Metal Chop Saw

'''A chop saw is essentially a lightweight circular saw mounted on a spring-loaded pivoting arm, and supported by a metal base. Chop saws are considered the best saw to get very exact, square cuts.'''
 * 1) When you are cutting flat bar, set it in the clamp vertical, that is cut through the thin way. It is hard for the blade to clear the swarf, when it is cutting through the flat.
 * 2) With angle steel, set it like this ^ so there is no flat to cut through.
 * 3) If you are pushing it a bit much and you see dust coming off the blade, back off, you are wasting the blade. What you should see is plenty of bright sparks coming out the back, and hear the revs not a lot less than free idle speed.
 * 4) If you set the chop saw up directly on concrete, put a bit of cement sheet, iron, even wet ply (as long as you keep your eye on it) underneath it, as those sparks will leave a permanent stain on the concrete.
 * 5) Likewise protect walls or windows if you are close.
 * 6) After a saw has been used for a while, metal and disk residue builds up on the inside of the steel guard. You will see it when you are changing the disk. Give the outside of the guard a whack with a hammer to dislodge the build up. (When it is switched off, of course). Don't take the chance of it flying off at speed when cutting.
 * 7) A lot of times with a chop saw, because of the length and weight of the material you may want to cut, you will have to work with the saw on the ground. Put something flat and solid under the saw and then use packers to support the steel.
 * 8) Check the setup, with a square to test that the face of the disk is square off the steel, just in case the ground is sloping or your packers are wrong.
 * 9) Don't worry if the packers to the right are a bit low, as this will allow the cut to open slightly as you cut.
 * 10) Never set up your packers, (or set up a bench for that matter), that allows the steel to sag in the middle, this would cause the chop saw to bind and then jam.
 * 11) To get a really accurate cut, mark the material with a fine pencil and set it in position with the clamp nipped up lightly. If your mark is not fine enough or hard to see, you can put your tape measure on the end of the material and bring it under the disk. Lower the disk almost to the tape and sight down the face of the disk to the tape. Sight down the surface of the disk that is going to do the cut.
 * 12) If the piece that you want is on the right of the disk, You should sight along that side of the blade.
 * 13) For heavy material that is hard to move, nip the clamp lightly, adjust by tapping the end of the material with a hammer until it is spot on.
 * 14) If the steel is long and heavy, try tapping the saw with the hammer to get it up to the mark. Tighten up the clamp and do the cut using steady pressure.
 * 15) This way of using your tape under a cutting blade and sighting down the blade is common on all saws.
 * 16) For marking out on black steel I use a sharp piece of French chalk.

'''TIP:Use safety gear. Protective goggles or a face visor, stout shoes or boots, ear proctection and sensible clothes.'''