Cutting Metal with a mitre saw

[Antwerpman]

I have a deWalt 708 compound Mitre saw and I need to (accurately) cut/mitre some square section steel tubing. The question I have is can I do this on the DeWalt with a suitable blade (can I even get a suitable blade) or is this impossible?

Cheers

A

 

[Thermo]

i know you can get blades, but i would check with dewalt first rather than screw up a very expebsive machine. go to their american website as there is a very good support service on this and they will answer the question within two days. Their regional sites do not appear to have this facility.

Thermo

 

[oilman]

Agree with Thermo, though I doub't you can do it as metal cutting chop saws run at very low speed, and with very high torque, as well as a coolant flow.

 

[shaggy]

I've just got a dw712 and the instructions say "do not cut ferrous materials,fibre cement or masonry."

 

[david and julie]

Personally I would get a 9 inch grinder and the correct discs rather than risk ruining a nice saw. Or as an alternative would be a cheap bandsaw.

I've done quite a lot of fabrication with steel in the past and it is quite brutal unless the tools are up to it.

 

[ivorbigun]

off course you can cut metal with the right blade
i think for that saw you will need a negative rake blade
triple chip tooth design
if you go to a good toolshop they will help

 

[Thermo]

rather your 500 quid saw that says in the instructions dont do it than mine!

 

[oilman]

ivorbigun, I've obviously something wrong here, but the DW708 is built for wood and has a spindle speed and a blade diameter to give a tip speed of something. Now, my understanding is that wood can be cut at give or take a lot 500m/min (depending on type) whereas free cutting mild steel is just under 40m/min.

Where have I gone wrong?

 

[ivorbigun]

sorry my mistake
you can cut alloy {alluminium} not steel etc with the blade i said
didnt read it proper sorry

 

[CORNIO]

Would not reccommend it, the forces required to cut metal are extremely high and requires both cutter and workpiece to be rigidly held. What's wrong with a good ol' hacksaw?

 

[chilluk]

Saws for cutting metal seem to have blades more like a grinding disc - see http://www.tooled-up.com/MicroCategory.asp?CID=4&SCID=20&MCID=1147

 

[pipme]

Surely you'll not have the rigidity in the overall device to make, or sustain accurate cuts ? Hacksaw and file will be cheaper than a piece of flimsy machinery !! and in the metal cutting world the devices mentioned are chocolate fireplacey at best !!
P