cutting M390

T

tim37a

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May 18, 2010
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I have been trying to saw annealed M390 with my new Milwaukie portaband. I have tried dry cutting and with a drop of cutting fluid. The M390 is .13" thick. So far, I have gone thru 2 new blades and cut about 3/16". Is there some trick I don't know or is all that Vanadium carbide just too tough? The saw blades are bi-metal.

Tim
 
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Annealed it should be fine. I cut elmax and m390 with a hacksaw no problems. Are you sure its annealed?

Get the blades for hardened steel even though it isnt hardened.
 
Maybe is hardening from the heat building up? Do you need to have precise cuts or just cutting off a piece from a longer bar? Use an angle grinder if its just a piece you dont need to profile.
 
Sometimes the edges of the bars are very hard. I take a dremel cut off wheel and score in about 1/8" then test it with a hacksaw. If the hack bites in I go to the vertical band. It's easy to toast a blade or work harden the stock with a dull blade.

Don't like M390...try 110V. It will work harden under a new blade in a heartbeat. It's very hard to deal with. ;)
 
Is your blade travelling too fast? I can't believe you are having problems working this material. Even after hardening, I find it great to grind. Frank
 
I think I've had some problems with m390 work hardening on me as well when using 18 tooth per inch Bimetal blades. some 1/8th pieces take like 3 minutes to hack through.
 
Don't use a dull or well used blade on this material. It'll work harden it up, ruin the blade for any use and make a very hard spot in the bar to deal with later.
 
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