Can I Use a Steel Cutting Blade on a Miter Saw?

Motor Durability

• Blades meet a great deal more resistance when cutting through metal instead of wood. A special carbide-tipped blade is required to cut through steel. Even with the proper blade, the resistance could be more strain than the motor and bearings in your miter saw are designed to deal with. While you might be able to cut through steel, it will likely cause the internal components of your saw to wear out more quickly because the motor will run too hot.

Safety

• Safety considerations should make you pause before putting a steel cutting blade on your miter saw, because wood saws aren't equipped with the safety features that metal cutting saws have. For instance, a wood saw might have plastic parts and guards that are unable to deal with the heat and sparks generated by cutting metal. The motor's spinning force might also be a problem. If the motor spins the blade faster than it is rated for, the blade could break, a very dangerous circumstance. Metal chop saws have high-strength guards and special spark deflectors.

Metal Chop Saws

• If you need to cut metal with a tool that works like a miter saw, you should invest in a metal chop saw instead. This tool looks a great deal like a miter saw but is more rugged in construction. It has a durable motor designed to spin the blade at lower speeds. It should have stronger guards and safeties as well, in order to make sure that cutting metal is a safe procedure.

Combination Tools

• There are saws designed to work well in a home shop for cutting all types of materials. These saws utilize a single blade and yet are able to cut through steel and wood as well as other materials. If you can't afford multiple saws but need a safe and effective way to cut through steel and wood with a miter-style saw, a tool like this is a viable option.