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What chop saw blade for steel studs?

royturning | Posted in General Discussion on July 22, 2013 07:50am

I’m getting ready to sister metal studs to my old ceiling joists and I don’t know what type of blade to use on my chop saw. I have a 12″ Dewalt that I love so I’m also wondering if I should buy a less expensive 10″ saw with whatever type blade you would recommend. Also, I’ll have to notch around braces, elec., etc. do I use shears for this or what?

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  1. calvin | Jul 22, 2013 08:10pm | #1

    Roy

    I've cut a whole bundle of steel studs with a mounted (swing arm type, not stationary) metal bladed band saw.

    I've cut a whole bundle of steel studs with a metal cutting abrasive blade in a dedicated "chop" saw.  This saw was meant for metal cutting-might have been a 12".  Industrial Black and Decker (when that company name meant something).

    Both bundles were factory banded and did not bind.

    But, ordinary tin snips cut both the 25 and 20 ga. steel studs quite well.

    Is it worth the effort?   how many you got to cut?

    Sparks fly and man is it loud (with the abrasive blade)

  2. gfretwell | Jul 22, 2013 09:14pm | #2

    Metal cutting abrasive carbon fiber blade.

  3. DanH | Jul 22, 2013 09:22pm | #3

    The way to cut a steel stud accurately and in a hurry is to use the purpose-made lever-action shear.  You might see if you can rent one somewhere.  (You could buy one, but they list for $468.67.)  (Though that might work out if you could unload it afterwards on Craigs List for $300 or so.)

    (But I recall that on a church project in Kentucky we used an angle grinder with a cutoff blade in it.)

  4. NickPolitis | Jul 23, 2013 08:08pm | #4

    I use tin snips for metal studs unless they are 20 gauge or thicker. If you want a saw to cut them I'd use a cutoff saw like this:

    http://www.harborfreight.com/2-hp-14-inch-heavy-duty-cut-off-saw-91938.html

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