Cold saws are saws that make use of a circular saw blade to cut through various types of metal, including sheet metal. The name of the saw has to do with the action that takes place during the cutting process, which manages to keep both the metal and the blade from becoming too hot. A cold saw is powered with electricity and is usually a stationary type of saw machine rather than a portable type of saw.
The circular saw blades used with a cold saw are often constructed of high speed steel. Steel blades of this type are resistant to wear even under daily usage. The end result is that it is possible to complete a number of cutting projects before there is a need to replace the blade. High speed steel blades are especially useful when the saws are used for cutting through thicker sections of metal.
Along with the high speed steel blades, a cold saw may also be equipped with a blade that is tipped with tungsten carbide. This type of blade construction also helps to resist wear and tear. One major difference is that tungsten tipped blades can be re-sharpened from time to time, extending the life of the blade. This type of blade is a good fit for use with sheet metal and other metallic components that are relatively thin in design.
One of the advantages of using a cold saw is that the metal and the blade remain relatively cool during the cutting action. This is due to the way that the cutting takes place. The design of the blade allows the cutting to focus on the chips created during the action. The chips act as a buffer while not interfering with the cutting action. As a result, the chips tend to collect the heat generated by the cutting. This leaves both the blade and the metal at a lower temperature.
As part of the support for the cutting to the chips that is created with the configuration of the blade teeth, a cold saw is usually used in conjunction with some type of flood coolant system that allows liquid to run over the blade during use. This action helps to further cool the blade during use and also aids in minimizing dust and sparks during the cutting action.
