Chop Saw blades are like the marines among all the saw blades out there. If you’re looking at a super-dense rod or pipe, there’s only one blade with the guts to face it, chop saw blade. These depend less on its sharp edges and more on its roughness. It erodes the workpiece to cut it into pieces.
With a lot of products giving promise of high quality at varied prices, not all products provide the same quality. To counter the problem some of the best products are selected for making every penny you spend worth. Go through the article and find out the best chop saw blade that meets your needs.
Path to Find the Best Chop Saw Blade
Buying something which won’t fit your needs is a waste of money. Several specifications are provided for various products. To understand the parameters of a chop saw blade you need to know its entrails. So go through the terms and you will learn which product fits you most and make your pennyworth.
Size
The saying of size doesn’t matter isn’t applicable in terms of a chop saw blade. A smaller size will give better surface finishing while the larger one will help in a deep cutting. Also, larger discs have a lesser life in total.
Arbor
Arbor means the hole of the point of contact with the cutting tool. Normal diameter is 1inch which suits almost all normally used chop saw machines. For special ones, the parameter of the arbor should be known before buying the blade.
Weight
More weight affects more on the power consumption of the cutter. But also for cutting high profile metals like aluminum, steel and other ferrous metals higher weight like 15 pounds or higher is recommended. The problem of higher weight deals in less smooth surface finish.
Thickness
Thickness matters for cutting width. Thicker blades work well for cutting metals like brick or concretes. Thinner ones will do good on better surface finishing for softer materials. Higher thickness also increases shaking while cutting. Unlike a band saw, chop saws lack a profound work-station but deals with cumbersome lumbers
Core
Core provides the base power of the blade. Stronger core provides smooth cutting and lesser shaking while cuts. For soft metals chop saw blades use hard steel cores and highly dense aluminum oxide grain is used for hard metal cutting.
Materials
Various types of the chop saw blades use various materials. For hard metal cutting aluminum oxide grain is heavily used as it provides higher concentration with power. For softer metals, a diamond-edged blade with steel cores works better.
Max RPM
The strain is an issue while cutting. While cutting with higher speed, the blade has to suffer more strain. As high-speed cutting is always expected, an RPM of 4300 or over for average chop saw blade is expected. A stronger blade usually has higher RPM.
Durability
Durability for average usage refers to how long one can use a chop saw blade. This parameter varies in usage and building materials. It is always best to go for longer durability for financial facilities. Also, following the matter of oxidizing effect and workability in various conditions will help to choose the better blade.
Grit
Grit is a parameter that indicates the concentration of the blade’s body. The higher the grit, the stronger and smoother it cuts. A grit of 24 or higher is recommended for hard steel cutting.
Reinforcing
This also forms a type of safety binding property as well as hardening the chop saw blade. Normally a chop saw blade is reinforced with two sheets of fiber glasses which helps to hold the whole blade as one and if the blade breaks only a small portion falls apart.
Angled Cutting
Angled cutting is for cutting with a specific inclination. This feature requires a heavy powered edge along with powerful cutting speed as created friction is low. This feature helps in making sink or angled cutting to create an extra edge.
Edge materials
Normally the edges have a smoother phase with harden surface for chop saw blades which are made of aluminum oxide grains. For diamond edges, diamond pieces are present in the edge of the blade which uses as the main cutter. This diamond edge works great for softer metal cutting with the smoother surface finish. While the other one deals with brute force and hard metals.
Some of The Best Chop Saw Blades
You will easily be deceived as a chop saw blade is a product that is hard to rate alone. Plenty of manufacturers bring out different products with different designs and properties. Based on research and user reviews the best products are described below to help your cause.
1. DEWALT DW8001 General Purpose Chop Saw Wheel
Benefits
Weighing only 1.2 pounds with decent size this blade is great for all average cutter machines as it has low power consumption. Any average cutting tool or machine can use this chop saw blade for having a 1-inch arbor. For these reasons, this blade can help your daily cutting needs ranging from 4 inch PVC pipes, B7 thread rod, 5/8 rebar to ½ inch thick steel bar stocks.
Aluminum oxide grain is used for the creation of the blade’s body which is light but at the same time, this material is strong as well as bear long durability. Mainly, this product is for metal cutting purposes. So, to suit the necessities there is a proprietary material mix that supports its durability longer.
7/64-inch thickness allows smooth cutting and doesn’t allow rough edges. Cutting with aggression is possible as the blade’s body has highly concentrated grain. For safety measures, 2 full sheets of fiberglass are added. A max of 4300 RPM high-speed cutting can be done with this product.
Disadvantages
As it is a metal cutting tool, trying on woods and other things will not go well. As a result, you are inspired not to use this chop saw blade on bricks or laminate wood flooring.
Check on Amazon2. DEWALT Cutting Wheel for Chop Saw, Metal Cutting
Benefits
Features of this chop saw blade is pretty the same as the previous blade which includes the manufacturer also. It weighs 2.5 pounds and is an abrasive metal cutter which is good for considering low power consumption. As the name suggests, it is great for cutting metals that are used in the household process includes aluminum and various ferrous metals.
This chop saw blade also uses aluminum oxide for the blade’s body. A special feature to differ this blade from the previous one is it comes with a grit of 24. Which makes it harder and more suitable in cutting ferrous metal. Arbor whole of 1 inch fits all regular household metal cutters. Cutting with high speed is enabled just like the previous one up to 4300 RPM.
The thickness of 7/64 inch provides a better surface finish while cutting. This chop saw blade gives longer life as it provides a proprietary material mix. For safety, two full sheets of fiberglass are provided for double reinforced protection.
Disadvantages
Can’t fit in a compound miter saw. For being dedicated to only ferrous materials, softer metals might not get proper finishing as brute force is provided.
Check on Amazon3. DEWALT DW8500 14-Inch by 1-Inch Diamond Edge Chop Saw Blade
Benefits
Weighing 3.42 pounds and a dimension that suggests heavy-duty working ability. The buildup of this product is really stiff as it includes a steel blade core and the diamond edge where brazing is used to create the diamond edge. Different products like concrete, plastic, fiberglass, rubber, non-ferrous metals, stainless and ferrous metals can be cut with ease with this blade.
As this chop blade uses the diamond edges for cutting and not the abrasive part, each of the diamond edges bear brute force. So, without any performance drop, a speedy cutting is possible. Max RPM of 4300 is allowed. This product is known for a lifetime of 100 times that of a normal chop saw blade that will help you with long service.
Having a thinner diameter of 3/32 inches along with the fact that it uses little cutting depth with only diamond edges acting as a cutting tool, this chop saw blade can cut precisely with smoother surface finish. 1 inch of arbor diameter for fitting in most of the chop saw machines. For the specifications, this blade works great on soft materials as it maintains constant cutting depth.
Disadvantages
Though it has the benefit of cutting various metals, for the thin diameter and only ability to cut with edges means for hard metals this chop saw blade is weak and might break apart for longer use.
Check on Amazon4. 14 x 1/8 x 1 Chop Saw Blade Abrasive Cutting Wheel – 10 Pack
Benefits
Having a heavyweight body this chop saw blade is made for strong cutting. The body of this chop saw blade is made of aluminum oxide abrasive grain but has more hardness and concentration than previous ones. While great power is a given, cutting hard metals like steel, aluminum, and other ferrous metal is a specialty for this blade.
A thickness of 1/8 inch means a superior cutting power. High-speed cutting of an RPM of 4300 is available. Again, this chop saw wheel comes with a grit of 30 which ensures both quick and clean cuts. Angled cut is available for irons which provides multipurpose. Works well in a stationary chop saw machine.
The product also ensures a high lifetime of as much as 3 times more than a normal chop saw blade. Which is made by the bond properties of being reinforced resinous. Also, double fiberglass covers the blade for further addition to both safety and durability.
Disadvantages
Though brute power is provided, it comes with a price of lower surface finish. Adding to that, the blade is not good for cutting soft metals.
Check on Amazon5. Mercer Industries 603020 Chop Saw Cut-Off Wheels
Benefits
A 15.25 pound in weight with a decent dimension this chop saw blade is made for heavy cutting. The specialty this product brings is it operates for portable chop saw machines. The blade has a body made of aluminum oxide. This product is good for cutting steel, rebar, iron pipe, bar stock, and metal tubing.
The aluminum oxide grain which is used is super tough. Lesser vibration is created with this chop saw wheel. Again, this product allows the highest cutting speed of all which is about 4400 RPM. 7/64-inch thickness is present for smoother cutting.
The center of the blade is reinforced for safety. Arbor is metal reinforced to reduce shaking and better grip with the chop saw machine. For the above specifications, this product can cut without burrs and ensures better surface finishing. Overall, this product is good for the general purposes of cutting.
Disadvantages
Just like other metal cutters, not good for soft metals and also not good for too hard metals. Also not suitable for stationary cutter machines.
Check on AmazonFAQ
Q: For which cutter machines chop saw blades can be used?
Ans: A normal chop saw blade actually is made for a stationary cutter. The stationary cutter has more facilities in cutting than a portable one. For portable cutter, the chop saw blade should have accessibility for the portable cutter which should come with the product description.
Q: How to add chop saw blades in cutting machine?
Ans: Only if the arbor holes fill the bolt of cutting machine, then the chop saw blade can be fit in the cutting tool. Simply remove and fill the chop saw blade and tighten the bolts around it and you are ready to go.
Q: Are carbide blades good for abrasive metal cutting?
Ans: For hard or abrasive metal cutting carbide blades are not recommended. The carbide blade has a lower metal density. Aluminum oxide grain chop saw blades are recommended for hard and powerful cutting.
Final Words
Though, the products described above are best rated, all products will not be considered to be as best for one kind of needs. So, you should consider the best chop saw blade you need or suit you most before choosing one. To help you with it here are some suggestions for you.
If you are going to use for daily to daily normal usage of cutting, you should consider Mercer Industries 603020 Chop Saw Cut-Off Wheels. As this product stands out with higher RPM and lifetime and as a plus this is a portable chop saw blade which is used for household purposes. That said so if your chop saw machine is stationary, go for DEWALT DW8001 General Purpose Chop Saw Wheel.
Again for cutting soft metals, DEWALT DW8500 14-Inch by 1-Inch Diamond Edge Chop Saw Blade works great. You can also choose it for better surface finishing. Another option is for heavy cutting which means cutting powerful metals with ease. For this, go for 14 x 1/8 x 1 T1 Chop Saw Blade Abrasive Cutting Wheel – 10 Pack as it has the highest grit of all.
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