I had a ton of fun testing this tool out, it’s a blast to use! It’s great that I won’t need to dedicate a workbench to a chopsaw, I can store this away and pull it out when I need it!

The first tool is a recip saw. This is a great option because it’s a tool that can be used for wood also, that way I won’t need any specialty tools except for the blade.

This bandsaw is also really comfortable to hold. In the picture below I am using two hands, but because the wheel cover is covering the blade outside the cutting area, it is actually safe to use one handed as per ANSI standards.

The Makita 18V LXT® Lithium‑Ion Cordless Compact Band Saw has a 2-1/2” cutting capacity which makes it ideal for cutting conduit, copper pipe, threaded rod, angle iron and channel.

To harden steel, start by heating the metal directly with a blow torch until it turns a cherry red color. Then, use a pair of tongs to carry the steel to a container filled with water or vegetable, and submerge the hot metal in the liquid. When the liquid stops bubbling, remove the metal from the container and wipe off any excess liquid. To temper the steel so it isn't brittle, place it in an oven heated to 375 °F for 3 hours, and then it let it cool overnight. For more information on using a blowtorch and protecting the steel, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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While we’re talking about blades… the Milwaukee 6 in. 7 TPI Torch Carbide Teeth Metal Cutting SAWZALL Blade is the perfect option for cutting through metal.

I really want to start welding, so I started to look into my options for ways to cut metal. I still don’t know if welding is going to be my thing, so I don’t want to invest in a dedicated metal cutting chopsaw just yet…

Since this kit comes with the charger, it would be great if you want to upgrade to Milwaukee tools since this battery will work on over 175 tools.

If you need to use a blow torch, focus the flame tip on the area you want hardened. Keep heating the steel until you notice a blue color form on the metal. This signifies that the steel is tempered.

The Milwaukee SAWZALL is really powerful and comfortable to use, one of my favorite features is the way you change out the blade. There is a very simple lever that’s easy to hold while swapping blades. I have tried other recip saws that are not this easy, so this is a definite plus!

The Milwaukee M18 CP3AH BATTERY pack comes with two High Output 3AH Batteries which provides 50% more power and runs 50% cooler than the regular CP Milwaukee batteries. This makes these batteries just as powerful as the XC batteries but in a smaller package. Only problem, this pack does not come with a charger, so it’s only great if you are already on the Milwaukee platform of over 175 tools that these batteries would be good for.

Steel is a common durable alloy, and while most steel used in tools is already tough, you can harden it even more to prevent wear and tear. Hardened steel prevents knife blades from dulling and tools from bending and breaking. With a simple heating and quenching process, you can make your steel last for much longer!

The next option is specifically for metal, but it would be great because I would be able to store it away and it wont take up valuable workbench space like a chopsaw would.

The blade has carbide teeth so it lasts 50X longer than other blades and it only has 7 Teeth Per Inch so it will cut really quickly in anything you throw at it.

It cuts up to 30% faster than its counterpart corded recip saw, and depending on which batteries you use, can last a really long time. It does not come with a battery, so here are some options.

This article was co-authored by Himesh Patel and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Himesh Patel is a Metallurgical Engineer at Mcclelland Laboratories in Reno, Nevada. With over five years of industry and graduate research experience in the raw materials industry, Himesh has extensive knowledge of mining and mineral extraction and recovery methods, mine financing, and the environmental impacts of mining. He received his MS in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Dual Degree in Mineral Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad. Himesh is passionate about educating the public about the minerals industry. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 28 testimonials and 90% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,025,105 times.

This battery powered bandsaw is super compact and only weighs 7.5 lbs. Despite its size, it’s super powerful and the motor delivers 630 ft./min. blade speed for faster cutting.

Another great battery option would be the Milwaukee M18 XC8AH BATTERY STARTER KIT. This one comes with a rapid charger! This starter kit has an 8AH Battery, so if you need to use your tools for longer periods of time, this would be a great option.