When it comes to cutting metal, there’s few easy ways to do it. The most common power tools employ an abrasive blade to chip away small pieces the metal. These are heated by friction as the bonds are broken and turn into sparks. While great for photography and some Tim the Toolman Taylor type grunting, there are other methods available. That’s where the new Skilsaw 12-inch Dry Cut Saw comes into play.

The -22 tag on the model number end means the Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 comes with a Diablo blade. In this case, it’s Diablo’s new Cermet metal cutting blade. This ceramic/carbide combination is specifically designed for low speed cutting, so it’s paired perfectly with Skilsaw’s 1500 RPM, 15 amp motor. We’re going to be taking a closer look at the Diablo Steel Demon Metal Cutting Blade with Cermet technology a little later, so keep your eyes open. Comparatively, high speed metal cutting saws run in the 3800 – 4000 RPM range.

[adsenseyu1]

Skilsaw says they’ve intentionally gone after performance that will rival 14-inch metal cut off machines. They get 4-1/2″ cutting capacity, which is pretty impressive, but you can find a little more clearance in the larger saws. The motor is certainly powerful enough to keep up. With the lower speed, that should mean more power is available for torque to keep the cut moving along. There’s a soft start built in to control the start of the cut and help it run smoother.

The slower moving blade also changes how the metal is removed. Instead of chipping away with abrasive material, the carbide teeth are designed with a similar appearance to other carbide tipped circular saw blades. This means the metal will be shaved, leaving a smoother finish. It’s also a much cooler method of material removal and you won’t see the sparks that come with abrasive blades. The result of the power of Skilsaw’s machine and Diablo’s blade technology likely means faster, smoother cutting with much less (if any) burring.

There’s some debate as to whether you want a heavy base or not on a metal cut off saw. Shop users like it heavy to keep it from walking. Contractors needs to move it around and prefer something lighter. The Skilsaw 12-inch Dry Cut Saw gives you the best of both worlds by going with aluminum for lighter weight while providing mounting holes to bolt down on a bench.

As a true chop saw, there’s no mitering or beveling features built in like we see on many high speed metal cutting saws. There’s also a major difference in price between the Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 and high speed metal cutting saws. This model comes in at $399 where high speed designs are around $200. You can also get this as the SPT62MTC-01 with Skilsaw blade. There’s no price difference and Diablo’s blade is outstanding, so we’re not really sure why you would go that route. We’ll have to look at the performance and results before deciding if it’s worth the premium.

[adsenseyu2]

Skilsaw 12-inch Dry Cut Saw Specifications

• Model: Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22
• Motor: 15 amp
• Blade Diameter: 12″
• Arbor: 1″
• No Load Speed: 1500 RPM
• Weight: 38.2 pounds
• Maximum Cutting Depth: 4-1/2″
• Price: $399
• Warranty: 1 year (180 day money back guarantee)

Coming Soon

We’re bringing in the Skilsaw 12-inch dry cut saw for review as part of our series on metal cutting saws. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how different the cutting experience is between Skilsaw’s first entry into the world of metal cutting machines compared to the high speed abrasive models we’re used to. You can bet that we’ll look at the full set of features and help you decide if this saw is right for your business.