Three ways to cut metal stock
Most shops and mills cut bar, tube, profiles and billets with band saws, circular (cold) saws, or milling/scarfing tools. Each has a sweet spot.
Band saws
A continuous blade loop cuts with a thin kerf, so less material is wasted. Band saws handle large diameters and bundles and are economical per cut. Cutting is slower than a circular saw, and the finish is rougher.
Circular (cold) saws
A rigid toothed disc — HSS or carbide-tipped — cuts fast with a square, clean, near burr-free finish. Ideal for high-volume cutting of smaller sections and tube. The kerf is wider and the blades cost more, but cycle times are short.
Milling and scarfing
Milling cutters in HSS and solid carbide machine ends, slots and profiles to precise geometry. In steel conditioning, scarfing tools remove surface defects from billets before rolling.
Quick comparison
- Large sections, bundles, low cost per cut → band saw
- High volume, clean square cut → circular saw
- Precise ends and profiles → milling
- Billet surface conditioning → scarfing