How To Use Chop Saw

First and foremost, what is a chop saw? This saw is a power tool that uses an abrasive disc to cut through different materials. It is a very powerful saw. In addition, it is fast and more than a lot of other power saws. You need to learn some things before knowing how to use chop saw.

Miter saw & Chop saw

Whenever you read or hear about the chop saw, almost each time you are gonna hear about the miter saw too. There is just no way to ignore one while talking about the other. So, is chop and miter saw the same? Do they have any differences? What are the differences then?

This saw is generally used to make straight cuts. It is mostly used to make cuts at 90 degree. The saw becomes pretty much useless if you need to cut at any other angle.

On the other hand, the miter saw can make straight as well as angle cut. That is why the miter saw is sometimes called chop saw. But, this saw cannot be a miter saw.

This is the main difference between the two. Moreover, chop saw can cut the harder materials like metal while miter saw could face trouble in cutting such type of hard materials.

How to use a chop saw

The saw does not cut like a table or band saw. You need to guide the material through the running blade in case of table saw or a band saw. But, you need to keep the material down and cut with the blade when using the chop saw.

You can learn more about the table saw in this article: how to use a table saw

Also, check out this article about the band saw: how to use a band saw safely

Now, how to use chop saw? It is simple and a lot easier than many other power saws to use chop saw. But, you do need to concentrate and know the proper methods to use it without flaw.

Follow these steps to use this saw.

Step 1

A chop is never a good choice to cut large materials. Also, it is wise to not cut any wood type material with this saw. That is why it is important to take a good look at the material you want to cut.

Make sure that the saw can be used to cut that particular type of material.

Step 2

Take a measuring tape or a ruler and measure the precise length of the cut you wish to make. Measuring allows you to prepare well to make the cut later on.

After that, bring out your marker or color tape and mark the cut line. The cut line should be straight without any deceptions. You can use a straight ruler to keep the line as straight as you can. The straighter the cut line is the better accuracy and precision you will get.

Step 3

Now, you can start setting up the fences. The chop saw fences will help to hold the material so that it doesn’t move. With the material secure, you can cut at the exact cut line without deviating even a little.

Furthermore, you can use a protractor fence to get more accuracy and cut the exact length with precision.

Step 4

Move the saw down and touch the cut line. Do this without turning the saw on. In such way, you will be able to check if you have set the correct angle of cut.

If you think the cut is not gonna be on the cut line then adjust again. Then check again until you get it right. This is the way to get the perfect cut, brother.

Step 5

Now, you are ready to make the cut. Here are the steps to complete a cut with this saw:

1. Turn the saw on
2. Give time so that the blade reaches at a good speed
3. Take the saw down onto the material slowly. Try not to go in an aggressive manner. Slowly bring it down and touch the material with the saw.
4. Never use too much force. Let the blade do the cutting. You just need to focus on guiding the blade.
5. After finishing making the cut, slowly bring out the saw and turn it off. Wait until the blade has completely stopped and then put it down.

That’s it! Just 5 simple steps on how to use chop saw and make the perfect cut.

Types of chop saw

Just like other saws, there are different types of chop saws. I will mention two types here that you could give a try.

Industrial chop saw

The industrial chop saw is a great choice for doing heavy duty jobs. It is large and is a lot powerful than any conventional chop saw. Moreover, it reduces vibration which is great for getting accurate cuts. You probably won’t need such powerful saw if you are staying and working around your home.

Since these are a lot powerful, you can cut through metals, concrete, and other harder materials with a lot more ease.

Gasoline chop saw

The gasoline chop saw is smaller in size compared to the industrial one. Moreover, they are not near as powerful as the industrial one. This type of chop saw uses a combustion engine rather than an electrical one.

But, they are a good choice for portability. Even though they are not as powerful as the industrial one, they can still cut through hard materials like metal and stone.

Few helpful tips

Before starting to cut with this saw, make sure that your saw blade is in good condition. You can try a warm-up cut before beginning with the actual project. In this way, you can know for sure that the blade is in good condition or not.

Learn about your saw’s capability. How to use chop saw if you don’t know what materials it can cut? For example, if you want to cut a large piece of plywood with the chop saw then it’s a wrong decision.

Read the user’s manual! Your saw should need a sufficient amount of power. So, supply suitable power so that the saw can run efficiently without any trouble.

Choose the right blade. Abrasive discs come as thin and thick. The thinner one cuts through the material faster while the thicker one takes a bit more time to cut through. Depending on the job in hand, you need to choose the right blade.

Since the chop saw creates dust and debris, wearing proper protection is important. Always have the safety gear on when you are using this saw.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to use chop saw. Make proper use of the saw and follow the instructions to get better outcomes.

For more about the chop saw uses and safety instructions, take a look at this article: Chop saw uses.