Cutting stainless

[pingvinlakrits]

Help me out with finding a cost effective solution for occasional cutting of smaller sized stainless steel profiles. Finished cut should be pretty good, not necessarily "perfect" but I don't want to work too hard after the cut to achieve a nice edge.  Mosty square profiles but might be L shaped too.

I have Rage metal cutter for most other materials but the blade does not enjoy munching stainless steel. I don't cut much metals usually but for some projects I do a little and I prefer cutting small parts myself over handing it in to someone else.

Something that works good for stainless and is somewhat capable for universal use without being too expensive. I have a blacksmith close by but I can't run over to him all the time for small stuff. Help me out on the Road to Independence.

Bandsaw?

 

[Michael Kellough]

I don't have a recomendation but another concern. If you use the same cutting tool on SS that you used on carbon steel your SS cut might rust later as some of the carbon steel components transfer to the SS and affects the SS alloy.

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

I own a Milwaukee metal bandsaw mounted to a Swag Offroad table. Great compact kit.

I also have a Trajan 7-1/4" metal cutting miter saw that uses SS cutting blades.

Maybe in Sweden you can find an equivalent tohttps://www.sawblade.com who sells stainless steel cutting blades for various diameter saws.

Nice thing about TCG blades for metal cutting is that they make chips not dust. Small curled chips. I wouldn't worry about contamination from mild steel to SS since chips are produced.

 

[Cheese]

I have Rage metal cutter for most other materials but the blade does not enjoy munching stainless steel. I don't cut much metals usually but for some projects I do a little and I prefer cutting small parts myself over handing it in to someone else.

Bandsaw?

Evolution makes a stainless blade in 7 1/4", 8", 9" & 14". Maybe the 8" or 9" will fit your Rage saw?  I use an Evolution 14" stainless (yellow) blade on a Milwaukee cold cut chop saw. It's the best blade I've used for stainless. It outlasts the Milwaukee stainless blade 3-4X.
http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/us/steel/blades.php

I have also used a Milwaukee portable band saw on a stand to cut stainless. But it's tough on blades.

The best way to find out if there is any cross contamination issues using the same blade for steel & stainless is to make some cuts, add some water and oxygen and wait.

This entire railing was built using the Evolution blade and Milwaukee cold cutoff (1500 rpm) chop.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I remember buying a Rage metal cutting blade because it had a 20mm arbor to use on a ATF 55 track saw but I bought a Makita LC1230 instead.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Nice railing Cheese! Where do you buy the stock?

 

[Cheese]

Something that works good for stainless and is somewhat capable for universal use without being too expensive. I have a blacksmith close by but I can't run over to him all the time for small stuff. Help me out on the Road to Independence.

Another option is a .040" thick abrasive cut-off blade mounted on a right angle grinder. If I'm working outside, sometimes it's just easier to grab the right angle grinder than to go indoors to the basement where the Milwaukee chop is set up. It's also easy to mark the abrasive cut-off blade and swap between a stainless blade and a steel blade. These cut-off blades are also available for cutting aluminum and cost maybe $5-$6.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Something that works good for stainless and is somewhat capable for universal use without being too expensive. I have a blacksmith close by but I can't run over to him all the time for small stuff. Help me out on the Road to Independence.

Another option is a .040" thick abrasive cut-off blade mounted on a right angle grinder. If I'm working outside, sometimes it's just easier to grab the right angle grinder than to go indoors to the basement where the Milwaukee chop is set up. It's also easy to mark the abrasive cut-off blade and swap between a stainless blade and a steel blade. These cut-off blades are also available for cutting aluminum and cost maybe $5-$6.

Good suggestion! With a small cut-off blade it's also easy to back bevel the cut to get a tighter fit.

 

[Bob D.]

A small Plasma cutter that can handle up to 3/8" SS or Carbon Steel would allow for cutting shapes as well as ripping sheets and cutting to length, cutting circles, etc.

 

[Cheese]

Nice railing Cheese! Where do you buy the stock?

Thanks Michael, I get all my stuff from Discount Steel, they're local. Same place I purchased the Evolution stainless blade.  [big grin]
I chose mill finish 1 1/4" schedule 40, 304 stainless pipe. I picked the pipe up and then drove over to a local guy that does centerless grinding. I had everything centerless ground on the spot (nice option for cash payments) which yields a beautiful surface finish. Then drove home and started the cutting process.  [smile]

 

[Peter_C]

I use a grinder and a cut wheel for cutting stainless, more than anything else. Typically it is being welded up so absolute perfection is not needed. Otherwise a quick touch with a flap disk cleans it right up.

Not sure what kind of saw folks are using, but you definitely need to slow the speed way down. My main metal saw is a horizontal wet bandsaw, then a 14" cold cut Dewalt saw that is...meh. Although I have a Hypertherm plasma I can't remember the last time I used it to cut stainless. The plasma doesn't leave as clean of an edge as a grinder.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Thank you for all your replies!

Yes Michael K: I was thinking of dedicating a blade to stainless steel cutting and not mix blades/metals.

Cheese: I didn't know I could get a Rage blade for stainless - will def look into that. I have the Rage 4 (185mm) cut off saw. That would be the ticket of course!

EDIT: I did not find a blade under the Evolution "Build" product category, there was no listing for stainless blades for the Rage 4 but a blade that fits was hiding under category Evolution "Steel". Great, saves me some pretty pennies and less gear on the shelf!

Will see about getting that blade - many thanks to all!

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Blade found not too far from home - will pick up tomorrow!