Can a regular chops saw be SAFELY modified to cut metal?

I know people throw a metal cutting blade in their wood-cutting radial arm chop saws all the time, but is it safe?
Are they constructed differently? Will the heat and sparks destroy the housing?
I thought I'd ask some opinions before I did something stupid. Fire, broken power tools, and permanent disfigurements are not worth saving a couple hundred bucks in the long run.
Thanks for your time.

 

I put a metal cutting blade in mine and after using it for awhile the acrylic blade guard started to melt. Best solution for me was to buy the HF metal cut-off saw...I don't use one often so quality/longivity was not an issue.

 

It will destroy any plastic parts on the saw.

 

I use mine all the time. It has a metal blade on it. I just use it really slow and keep a close eye on it. I've never had any problems. But mine is old and mostly metal. Don't do it on a plastic one. It will melt.

 

Thanks CharlieLed - I don't plan on using it a lot right now, but if all the fantasies in my head go forward, I'll probably be using one pretty often.

 

I was afraid of that ... *sigh* Thanks for the advice guys. Looks like I'll be springing for the real thing after all.

 

IMHO it depends more on the individual saw than a cl*** of tool per se. A commercial grade (it actually used to mean something) saw, without any plastic on it around the blade and sealed bearings should be able to do that, at least occasionally. But then I have a metal cutting chop saw with the abrasive blade so I have never tried to retrofit a wood cutting one.

However I have used a carbide metal cutting blade (looks like a wood cutting circular saw blade, with bigger teeth) in my table saw to get straight cuts on some aluminum plate (I used the fence to keep it straight). I didn't have any problems with that, but I was nervous as **** doing it. Probably not the safest thing I have ever done, but no problems with the saw before or since.

 

Wow, that's alot of post's while I was hunt 'n peckin' that out.

 

I have a Hitachi and all the plastic has melted off. Still works fine though...

 

I utilize a metal cutting blade in my dewalt chop saw. It was originally set up to utilize a fiber blade. It has a metal safety cover.

The only problem I see with it is that the fiber blades are rated at 3600 rpm's & the metal cutting blade is suppose to be run at a max of 1800 rpm's.

The trigger switch is a on/off only so......it's either full on or off.

I do lots of custom motorcycle exhaust systems & it has not failed my yet. I do use a liquid on the blade as I'm cutting though. I've also cut C/M & DOM mild steel roll cage tubing.

I do stand a bit aside of the unit when I'm cutting. I inspect the blade after cutting steel - ALL the time.

Paco

 

I think you'd be good using a Metal Devil blade... The metal doesn't even get hot and it doesn't throw sparks. Though it it rated slower than your saw turns. I use one in a regular circular saw. I did once ruin a chop saw by running a fiber blade in it...

 

I just bought an el-cheapo metal abrasive blade saw. I feel it is safer than using my wood miter saw and it has stood up well for home use. If I was to use one everyday then I'd probable go with a Dewalt or Makita.

 

I cooked the on off switch on my saw. it filled up with metal fillings

 

typically a wood saw is about double the rpm's of a metal saw. it obviously can be done but often turns to fast to be extremely efficient. We have a dewalt that we use when we are working in the field and i think it was only like $200 new, that doesnt seem like a big investment if you are going to use it frequently.

 

I used a Ryobi miter saw with a carbide blade to cut a ton of T-slotted extruded aluminum framing. It worked well and gave me excellent square cuts. No problems with the plastic parts, but most of the housing is metal.

 

I went to the Morse website and viewed their Metal Devil videos...this looks like a really nice product. Any idea on the price for these blades?