A properly maintained cold saw blade should last a long time, even with extensive use. Circular cold saw blades can endure as many as 800 to 1,000 cuts before needing to be sharpened, and they can be sharpened up to 30 or 40 times during the lifespan of the blade.
Here are five tips to remember to get the most life out of your saw blade.
CORRECT BLADE SELECTION
Using the wrong saw blade for the material you are cutting will cause it to become dull faster, and in return will require it to be resharpened more often. Being able to resharpen your blades instead of having to purchase new ones is a definite value, but resharpening because of improper use will significantly shorten the overall lifespan of your saw blades.
Tip: Use a fine-toothed blade for thinner material and a coarser tooth blade for solid or thick-walled material.
BLADE INSTALLATION
Proper installation of your saw blade is simple, yet your attention to detail and cleanliness is critical. Make sure the backlash is "taken-up" to decrease the probability of the blade breaking through a pinhole. Be cautious to remove any debris between the saw spindle, the blade, and the flange during the blade installation. A dirty flange will lead to pick-up, which can cause your material to slip in the vice.
LET THE BLADE DO THE WORK
Knowing the proper force required to make a cut is important. Letting the saw blade do its job by not forcing it into the material will make a huge difference in not only the life of the blade, but the quality of the cut. Applying excess pressure does not yield a better OR faster cut...it only adds unnecessary stress on the blade. It is essential to listen to your machine and understand its RPM & cut speed options, feed rates, and chip load to get the most out of your saw and its blades.
RESHARPENING
Resharpening of Saw Blade also plays an important role in ensuring long life for Blade. The Tooth pitch, Tooth Form and Profile should be properly selected to match the material to be cut. Properly sharpened saw blade not only ensures more cuts but also ensures clean and burr free cuts. Using an Automatic Circular Saw Sharpening Machine can help you get Factory condition Saw Blade every single time.
LUBRICATE THE BLADE
Your circular cold saw can perform without lubrication, but it is NOT recommended. Using lubricant (coolant) while cutting, relieves stress on the blade by reducing the friction between the blade and the material. Lubrication aids in removing/flushing away the chips, which helps prevent material from being bonded to your blade, aka "pick-up." Failing to use proper lubrication will result in pointless friction causing the blade to generate heat and become dull faster than normal.
AUTOMATE THE PROCESS
Using a Semi Automatic Pipe Cutting Machine or Fully Automatic Pipe Cutting Machine can increase the life of your blade by approximately 30 percent over a manual feed machine. Manual feeding machines are more susceptible to operator error and unnecessary wear due to improper use. By adding automation to your process you should be able to extend the life of your blade dramatically and increase efficiency & productivity.