Guide to Metal Cutting Tools | Best Power Tools to Cut Metal

Learn about the best metal cutting tools, as well as the most suitable methods for cutting common materials like metal sheets, studs, and metal pipes.

The selection of ideal metal cutting tools mainly depends on your workpiece quality, quantity, and your experience. A different metal cutting tool is required for different types of cut, for example, hole saw for a circular cut, chop saw for a straight cut, and rotary tools for precision and a small cut.

Today, we will cover all metal cutting tools and their works so you can choose the best one according to your needs and applications.

Read: 7 Best Ways to Cut Metal Fast

Best Power Tools to Cut Metal

Power tools are used for almost all metal fabrication and industrial workings. These cutting tools are required to perform numerous tasks such as grinding, polishing, drilling, cutting, sharpening, and sanding of metals.

Following are the most typical metal cutting power tools.

1. Angle Grinder

An angle grinder is a standard metal cutting tool for using cut-off wheels.

An angle grinder or hand grinder is one of the most important metal cutting tools. The standard 4-1/2" cut-off wheel is a widely used disc for angle grinders. You can also customize wheel sizes according to needs.

Angle grinder cuts metal fast and efficiently. Removing rough cuts, weld spatter, and rust is common applications of an angle grinder.

Pros

• Highly versatile tool
• Capable to work on small areas
• Compatible with different cutting wheels and material surfaces

Cons

• Not good to obtain fine and finished cuts
• High pressure can break wheels
• Irritating noise and kickback

2. Reciprocating Saw

Reciprocating Saw for metal cutting

A reciprocating saw also known as an oscillating saw is the most common and useful metal cutting tool. It is capable of cutting metal fast and efficiently. Reciprocating saws are among the most powerful and aggressive saws. Reciprocating saw tool works with standard metal reciprocating saw blades. You can use it to cut through metal sheets, wood, PVC, and pipes.

Pros

• Cuts through almost anything
• Powerful and fast cutting
• Perform a number of functions

Cons

• Quite rough and inaccurate
• Its large blade can cut wires
• No smooth cuts

3. Circular Saw

Circular Saw for metal cutting

Circular saws are one of the most commonly used power tools nowadays. Circular saws are capable of cutting metal, wood, hard steel, stone, and ceramic tile with a TCT saw blade.

Pros

• Provides clean cut-through metals
• Easily available and accessible tool

Cons

• Can't cut curves
• Saw blades are expensive & break easily
• Noisy tool

4. Hole Saw

Hole saw connected to drill

Hole saw cutters or hole cutting tools are made to be extremely tough to cut metals. They are capable to resist high temperatures produced by cutting through a number of popular metals including stainless steel. Bi-metal 5 inch hole saw is ideal for creating holes in timber and wood sheets. Apart from the metal hole saw can easily cut through wood, tile, concrete, and glass.

Pros

• Multipurpose cutting tool
• Cuts a perfect circle
• Less expensive

Cons

• Not a versatile tool

5. Cut-Off Tool

This metal cutting tool is similar to an angle grinder and works with cut-off wheels. Cut-off tools are ideal to cut stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, and other metals for general purposes. They are designed to provide a quick and accurate cut, also last longer and perform better than any traditional tool.

A cut-off tool is useful to work in small areas where other large tools can not work. But, this tool can not cut through thicker materials.

Pros

• Compact and easy to handle
• Can work in narrow space
• Ideal for removing weld splatter

Cons

• Too small for more extensive applications
• Can’t cut through thick material

That was all about metal cutting tools and power tools for metal cutting.