the form of tubes, bars, castings, etc., seamlessly at about 350 SFM. HSS blades cut very well without generation heat and high resistance to wear. TCT blades are very hard and cannot resist shock as much as HSS blades. However, it cuts faster than HSS blades at a moderate chip load per tooth. TCT blades are primarily for cutting non-ferrous metal but can do well with cutting ferrous metal.
Figure 1: A Set of Cold cut saw blades.
2. How to use the cold saw blade correctly?
The key secret to enjoying and reaping the full advantages of the cold saw blade lies in the correct usage. Highlighted below are the simple hacks that can help you derive the maximum utility of a cold saw blade:
Allow the blade to do the work- You should not force the saw blade through the workpiece. Instead, you allow the blade cut through progressively without putting pressure or rushing it through the workpiece.
Regulate the speed of the cold saw blade- Here, you would want to pay attention to the nature of the metal you are cutting. The speed needed varies from metal to metal. Cutting brittle materials must be kept and maintained at a low rotational speed. Consult the manufacturer’s guide to get the exact speed needed for the metal you want to cut.
Clean and Lubricate the Cold saw blade- The application of lubricant on the Cold saw blade goes a long way in helping it function well. It rapidly decreases friction and, consequently, overheats. Furthermore, cleaning the blade’s surface will help keep debris out. Debris could interfere with jobs, harm the operator, or damage the workpiece.
Take Safety Measures- There are general safety procedures expected to follow when operating the Cold saw blade. These includes:
- Wearing safety gear to protect the sensitive part of the body
- You are positioning yourself appropriately when operating.
- Concentrate on the job at hand by avoiding distractions.
Figure 2: Cold saw blade in operation with sparks.
3. How to change the blade in the Baileigh cold cut saw?
a.Remove the hexagonal socket screw to release the mobile guard.
b.Position a wooden block into the vice.
c.Gently rest the machine head on the block of wood.
d.Remove the lock bolt with a hex wrench in the clockwise direction due to the left-handed screw.
e.Dismount the blade and washer from the spindle.
f.Mount the new blade and repeat the process from a-e above.
g.Re-confirm that the blade is firmly in place and ready to cut.
By following the steps above, you are assured of a perfect replacement of your blade on the Baileigh cold-cut saw.
4. Why is my cold-cut saw blade jumping while cutting?
Jumping is also known as kickbacks; from experience, several reasons could cause this unfortunate setback. But not to worry, we have a handful of hacks to help you solve such problems.
Firstly, ensure the vertical motion of your blade is maintained orthogonally to the axis of rotation. Secondly, proper placement of the workpiece on the cold cut saw blade jumping.
Furthermore, a blunt cold saw blade is a valid reason for jumping. Therefore, you must make sure your blade is always kept sharp. Again, rushing the cold saw blade through the workpiece could bring about jumping. It is more reason why letting the Cold saw blade do the work is advisable.
Lastly, ensure the Cold saw blade’s base is bolted well to the ground and the electric motor is in good shape.
5. How long do cold-cut saw blades last?
No matter how much care you give to your blade, it eventually needs to be changed. On average, a typical cold saw blade should last at least six months.
You can usually run a quick diagnostic check to determine the need for resharpening your cold saw blade. Among these checks are the following:
Frequent tearing out during cutting
Excessive chipping
Damaged teeth.
Inability to follow cut line
Blunt teeth
A cold saw blade can typically complete 800 to 1000 cuts before wearing out. Also, you can sharpen them up to 30 to 40 times during their lifespan. Although, other factors could prompt resharpening even if the blade has not completed 800 to 1000 cuts.
Therefore, we advise you to study your usage frequency and draft a suitable plan. Your ability to develop a working plan will help you to use the blade effectively without any disappointment.
6. Where to get cold saw blade sharpening?
You can easily get cold-cutting saw blades in NCCuttingtools. All you need to do is schedule meetings and date them.
The cost of grinding always depends mainly on the diameter and number of teeth of the Cold saw blade. Only when the saw blade is in terrible shape does the additional cost need to be paid, which requires additional work.
Pricing and Costing
The cost of sharpening a typical cold saw blade is $10 to $20 for a 10 to 14-inch diameter cold saw blade. Prices vary with the diameter and number of teeth of the blade. In the Cold saw blade sharpening business, the cost of sharpening an HSS-tipped cold saw blade is solely based on the blade diameter, while for a carbide-tipped blade, the price depends on the number of teeth. In simpler terms, it means that a 20″ or 100″ carbide-tipped blade would cost the same to sharpen but differ if it is an HSS-tipped. As the number of blades you intend to sharpen increases, so does the discount on the price.
Figure 3: Resharpening of Cold saw blade using a sharpening tool.
7. What factors affect sharpening?
Cold Saw blade tip & nature of metal.
As discussed earlier, the Cold saw blade tip finished with either HSS or TCT. While HSS-tipped blades are usually easy to sharpen, their cutting ability is often lower than that of TCT. Another fact about TCT is that it is very hard, which implies that sharpening will seem tedious.
On the other hand, the nature of metal to be cut with the Cold saw blade informs the sharpening. A cold saw blade used for steel cutting would require a different degree of sharpness than that used for diamonds.
What to pay attention to when sharpening?
Endeavor to pay rapt attention paid to the tooth thickness and hook angle. The hook angle mostly depends on the extent to which the Cold saw blade engages the workpiece.
What to avoid when sharpening?
As much as using the automated method to sharpen is encouraged, some users still prefer to do it themselves. In doing this, you have to take some precautions when carrying it out:
- Switch off and disconnect the Cold saw power cable from the mains.
2. Ensure that you evenly file the teeth to prevent wobbling.
3. Use safety gear to prevent chips from entering your eye, as it is usually hot.
Figure 4: Up-close image of a carbide-tipped cold saw blade.
8. What is needed to sharpen a cold chop saw blade?
A cold chop saw blade is similar to a miter saw in look and appearance. The significant difference lies in the ability of the miter saw to make both straight and angled cuts. To sharpen the cold chop saw blade, what is needed depends on the method used to grind. While the automated CNC sharpening method is left for professionals to decide, the do-it-yourself approach differs.
You need to prepare the blade and get yourself a sharpening tool set to do it yourself.
Figure 5: A cold chop saw blade.
Conclusion
Finally, we believe this article adequately addressed your concerns regarding the cold-cut saw. We also understand that you might need a practical demonstration of some of the abovementioned points. If you still need more guidance or assistance, you can call us or message us at NCCuttingtools.
