How To Determine if You Need a Cold Saw

Are you preparing to add a new saw to your workshop’s lineup? Cold saws can be a great solution to a lot of metal cutting problems and needs that arise. But is one right for your shop? We’re here to walk you through the process of how to determine if you need a cold saw with some questions to get you thinking. These will help you make your decision and determine if the cold saw is the next tool you need for your metalworking shop.

What Makes a Cold Saw Different?

As the name implies, a cold saw keeps the material you are cutting cold by using liquid coolant. The cold saw typically has a circular, toothed blade and cuts on a vertical axis. This type of saw often fulfills a gap in production that other saws lack the qualities to meet. Cold saws excel at cutting various types of materials, which leads us to the first question you should ask yourself when considering investing in one.

What Material Are You Working With?

To know whether a cold saw is the right fit for your workshop, first consider what types of material you commonly work with. These saws are favored for their versatility in cutting a number of different materials. Soft metals such as aluminum would usually wreck the blade of a typical band saw, but the cold saw is perfectly capable of cutting these materials. These saws are also a great choice for cutting both ferrous and non-ferrous materials. If you are unfamiliar with the definition of ferrous versus non-ferrous, here is a breakdown:

• Ferrous metal – these are metals that have any amount of iron content. Ferrous metals also have a high carbon content as well. Some common examples of ferrous metals include carbon and alloy steel, cast iron, and stainless steel.
• Non-ferrous metal – these metals do not contain any iron. Non-ferrous metals have high malleability and are generally softer, making them ideal for manufacturing purposes. These metals are manufactured into pipes, jewelry, and more. Some common examples of non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, lead, brass, and even fiberglass.

While cold saws can tackle both ferrous and non-ferrous materials, they excel in cutting softer materials. An abrasive or band saw may be a better fit for your shop if you are looking to cut harder materials more often.

What Size Materials Do You Need To Cut?

While it is possible to cut a copious number of materials, the cold saw is more limited in what sized materials it can cut. This saw is better suited for cutting thinner, smaller materials or bundles of materials. For example, cold saws are often used for cutting smaller tubes or pipes, as well as metal rods that are smaller in diameter. This size reduction depends on the model but is often due to the larger diameter of the saw blade, leading to a smaller working space. But if you find yourself working with smaller materials often, this makes the cold saw a great choice for its precision.

What Kind of Cut or Finish Do You Need?

Another benefit of a cold saw is the clean cut the tool provides. These saws specialize in an accurate, smooth cut. This is due to its toothed blade paired with the liquid coolant lubricator. While making the cut, generated heat is transferred to the chips resulting from the cutting process. On top of this heat distribution, the liquid coolant keeps both the blade and the material cool and lubricated. This process is what results in the clean cut and smooth finish on your materials.

While other types of saws, such as abrasive or dry saws, might be able to accommodate more materials, they won’t be able to deliver the same clean, smooth cut as the cold saw can.

What Style Saw Fits Your Workshop?

Once you have decided that a cold saw aligns with your working materials and goals, you must decide what style of this saw is the right fit for your shop. Cold saws come in many styles and sizes, so survey your workshop and consider what would best meet your needs.

Size

Are you looking for a compact saw that can fit comfortably on a workbench, or are you searching for a larger floor unit? The size of the unit will impact things like your working area, size of the saw blade, and more, so make note of the specifications of each saw you are shopping for and compare. Also, make sure to take dimensions of the desired location for your saw, so you know it will operate comfortably in your space.

Automation

There are also several levels of automation you can choose when buying a cold saw. These saws vary from manual, to semi-automatic, to fully automatic. Choose which level of automation works best with your workflow, production rates, goals, and budget (as the level of automation will raise the price of any saw you are looking at) and narrow your search from there.

Speed

Make sure to keep in mind what cutting speed your materials require. Each cold saw will have differing speeds based on size and make. Some tougher, harder materials require faster speeds to be cut successfully. Again, this comes down to what materials you are regularly working with. You can find blade speeds under the specifications of the saw you are looking at, so compare these with your workload and needs.

No matter what style or size model you are looking for, Penn Tool Co. has nearly any variety of metal cold saw you might want. We list all the specifications you need to compare which tool is right for your shop.

Have you made your decision? If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at Penn Tool Co. for our professional opinion and answers to all your questions. We hope this guide on how to determine if you need a cold saw for your business has helped enlighten you to the benefits of having one of these saws in your shop. And if you have decided to sway away from the cold saw option, Penn Tool Co. offers a variety of other saws that you might be more interested in.