What Is a Cold Saw?
A cold saw is a circular saw that cuts metal with a toothed blade turning at relatively low speed. It uses high-speed steel (HSS) or tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blades. The teeth take a real chip, and most of the heat leaves with that chip instead of going into the part, which is where the name "cold" comes from. The result is a square, accurate cut with very little burr, no discoloration and no heat-affected zone. Tube is often ready for bending, welding or end forming without a secondary operation.
Cold Saw vs. Abrasive Chop Saw vs. Band Saw
| Cold saw | Abrasive chop saw | Band saw | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cut quality | Square, clean, minimal burr | Heavy burr, heat discoloration | Good, with some burr |
| Speed on tube | Fast | Fast, but with rework | Slower |
| Length accuracy | High, especially with servo feed | Low | Moderate |
| Heat in the part | Very little | A lot | Little |
| Best for | Repeat tube and bar cutting, production | Rough cutting, field work | Large solids and bundles, wide size range |
SOCO Cold Saws and Tube Cutting Machines
Manual Cold Saws
Pneumatic and hydraulic saws with a swiveling head for miter cuts, a self-centering vise and coolant. For job shops, short runs and maintenance.
Semi-Automatic Saws
Saws that feed to length and cut on their own while the operator loads stock: SOCO NC, DR and AC lines with straight and angle cutting.
Automatic Tube Saws
Servo-feed cold saws with loading magazines for tube and bar up to 6.5 m, single or double tube cutting, HSS or TCT blades, built for 24-hour operation.
Bar & Tube Cutting Lines
Automatic loading, servo feeding and cold-saw cutting for parts from short lengths up to 3,000 mm, with deburring, measuring and stacking options.
Copper & Brass Saws
Saws set up for soft non-ferrous tube, from 80 to 152 mm OD, that keep cuts clean and round for HVAC, refrigeration and plumbing. Available with the MB6 bundle loader.
Aluminum Saws
Rigid, high-speed saws for aluminum tube, bar and extrusions, with servo feeding held to ±0.1 mm length tolerance.
Why Automatic Cold Saws Cut Better Tube
SOCO's automatic saws vary blade speed through each cut: slow as the blade enters the tube, fast once it is through the wall, and slow again as it re-enters the lower wall. Matching speed to how much material is under the blade protects the teeth, reduces burr and extends blade life. Automatic separation of first and crop cuts keeps scrap out of good parts.
How to Choose a Cold Saw
- Material and size: steel, stainless, aluminum or copper; largest OD; wall thickness; solid bar as well as tube?
- Cuts: straight only, or miters? Manual and semi-automatic saws handle angle cuts.
- Volume: manual for short runs, semi-automatic for repeat batches, automatic with bundle loading for production.
- Length tolerance: servo feeding holds tight length tolerances for parts going to bending or welding.
- Downstream steps: inline deburring, measuring and stacking remove handling.
Cold Saw or Tube Laser?
If you only need straight or mitered cuts to length, a cold saw is the most economical choice. If parts also need holes, slots or notches, a tube laser can cut everything in one setup. The SOCO RoundCut laser also gives blade-free straight cutting of round tube.
Free Tube Calculators
Planning material for a cutting job? Our free tube weight calculator gives lb/ft, kg/m and total weight for round, square and rectangular tube, and our tube bending calculator works out cut length for bent parts. Cutting pipe? See the pipe schedule chart. Thinking about bringing cutting in-house? The machine ROI calculator shows the payback, and the lease calculator estimates a monthly payment. See all free tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cold saw used for?
Cutting metal tube, pipe, bar and profiles to length with a clean, square, nearly burr-free cut and very little heat in the part.
Why is it called a cold saw?
The blade turns relatively slowly and takes a real chip, which carries most of the cutting heat away. The part and blade stay cool compared with abrasive cutting.
What's the difference between HSS and TCT cold saw blades?
Both are used on SOCO automatic saws. High-speed steel (HSS) blades are a durable general-purpose choice. Tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blades are typically chosen for higher cutting speeds and longer life in production.
Can a cold saw cut angles?
Yes. SOCO manual saws have a head that swivels in either direction for miter cuts, and the semi-automatic lines offer straight and angle cutting.
Can cold saws cut aluminum and copper?
Yes, with saws set up for non-ferrous metal. SOCO builds dedicated aluminum saws and copper and brass saws from 80 to 152 mm OD.
Can I lease a cold saw?
Yes. Leasing and loan programs are available through our financing partners.
Lease A New Tube Saw Machine
Through our financing partners, you’ll find financial programs, leasing, and loan services at very competitive rates. No Financials or Tax Returns are required* and credit decisions are usually made within 24 hours.