When many of us think of forestry or woodcutting, we think of lumberjacks in plaid with a huge axe chopping away for hours on a single tree. Fortunately for wood consumers and those that work in the industry, technology has come a long way since the days of one man with one axe. Although the best cutting tools vary depending on the situation, many companies in the forest felling industry utilize high-tech cutting tools. One of the best tools for this type of work is often the hot saw blade. Read on to learn a little more about this method of forest felling.
Friction Sawing
To understand what a hot saw blade does, you must first understand what friction cutting or sawing is. In friction cutting, an incredibly high-speed blade that contains a flat-toothed edge imparts heat via friction at a very small point of contact faster than the product (in this case wood) can absorb the heat. The force of the friction created by the rubbing of the teeth will eventually exceed the strength of the material being cut, at which point a chip is torn away, and the process repeats itself on a continuous basis. Although this sounds like a long process, the whole thing happens incredibly quickly.
What is Hot Saw Cutting?
Hot saw cutting is a different form of friction cutting. It involved cutting while the work piece is red-hot, around 1600 to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is overall a much less severe process than cold sawing, as it requires only a fraction of the energy required to saw without the heat.
Uses
This method is not only used for forest felling. In fact, friction and hot saw cutting are used across many industries that are looking for cost-effective and precise cutting solutions. These tools are often used to cut metal sheets, plates, tubing and structural shapes. Friction and hot saw cutting are often used in manufacturing.
A Low-Cost Answer
Friction and hot saw cutting are relatively low price, especially when compared to more high-tech methods like laser cutting. Still, they get the job done efficiently and with precision. Another pro is that they don’t require highly skilled operators, so virtually anyone within a workforce can get started on the job at hand!
