What is a cold saw?
A cold saw is a type of circular saw that utilizes a circular saw blade to cut through different types of metal, including sheet metal. A cold saw is powered with electricity and is typically a stationery-type saw rather than being portable. The name “cold saw” comes from the cutting process of the saw which keeps the blade and metal from heating up as it does with an abrasive-type saw.
History
A few different people have been credited with the invention of the circular saw. One individual seems to be credited more often and more consistently than the others. Tabitha Babbitt, a Shaker woman from Harvard, Massachusetts came up with the idea of using a large circular saw blade in a saw mill around 1810. She watched the men from her community struggling with a pit saw (long two-handled saw used by two men) while working at her spinning wheel.
Using the concept behind a spinning wheel, Tabitha created a tin disk with a notched edge around its circumference. When mounted on a base the blade cut through wood logs much more efficiently as the wood was pushed into the blade. Her idea was expanded upon and used in the local saw mill. As a Shaker, Tabitha never applied for a patent for her invention. Samuel Miller was a sail maker and minister who received the first patent for a circular saw.
Circular Saw Blades
The circular saw blades used with cold saws are generally equipped with solid high-speed steel (HSS) blades or blades tipped in tungsten carbide (known for its hardness). Both the solid steel and tungsten-carbide tipped blades are designed to withstand the wear and tear associated with daily use.
The solid high-speed steel blade is useful for cutting through thicker pieces of metal, while the tungsten-tipped blades are better fitted to cutting thinner metals and sheet metal. Another crucial difference between the two blades is that the tungsten-tipped blade can occasionally be re-sharpened to further extend the life of the blade.
How Cold Saws Work
In contrast to an abrasive-type saw which heats the saw blade and material during the cutting process, cold saws remain comparatively cool. A cool temperature is maintained by way of the chips (“sawdust”) created during the cutting action which act as a buffer by collecting the heat that is generated.
A flood coolant system is also used in conjunction with a cold saw, which allows a cooling liquid to run over the circular saw blade during use. Besides cooling the blade even more, the coolant system helps minimize sparks and dust and keeps the blade lubricated.
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. On
