converting radial arm saw

planning on building fabrication bench using 1/2" x 8" steel slats drilled to take various jigs.

to buy them cut to length is a no go due to cost.

was wondering if could get metal cutting blade to fit my B&Q radial arm saw and use that by taking several light cuts each time?

if so where is best place to get blade?

They snatch enough in wood hate to think what one would be like in steel so I won't suggest what type of blade may work.

Are you thinking of using an abrasive cut off disc, or a carbide saw blade ? Either way I reckon t's a non starter,a decent bandsaw or guillotine would whip through those in no time, better to get the steel stockholder to do it.

My local steel place doesn't charge loads for cutting, not compared to the cost of the material anyhow. 200 x 12 flat, won't be cheap especially if you don't have an account.

Edited By Alan Waddington 2 on 27/01/2017 07:52:28

What do you mean my radial arm as the b&q site doesn't list these as such? You say 1/2" x 8" but how thick? I've seen that b&q stock rage blades for their chop saws that are suppose to cut steel IIRC.

1/2" thick x 8" wide flat bar cut to length was how I read it

.

Interesting question, John

... I was about to ask differently: 1/2" x 8" but how long ?

Significant variations on a theme !!

MichaelG.

.

Jason beat me to it.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/01/2017 08:52:00

Yes you can get a cold cutting blade for steel. But it depends on the speed of your saw as whether you can use you saw.

My Rage cut off saw with 14" blade runs at 1450 rpm, my Rage 10" sliding mitre saw runs at 2500 rpm and the little Rage circular saw with its 185mm blade runs at around 4000rpm.....

I would not advocate using an 8 or 10" carbide blade for cutting steel in a mitre/chop saw not designed for that purpose....

Hi, if I were to be faced with this scenario without a suitable metal cutting saw, I would use a 9" angle grinder and thin cutting disc.

Regards Nick.

Whereabouts are you? It would be a shame to struggle if you were near to someone with a suitable saw. I'm in Nottingham if that's any good

David

Me too.

Using a Radial Saw. FWIW My advice. . . .don't do it. If it grabs (as they do tend to) something is bound to let go big-time. I wouldn't want to be within shrapnel distance.