Best Saw For Cutting Steel: The Best 3 To Consider

Best Saw For Cutting Steel, Cutting through steel is no easy work.

While circular and hacksaws can handle the occasional job, you need a real industrial saw if you cut metal regularly. 

Chop saws are designed to make short work out of any hard material, and they make cutting steel a lot easier. 

However, the plethora of metal-cutting saws in the market makes it difficult to pick just one.

 In this guide, we look at the best saws for cutting steel and discuss what you should look for when shopping for one.

In summary, here are the three best options in the market right now.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Saw for Cutting Steel

Metal-cutting saws come in different sizes, shapes, power options, and cutting capabilities. It is hard to decide which chop saw is the best among the top choices.

To make the job easier, here are a few things to consider.

Types of Metal Cutting Saw

There are four different types of metal cutting saws;   

  • Chop Metal Saw. It is a large stationary abrasive saw with a multi-toothed blade or abrasive disk on the pivoting arm. It is used for quick, quality cuts and only makes straight and bevel cuts.
  •  Circular Metal Saw. A circular metal saw is a small, portable saw with either a heat-treated alloy or abrasive disc blade. The blade spins or rotates around the arbor to cut the metal.
  • Reciprocating Metal Saw. This power tool uses back-and-forth motions to cut and allows you to reach complicated places.
  • Band Metal Saw. The blade of a band metal saw runs horizontally to allow quick, easy cuts.
A man cutting steel with a saw

A man cutting steel with a saw

Power Source

  • Gas Powered. Gasoline-powered saws are the most powerful and deliver the highest speed and torque. However, they are heavier, noisier, and harder to maneuver.
  • Electric Powered. Though less powerful than gas-powered saws, electric saws are quieter, lightweight, easy to maneuver, and can be operated longer.
  • Battery Powered. Quiet, light, and easy to use but considerably less powerful than the other two.

Types of Blade

  • Abrasive Blades. This high-friction blade produces a lot of sparks and heat when cutting. It is not recommended for soft metal like aluminum and always stays sharp.
  • Cold Saw Blades. Uses a metallic toothed blade which makes cutting faster than abrasive blades. It also produces no sparks or heat, making the results muchleaner. On the downside, it’s heavier and more costly.

Other factors you need to look at depending on the desired purpose include;

Blade Tooth Count

The more teeth a saw blade has, the slower and smoother the cut will be, and vice versa.

Of course, other factors, such as speed and power, affect the results, but you should consider the tooth count depending on the material you are cutting and the results you want.

Blades made to cut metal have a tooth count of 60-100 teeth per inch to achieve a precise, smooth, and burr-free cut.

Blade Size 

Saw blades range from 7-14 inches in size. The size you pick depends on the size of the metal you will be cutting. Generally, a 12-inch blade will be sufficient for most household or DIY uses.

Blade Rotation Speed 

We measure this rotational speed in Revolutions per minute (RPM), and it should stay below 3000 RPM with abrasive disc blades or 1300 RPM when using carbide blades.

Motor Power

Go for a saw whose motor boasts at least 15 amps and 1100 watts. Also, this power or torque should be consistent and even throughout.

Fence Adjustment

The fence adjustment allows you to position the metal at a precise angle when cutting.

Vise Adjustment

The work of a vise is to lock the saw in one position on the material for stable cutting.

The best vise should have a quick lock and release feature to increase productivity and save time.

 Spark Deflectors

Cutting metal produces sparks that can harm your eyes. A spark deflector protects your face from the sparks.

While most steel-cutting saws come with a spark deflector, choose one that’s adjustable to position it where you need it most.

Portability

Of course, not all metal cutting saws are mobile. Industrial tools are heavy and bulky. But choose a lightweight, uncorded saw if you need to move your tool around the workshop or to other locations.

Warranty

Last, only buy a saw from reputable sellers who offer at least a 2 or 3-year warranty.

It shows they stand behind their product and will assist in any issue, considering chop saws are costly.

Best Saws for Cutting Metal

1. Best Overall- Dewalt DW872 Multi-cutter

Pros and cons

  • Fast, precise, and burr-free cuts.
  • It’s a multi-purpose cutter you also can use to cut PVC, wood, and plastic.
  • Ergonomically designed horizontal handle to ensure your wrist is comfortable.
  • It cuts 4 times faster than chop saws.
  • Portable but very sturdy.
  • Minimal heat buildup or sparks.
  • Unfortunately, the 18ga base makes it hard to line up angles and achieve square cuts.

Customer Review

“It’s a great tool for cutting metal. I’ve made hundreds of cuts, and the blade’s still going strong.”

2. Runners-up- Makita LC1230 12″ Metal Cutting Saw

Pros and cons

  • Features 60 carbide-tipped teeth for fast cutting and a smooth finish.
  • Quick release fence for fast setting of different angles.
  • It comes with a socket wrench, safety goggles, and everything you need to use safely.
  • D-shaped ergonomic handle for easy gripping.
  • The saw blade lasts 50 times longer than abrasive wheels.
  • Though a chip tray is included, it doesn’t work.

Customer review

“This little machine is a beast; the motor is very powerful, the quality is top-notch, and the reviews speak for themselves.”

3. Best Budget- Porter-Cable PCE700

Pros and cons

  • Features adjustable Fence With Miter Adjustment to allow up to 45-degree angles.
  • Comes with a spark deflector for safety and to provide a clear line of sight when cutting.
  • Sturdy construction and powerful motor.
  • Very affordable for the power it provides.
  • Lightweight and easy to use.
  • On the downside, this saw uses an abrasive wheel, which means cutting is slower, and you must replace the blade regularly.

Customer review

“This saw is pretty good. Cuts and clamps well.”

4. DEWALT Chop Saw, Quick-Change, D28715

Pros and cons

  • The D28715 is a heavy-duty tool featuring a 15amp/5.5 HP motor for increased performance and overload capacity.
  • It may not be the fastest DeWalt saw, but it’s the smoothest.
  • Tool-free blade changing is a great feature.
  • It also has an extra wide steel base for increased stability when cutting.
  • An ergonomically designed handle helps a lot since the saw is heavy.
  • The only downside is that this saw uses abrasive wheels, which wear out fast and produce a lot of sparks.

Customer review

“I use this saw to cut wrought iron. Cuts like it’s supposed to.”

5. Evolution Power Tools EVOSAW380

Pros and cons

  • Cuts metal with minimal sparks or heat and does not require coolant.
  • Fast, smooth cutting with no burrs.
  • Long blade life averaging around 1000 cuts.
  • The cutting base is flat, allowing for more accurate, square cuts.
  • Comes with a chip deflection shield.
  • On the downside, the chip tray does a poor job of collecting the waste, but it’s not a problem worth giving up this amazing saw.

Customer review

“This saw was made to cut metal the right way with clean quick cuts. Way cleaner than abrasive saws. Solid base and vice, hold the piece you want to be cut securely, safely, and it cuts your piece accurately and square.”

6. Evolution S355CPSL

Pros and cons

  • Quick, easy, and surprisingly quiet cutting.
  • Tough and very capable, but it’s a lightweight, portable tool.
  • When cutting, the carbide-tipped tungsten blade ensures no sparks, burrs, or heat.
  • Chip deflector included.
  • You can easily fit the saw with different Evolution blades for any material, from steel to aluminum.
  • But again, the included guard will not protect you from all the metal chips flying around while cutting.

Customer Review

“Made over 100 cuts within a few hours, which held up great. I recommend this HIGHLY.”

7. M18 Fuel Metal Cutting Circular Saw

Pros and cons

  • It’s a cordless, battery-operated tool.
  • Features a brushless motor with 3900 RPMs for that perfect cut every single time.
  • Equipped with Reline intelligence to ensure durability and accuracy.
  • Long-lasting lithium battery.
  • No wearable components.
  • Integrated Hang hook. 
  • However, the saw has no bevel adjustment, only a 90-degree angle.

Customer review

“I use this saw to cut aluminum rail, and it is well worth the money. Cuts extremely well.”

8. Fein Slugger Abrasive Metal Cutting Chop Saw

Fein Slugger Abrasive Metal Cutting Chop Saw

Pros and cons

  • The Slugger features a high-performance 2200-watt motor for easy cutting.
  • Generates little heat and no sparks.
  • Retracting lower safety guard.
  • A spacious cast aluminum base for stability and easy adjusting.
  • In-built eye protection.
  • The only con is that the hold-down mechanism leaves a lot to be desired.

Customer review

“I would give this saw a 10/10 for its usefulness, its precision cutting, its small form factor, the depth of cut, and the longevity of the blade. The Slugger really knocks it out of the park.”

Conclusion

The list of amazing saws for cutting steel goes beyond these eight. Your choice should depend on how often you use the saw, your experience, and your budget.

DeWalt Multi-cutter saws hit the perfect balance for DIY and professional use, and the price is not so high.