[Canadian Charlie]

Picked up a new chop saw last week and finally got around to using it for the first time today. :thumbup:

Here is my problem: went to cut a piece of steel at 45 degrees and after cutting a few pieces it seems they don't seem to line up when I went to weld them together. Seems to be they are at 40 degrees. I set the adjuster to 45 degrees.

Maybe there is someone here who owns a chop saw who could give me a few tips. This is my first time at it

Thanks in advance:thumbup:

 

[OneMoreTime]

Setting chop saw

I use a triangular carpenters square..bring the blade down and set the square against the blade and then rotate the fence until it touches the square..this gives me cuts that are very close to right on..

You can then scribe or mark where the fence goes for that particular angle so ou can repeat that setting..

 

[Beenaway2long]

There are some other anomolies that follow chop saws as well.

1.) If you bear down on it too hard, the blade will have a tendancy to splay out a bit, instead of cutting perpendicular

2.) Cheap chop saws have a looser tolerance, and they wander more.

3.) If the bed is not cast (stamped metal) the bed will allow the materials to rock, so you don't get a vertical cut.

First and foremost, check with a square like One More Time suggests.

 

[OneMoreTime]

Fergot

Gosh..must be getting old and have that CRS disease..Make sure your work piece is well supported ..that will help a lot..:smash:

Took me a bit of fiddling to get mine to work..but now the cuts are not perfect but acceptable..:thumbup:

 

[pro70z28]

I've got a chop saw. I finally picked up a metal band saw and since then the chop saw sits in the corner. My band saw isn't real big and it's slower than the chop saw but the cuts are on the money.

 

[julmer]

I've had about equal luck with band saws and chop saws. The two principles are one, measure and set up carefully and solidly, and two, do not force the tool. Let the motor, not you, do the work

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Thanks for all your replys everyone. Took all your advice and cut steel 99% perfectly today

 

[Gearhead forever]

You may also notice the blade does a floating wobble when the motor is over revving (before the wheel contacts the steel) I used to let off the trigger for a second so the wheel would run true, then start my cut under full power. This makes the initial contact more accurate. Ou shop uses the Dewalt Multi Cutter now (cold cut) It cuts faster than a chop saw, leaves a minimal burr, and as accurate as a band saw. The major drawback is the noise, and needing spare blades to sharpen.