The
Angle Grinder
Is An Example
Of An Especially
Useful Tool
Metal cutting presents some unique challenges
compared with other building and fabrication
tools. Metal cutting tools must be designed
not only to cut the various hardness’s
and thicknesses of metals, but to also do it
accurately and smoothly. Because of the challenges
presented by cutting metal, a number of unique
metal cutting tools have been developed.
One of the challenges of ancient man in learning
to use metal was probably not the smelting it
as learning metal cutting and shaping. Early
attempts at cutting the metal produced by various
refining processes included pounding, filing
and grinding it into the desired shapes. As harder
metals and metal alloys were developed, it became
necessary to built specialized tools to cut it
and then to cut it with precison. Examples of
these tools include the cold saw, the angle grinder
and bandsaws equipped with metal cutting band
saw blades.
A
Cold Saw Is One Example Of Specialized Cutting
A
precision metal cutting tool, when it is necessary
to keep the metal being cut from heating,
is the cold saw. As the name implies, the cutting
surface is washed with coolant while the
cut is being made. This process also helps
increase the life of the saw blade.
A different kind of cutting tool is the angle
grinder. This is a hand held, portable grinder.
When the abrasive wheel is held perpendicular
to the metal surface, it will slice through it
like a saw. When held at an angle or horizontal
with the metal it works as a grinder or sander.
This is an especially handy tool for shaping,
cutting, removing burrs and smoothing weld beads.
It is not a precision tool, but it sure gets
the job done.
Another kind of tool is the band saw equipped
with metal cutting band saw blades. This tool
is used for cutting thin pieces of metal, metal
tubing, and soft metals. Depending upon the design
of the blade teeth, this tool can cut easily
and with precision.
Cutting
tools come in all shapes and sizes, each designed
for a specific application or range of applications.
Many of these tools have been designed for
industrial applications. Some have been adapted
to home hobbyist and do-it-yourselfer projects.
Metals and metal cutting have come a long way
from the time when stone hammers were the primary
metal cutting tools.
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