O ur chance to test metal-cutting chop saws couldn't have come at a better time. While the saws were delivered to the front door of our shop, about 200 tons of cold-formed steel studs showed up out back. We cut lots of steel, so we were especially anxious to try out the new dry-cut and abrasive chop saws. Our company, Enertech Systems, has been fabricating cold-formed steel trusses and walls for six years. That's nonstop work for our saws.
Steel framing components fall into two basic categories.
Heavier shapes are hot-rolled products typically referred to as red iron or structural steel. The lighter shapes we work with are known as cold-formed or light gauge. They generally have more user-friendly features than abrasive saws do, but the primary difference between the two is the blades. A typical abrasive saw produces lots of dust and sparks, requires several blade changes a day, and typically leaves sharp burrs on studs. If you're cutting heavier stock, dry-cut saws are the tools for you.