Helpful Hints for Cutting with Saw Blades
- Always make sure that the saw body and teeth are clean. Dirt or pitch buildup under the collars of the saw will increase run out and decrease the total life of the saw blade. Pitch buildup around the teeth, gullets, shoulders or body of the saw blade can cause overheating, poor cutting, high resistance and excessive run out.
- The collars that support the saw blade should be a minimum of 1/3 the diameter of the saw blade. They should be straight and exactly the same size. The collars should also always be kept clean. Dirty collars increase saw blade run out which will be amplified at the rim of the blade.
- When cutting all metals, a lubricant of some form should be used. The lubricant will prevent welding, reduce friction, improve the blade performance and reduce chances of binding and tooth breakage.
- Adjust your saw so that the blade clears the material 1/4" to 1/2" from the bottom of the gullet.
- Never overfeed or overload. For blades to perform well, the machine must maintain its RPM and not bog down under load.
- Fence or guide alignment accuracy is critical to proper, safe cutting.
- Always use the diameter blade that the machine was designed for.
- Choose the right number of teeth. The number of teeth should be determined in consideration of the feed rate, the rpm and the material being cut. Using only the necessary amount of teeth will prevent the blade from burning the material.