Blades for cutting ac loops

Im goning to get a sawzaw to cut the ends off my ac's im going to be getting soon. I was going to go with either diablo or spyder suggestions of other good ones? I dont want generic they wont last. I was going to get a walmart brand sawzaw and just get a good blade would that work or not?

Originally Posted by mike1

Im goning to get a sawzaw to cut the ends off my ac's im going to be getting soon. I was going to go with either diablo or spyder suggestions of other good ones? I dont want generic they wont last. I was going to get a walmart brand sawzaw and just get a good blade would that work or not?

I've found that the angle grinder works much better. A plug in ryobi 4" angle grinder from home depot is $40 and a 10pack of metal cut off disks from harbor freight is like $10... Once I got an angle grinder with metal cut off wheel, I rarely use the sawzall on anything metal anymore.... Just my thoughts

Originally Posted by mike1

Im goning to get a sawzaw to cut the ends off my ac's im going to be getting soon. I was going to go with either diablo or spyder suggestions of other good ones? I dont want generic they wont last. I was going to get a walmart brand sawzaw and just get a good blade would that work or not?

Yes definitely use a name brand blade, I use a blade with 24tpi for AC headers and for cutting off cats.

I use a hacksaw. Less blade kerf

Bandsaw or hacksaw definitely better for cutting ends. No matter the sawzall brand or blade you're gonna want something to keep the coils secure while you cut. The more they vibrate the more of the coil you'll leave on the end and, worse, the higher the likelihood your blade will catch somewhere. That will burn out the motor on any sawzall. Had the best luck with Makita, Chicago and Milwaukee sawzalls.

Originally Posted by kss

I've found that the angle grinder works much better. A plug in ryobi 4" angle grinder from home depot is $40 and a 10pack of metal cut off disks from harbor freight is like $10... Once I got an angle grinder with metal cut off wheel, I rarely use the sawzall on anything metal anymore.... Just my thoughts

If you're getting relatively small coils a grinder with a cutting blade works good. If getting multilayer radiators though the grinder is simply gonna run out of blade length.

Originally Posted by JJinLV

If you're getting relatively small coils a grinder with a cutting blade works good. If getting multilayer radiators though the grinder is simply gonna run out of blade length.

Definately wanting to use something powered cause i think i have arthritis haha from all that hacksawing. Oh and plus all the wire stripping ive done by hand to a ive done with a box cutter haha. Im going to get 2 central acs and 8A frames saw a video of a guy doing them okie scrapper i think. I tried a angle grinder last time i had my grandmas ac it had some recoil haha. Curious think ill get 10 acs done with just one blade? Also what is kerf??? Thats 20 ends i have to cut id b exhausted with a hacksaw. Plus i work now so i can do it after work. I got a guy who breaks down the compressors for me so i get the motor and dont have to deal with the sparks or having to hacksaw through it haha.

Originally Posted by JJinLV

If you're getting relatively small coils a grinder with a cutting blade works good. If getting multilayer radiators though the grinder is simply gonna run out of blade length.

Definately wanting to use something powered cause i think i have arthritis haha from all that hacksawing. Oh and plus all the wire stripping ive done by hand to a ive done with a box cutter haha. Im going to get 2 central acs and 8A frames saw a video of a guy doing them okie scrapper i think. I tried a angle grinder last time i had my grandmas ac it had some recoil haha. Curious think ill get 10 acs done with just one blade? Also what is kerf??? Thats 20 ends i have to cut id b exhausted with a hacksaw. Plus i work now so i can do it after work. I got a guy who breaks down the compressors for me so i get the motor and dont have to deal with the sparks or having to hacksaw through it haha.

A sawzall is a brand name. The type of saw is called a reciprocating saw and the reciprocation creates recoil that basically your arm absorbs a lot of. Natural recoil from its proper use is more than anything you should get from a grinder. So if it's recoil you're worried about, go for a bandsaw or tablesaw. When we were shredding radiators at my old job staff could cut the ends off at least 80 radiators with a single blade. With careful use you can expect at least that many from a single blade.

The more I read, the more I think someone should stick with a hacksaw.

Sorry, not sorry.

Not with the either arthritis or carpel tunmel i have no way. I still strip wire with a box cutter.

I use an angle grinder with a metal blade. Just zips the ends cleanly off either on the coil side or the loop side, whichever is easier. If the coil was thicker and I needed to go deeper, a metal blade circular saw might work.

Originally Posted by pappawheelie

One of the most useful and time saving tools I use is an old 14" vertical wood cutting bandsaw. I run a good quality 14tpi metal cutting blade and cut up all my non-ferrous and radiators.

Bandsaws come in handy. I don't scrap radiators but I do get a lot of transformers and my horizontal bandsaw works great.

My bad. I thought you were talking about AC coils. A hacksaw or bandsaw would be what I would use for electric coils if I couldn't spit the chassis with a hatchet.

Actually, I was right. They were talking about AC coils.

Originally Posted by t00nces2

I use an angle grinder with a metal blade. Just zips the ends cleanly off either on the coil side or the loop side, whichever is easier. If the coil was thicker and I needed to go deeper, a metal blade circular saw might work.

I use a 6" metal/diamond blade on my 4" grinder, cuts deeper and works GREAT !!! Just don't get bit by it, burns like #@%*... !!!!

Well, I needed to cut the loops off a couple coils this morning and I used my new saws all, worked great.