BoostedAudi

I'm about to begin making a turbo manifold, downpipe and exhaust system from 304 stainless (sch 10 - manifold, 16ga DP + exhaust system) I have an old Hitachi sliding compound miter saw which I'd like to find a cold cut blade to work on. Anyone know where I can find something that will work?

The saw takes up to a 10" blade and has a 5/8" arbor (standard woodworking blade) it spins at 3800 rpms no load speed, which is my biggest concern... I've used 7" cold cut blades off my Triton metal saw, problem is the arbor size is larger and you have to basically center the blade up by "feel" -this always results in the blade being mounted off center slightly/out of balance as hell... I'm going to need cleaner results than this will deliver, + a blade that is designed for stainless. Any suggestions?

Scott-EP

that saw is going to spin way too fast to cut any sort of steel. it might do aluminum oh kay, but not stainless for sure. you could try slowing it down with a light dimmer ****, but i think you will lose too much torque. i tried that with a wood bandsaw. i could get it slow enough, but then it didnt have the torque to cut anything

SpankedYA!

They make low speed chop saws for carbide tooth blades. in the 1400 rpm range with 100 or so carbide teeth. The saws run in the $500 range.

BoostedAudi

That's not what I wanted to hear... The reason I have a "spare" sliding compound miter saw available for such a use, is that I am a Master Carpenter by trade. i.e. I don't make a hell of a lot of money, and can 't afford to be buying a ---- load of new tools/equipment...

fortunately, the saw is a belt drive setup, maybe I can slow it down that way. I'll have to look at it and see what I can jury rig...

Ya know, using 7" blades might work for the 1.5" pipe -the manifold, particularly the collectors, are all I'm really concerned about dutting uber accurately. -the DP and exhaust parts are only 16ga, and I have a porta-band bandsaw and a stationary metal bandsaw which I can use on those parts.

I have been looking for a stainless cutting blade that is rated for high rpms, but you're saying that isn't going to work, huh?

Smith-02

throw a carbrandum blade in it if youre cheap.

Scott-EP

steel is cut very slow. the only way to cut steel fast is to use a fiber type blade. you can get one of those to fit your saw, but it will throw sparks like crazy.

since its belt drive im sure you could re-gear it to spin what you need. try to get your blade to 60-100 rpm. a little faster wont hurt, but it will dull your blade a little faster

SpankedYA!

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6190...7926578&sr=8-2

Here is the one I ordered. They cancelled my order cause it was out of stock and I never followed up ordering another. This is the one I would buy.

DO EETT

BoostedAudi

Nice saw, but I'm on a very tight budget and I still have alot of ---- to buy... I just took the cover off the old beater saw, and I think a re-gear is my best option. I just bought this blade http://cgi.ebay.com/EVOLUTION-SAW-9-...742.m153.l1262

All I need is a 1" to 5/8" reducer bushing, re-gear the saw, and it should be good to go.
The saw this blade is for is an "Evolution 230 HDX" It is a sidewinder circular saw that spins at 2700 rpms. You're saying 60-100 Phil that's a really big difference. I have no doubts I could slow my saw to 2000-2500, maybe even down to 1500-ish. but I don't see any way to slow it down to triple digit RPM's, let alone below 100...

I'm starting to think more about the dimmer switch idea in addition to different drive pulleys... I might be able to get away with using a dimmer switch to reduce the first 20% and the gear change for the rest to get this slowed down to a usable RPM range.

NIGn0g

Why steel need to be cut at low speed? Sorry for my ignorance, I only used fiber blades....

Smith-02

the milwaukee that dave posted up was a 1500rpm steel cutting, steel blade. not a fiber blade.