Materials
Steel and ferrous metals: choosing a dry-cut blade
At a glance
Dry cutting steel with a carbide-tipped circular saw blade replaces abrasion with chip formation. It can leave the workpiece cool and the edge ready for the next operation, but requires a dedicated blade, double-trapezoidal teeth with approximately zero hook angle, a purpose-built dry-cut saw and strict observance of a rotational speed far below woodworking speeds.
Chips instead of abrasive sparks
The traditional workshop method for cutting steel profiles is an abrasive disc. It works by abrasion: the workpiece becomes hot and discoloured, sparks and metallic dust are produced, the disc changes diameter as it wears and the edge often needs dressing before welding or threading.
A carbide-tipped dry-cut blade changes the principle. It forms a chip rather than grinding the material. Metallic chips carry away much of the heat, so the workpiece can remain cool and the edge can be clean enough for the next operation with little additional finishing.
The entire system must be designed for this process. A different blade on an ordinary woodworking mitre saw is not sufficient: the machine must provide the correct low speed, rigid workpiece clamping and suitable guarding for metal chips.
The declared application is specific: small steel tubes, profiles and bars on purpose-built dry-cut saws. Outside that range, the blade is not merely less efficient; it is being used outside specification.
Carbide-tipped blade and abrasive disc
Carbide-tipped circular saw blade
Dry cutting
- Forms chips that carry heat away
- The workpiece remains cooler and the edge is not heat-discoloured
- No abrasive spark shower and much less fine metallic dust
- Diameter remains constant throughout tool life
- Requires a specific machine and very low speed
Abrasive disc
Conventional cut-off
- Abrades material and leaves heat in the workpiece
- Hot, discoloured edge that often needs finishing
- Sparks and incandescent particles
- Disc diameter decreases during use
- Simple machine and lower initial tool cost
Rotational speed is non-negotiable
A dry-cut steel blade runs at a much lower speed than a wood blade of the same diameter. This is not an optional safety margin: tooth geometry and carbide grade are designed for that cutting speed, and overspeed can destroy the cutting edge within a few cuts.
The permitted value is marked on the blade and stated on the family page. It is mandatory. The profile must also be clamped rigidly; movement beneath a chip-forming blade is a hazardous condition, not simply a source of poor finish.
How tooth count increases with diameter
The correct setup for steel
Five checks; the first two concern the machine before the blade.
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A saw designed for dry cutting metal
The machine must run at the correct speed, clamp the workpiece rigidly and protect against projected metal chips. A steel blade must not be fitted to an ordinary woodworking mitre saw.
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Strictly observed rotational speed
Maximum rpm is far lower than for a wood blade of the same diameter. Read it on the blade and the family page. It determines whether the cutting edge survives or fails in the first cuts.
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Double-trapezoidal teeth with zero hook angle
DTCG distributes work across different tooth profiles and protects cutting corners. Zero hook angle reduces the tendency to grab a profile, a particularly important condition on thin-wall tube.
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Tooth count chosen from wall thickness
Thin walls need a finer pitch so several teeth remain engaged. Solid bars and thicker walls can use fewer teeth and larger chip space.
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Carbide and coating intended for ferrous metals
The dedicated family uses TF30 carbide with a technical coating. It reduces friction and chip adhesion, helping control tooth temperature in a dry process.
Where these characteristics appear in the catalogue
Dry cutting steel is covered by one dedicated family and additional multi-material families for thin sections.
| Family | Geometry and carbide | Diameters | Appropriate use |
|---|---|---|---|
| LU6A | DTCG with 12° bevel, 0° hook, TF30 carbide | 160–355 mm | Steel tubes, profiles and bars on a dry-cut saw |
| FRMPI | HLTCG with second-tooth bevel, 0°, HW TF30 | 160–230 mm | Mixed construction work with a portable saw, including thin steel |
| FRMT | HLTCG with second-tooth bevel, 0°, HW TF30 | 210–305 mm | Similar thin-section work on a mitre saw |
Multi-material families cover thin-gauge steel among several materials. They do not replace the dedicated family for structural profiles.
Common mistakes
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Fitting a steel blade to a woodworking mitre saw
The machine speed is incompatible and can overheat and destroy the tips almost immediately. This is a safety issue, not merely reduced tool life.
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Choosing tooth count from outside profile size
Wall thickness is what the tooth crosses. A 100 mm tube with a 2 mm wall still requires a fine pitch so several teeth remain engaged.
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Holding the workpiece only against the fence
A supported but unclamped profile can rotate when contacted. Rigid clamping is an integral part of dry cutting.
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Expecting abrasive-disc versatility
The declared application is small steel tubes, profiles and bars. Large solid sections or harder alloys require separate verification.
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Resharpening it like a wood blade
DTCG has specific angles. Grinding to woodworking references changes tooth behaviour and removes the benefit of the tool design.
Frequently asked questions
01 What is the difference between dry cutting and an abrasive disc?
An abrasive disc removes material by grinding and leaves heat in the workpiece. A carbide-tipped blade forms chips that carry heat away, producing a cooler part, a cleaner edge and no abrasive spark shower.
02 Why is rotational speed so much lower than for wood?
The tooth must form a steel chip, which requires a much lower cutting speed. Exceeding the marked rpm overheats and damages the edge within very few cuts.
03 Can I use this blade on a standard mitre saw?
No. A woodworking saw normally runs too fast and lacks the rigid clamping and guarding required for metal-chip projection. Use a machine designed for dry cutting metal.
04 How do I choose tooth count?
Use the wall thickness crossed by the tooth, not the profile's outside dimensions. Thin walls need finer tooth pitch; solid bars and thick walls need more chip space.
05 What does double-trapezoidal tooth mean?
Different trapezoidal profiles alternate around the blade, sharing the work and protecting cutting corners. Together with zero hook angle this allows controlled steel-chip formation without grabbing the profile.
06 Does dry cutting require lubricant?
The process is designed to work without flood coolant, with much of the heat carried away in the chip. This makes correct speed, tooth count and blade specification especially important; follow the machine and blade manufacturer's instructions.
07 Can it also cut stainless steel or harder alloys?
The declared field covers small steel tubes, profiles and bars. Harder alloys or larger sections fall outside that statement and must be checked with the blade and machine supplier.
08 How does blade life compare with an abrasive disc?
Compare cost per cut rather than tool purchase price. An abrasive disc wears and loses diameter; a carbide-tipped blade retains its diameter and can be resharpened, but only if operating conditions are strictly respected.
Technical review
Filippo Perissinotto
Technical reviewer for wood and wood-based materials
Graduate in Wood Technology and Industries, technical consultant and wood-sector specialist.
The review covers the accuracy, clarity and consistency of information relating to wood and wood-based materials. Tool setup, machine operation and safety must always be checked against the manufacturer’s documentation and instructions.
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