Abrasive saw
Encyclopedia
An abrasive saw, also known as a cut-off saw or metal chop saw, is a power tool which is typically used to cut hard materials, such as metals. The cutting action is performed by an abrasive disc, similar to a thin grinding wheel
. The saw generally has a built-in vise
or other clamping arrangement, and has the cutting wheel and motor mounted on a pivoting arm attached to a fixed base plate.
They typically use composite friction disk blades to abrasively cut through the steel. The disks are consumable items as they wear throughout the cut. The abrasive disks for these saws are typically 14 in (355.6 mm) in diameter and 7/64 in thick. Larger saws use 410 mm (16.1 in) diameter blades. Disks are available for steel and stainless steel.
s can be done on-site. Abrasive saws have replaced more expensive and hazardous acetylene torches
in many applications, such as cutting rebar
.
Cutoff wheels are composed primarily of fibers, held together with a group of small particles pressed and bonded together to form a solid, circular disk. Materials used are generally silicon carbide and diamond bits with a vitrified bonding agent.
Grinding wheel
A grinding wheel is an expendable wheel that is composed of an abrasive compound used for various grinding and abrasive machining operations...
. The saw generally has a built-in vise
Vise (tool)
A vise or vice is a mechanical screw apparatus used for holding or clamping a work piece to allow work to be performed on it with tools such as saws, planes, drills, mills, screwdrivers, sandpaper, etc. Vises usually have one fixed jaw and another, parallel, jaw which is moved towards or away from...
or other clamping arrangement, and has the cutting wheel and motor mounted on a pivoting arm attached to a fixed base plate.
They typically use composite friction disk blades to abrasively cut through the steel. The disks are consumable items as they wear throughout the cut. The abrasive disks for these saws are typically 14 in (355.6 mm) in diameter and 7/64 in thick. Larger saws use 410 mm (16.1 in) diameter blades. Disks are available for steel and stainless steel.
Advantages
Since their introduction, portable metal cutoff saws have made many building site jobs easier. With these saws, lightweight steel fabrication previously performed in workshops using stationary power bandsaws or cold sawCold saw
A cold saw is a sawing machine that uses a circular saw blade to cut metal. The name "cold saw" comes from the cutting process they employ. These sawing machines transfer the heat generated by cutting to the chips created by the saw blade...
s can be done on-site. Abrasive saws have replaced more expensive and hazardous acetylene torches
Oxy-fuel welding and cutting
Oxy-fuel welding and oxy-fuel cutting are processes that use fuel gases and oxygen to weld and cut metals, respectively. French engineers Edmond Fouché and Charles Picard became the first to develop oxygen-acetylene welding in 1903...
in many applications, such as cutting rebar
Rebar
A rebar , also known as reinforcing steel, reinforcement steel, rerod, or a deformed bar, is a common steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures holding the concrete in compression...
.
Cutoff wheels are composed primarily of fibers, held together with a group of small particles pressed and bonded together to form a solid, circular disk. Materials used are generally silicon carbide and diamond bits with a vitrified bonding agent.