Cold Saw

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Use of this tool is taught in Metal Shop 101

Scotchman Cold Saw
The Scotchman Cold Saw in the Metal Shop
General Info
Make	Scotchman
Model	CPO275LT
Serial	Unknown
Specs	Cold Saw Specifications
Manual	Cold Saw Manual
Asylum Info
Location	Metal Shop
Rubric
Training	Metal Shop 101
Testing	Tool testing, or come to the shop on Tool Testing Night
Restrictions	red

Description

This tool is a circular saw mounted to a mechanical arm that allows it to travel smoothly in the plane of the cut. It can tilt up and down to cut a metal workpiece. The workpiece is clamped firmly in a vise. The vise can be rotated to make miter cuts.

Superficially it resembles a chop saw but operates much differently. The rotation speed of the blade is slower and forces on the workpiece are much larger with a cold saw. The workpiece stays cool and the cuts are more precise.

Use for:

• Best choice for cutting softer metals – Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Bronze.

• Low speed: designed for solid mild steel, solid stainless steel & thick wall pipe.

• High Speed (Not Available): designed for thin wall tube .060 wall thickness or thinner and non-ferrous material.

• Titanium

Do Not Use for:

• Hardened steel or very small parts

Hazard Analysis

• Tool can be loud. Hearing protection recommended.

• Cutting Tool: Eye protection required.

• Coolant spray can spill on the floor

• Prevent drawn-in injuries. No loose clothing or gloves.

• Cuts/ scrapes from sharp cut edges of work

Operation Notes

• The blade should always be removed when the machine is not in use.

-The size and number of teeth on a blade needs to match the workpiece. Blade removal encourages proper blade selection by the next tool user.

• Ripping off the teeth is possible, especially when cutting harder metals.

• Blade can hit the vise on angle cuts. Adjust the vise jaws accordingly.

• Cutting into the base of the vise is possible. Use the Cutting Depth Adjustment Knob on the back of the machine to limit cut depth.

• This tool has a broken speed switch. (Stuck on Low speed – not ideal for soft metals, but it works.)

• Coolant tank can be topped off with water if low, but is generally filled with properly diluted coolant.

		Eye protection required!

Table of Maximum Work Sizes

Basic Operation Instructions

To see a full-size rendering of the figures below, click on the image.

1. Using the supplied wrench, loosen the bolt at the base of the Blade Guard. Fully open the Blade Guard and re-tighten the Blade Guard Bolt to keep it open.

Cold Saw blade guard

Cold Saw blade flange

Cold Saw blade box

Rotation direction of the blade on the Cold Saw

Installation of the blade flange on the Cold Saw

Cold Saw cut depth adjustment

The parts of the Cold Saw

Balance points for stock supports

Stock capacities for the Cold Saw

2. Using the Red-Handled Hex Key Wrench, remove the Blade Bolt and Blade Flange.

3. Select a blade. Blades vary by blade pitch and number of teeth per blade.-Use the charts associated with each blade to choose the blade appropriate for your workpiece.

4. Install the blade.

- Take note of the pin holes on the blade, choosing the pin hole size that best matches the pins on the Blade Flange (usually the smallest one.)

- Place the blade on the spindle with the teeth at the front of the blade pointed downward.

- Re-Install the Blade Flange, lining up the pin holes with the pins to secure the Blade.Note: It helps to use the Blade Bolt to align the pieces, and to jiggle the blade in.

- Loosen the blade guard bolt, close the Blade Guard, then re-tighten the Bolt.

- Test the Blade Guard. It should open as the blade is lowered into the vise.

• Check the blade’s cutting depth. Blade diameter can vary, and the blade can hit the base of the vise if not adjusted. Use the Cutting Depth Adjustment Knob on the back of the machine to limit cut depth.

5. Optional: Adjust the machine for miter cuts.

• Unlock the tension handle.

• Push the miter lock (located under the vise crank) and turn the saw to the desired angle. (The angle is marked on left side of vice, not at the center.)

• The saw rotates under the vise, can be set at any angle, and has stops at 90, 60, and 45 degrees.

6. Place the workpiece into the Adjustable Vise.

• If needed, adjust the four vise jaws with the supplied Hex Wrench (attached to the machine via a magnet).

• To make cuts more accurately, use the the vise jaws to suspend square and round stock slightly above the base of the vise. For square tube, the cutting process will also run smoother when the workpiece is clamped on the diagonal.

• For extra long workpieces, use support on the left or right of the machine as needed. The shop’s movable roller supports can be used on one or both sides.

• To prevent injury, pay attention to how long workpieces will be balanced (and might fall) after the cut. Place movable roller supports out past the new center(s) of balance on either (or both) sides of the cut.

7. Perform the cut(s).

• Pull the trigger to start the flow of coolant over the blade and pull down on the handle.

• Adjust coolant flow as necessary. Sufficient coolant MUST run over the blade. The coolant reservoir below occasionally needs topping off, and the coolant stored in the shop typically needs diluting. See manual page on mixing coolant.

• Cut with a smooth and even pressure equal to about the weight of a gallon of water (8 lbs). Pull on the handle with one hand. No chopping - this is not an axe.

• Vibration can loosen the vise. Keep other hand on the vise crank to keep the workpiece secure.

• Be aware that cutting speed is related to the amount of material being cut. Thicker pieces will take longer. If square tube is cut on the flat, the saw will proceed slowly at the top, speed up through the middle (where two vertical walls are being cut), and then slow down again at the bottom.

• Watch for coolant spills. Large amounts on the floor create a slip hazard. Coolant tends to drip out of tubing to the right of the machine, so place a drip bucket accordingly.

• Use a chip brush to keep the screen over the drain hole clear. The drain hole is located under the back of the saw.

8. Return the machine to its starting condition.

• Remove Blade and re-install the Blade Flange. Blade removal encourages the next user to choose a blade appropriate to his or her workpiece.

• Dry Blade and return it to the appropriate slot in the blade storage box.

• Clean excess metal chips off the machine.

• If necessary, return the orientation to a 90 degree cut.

• If necessary, clean the floor.

Appropriate stock sizes for the 100-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)

Appropriate stock sizes for the 120-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)

Appropriate stock sizes for the 150-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)

Appropriate stock sizes for the 180-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)

Appropriate stock sizes for the 240-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)

Appropriate stock sizes for the 300-tooth blade (Click on image to view at full scale)