Metal cutting
Measure seven times, cut once.
Metal cutting is a very responsible task in many processes on a construction site. Hilti's portfolio offers many effective solutions to this problem. Safety, the presence of burrs when cutting studs, cost - this and much more are the key points when choosing a tool. We decided to collect in one place complete information on them: their advantages, disadvantages and the best areas for their use.
Аngle grinder and diamond disc
Advantages: Аngle grinder is the most versatile tool on the construction site, can be used for a large number of tasks: cutting and grinding of various metal elements. This means that one tool can perform a wide range of tasks and you do not need to buy a large fleet of tools. The presence of speed adjustment (available in AG 4S-A22, AG 125-SE and AG 125-19SE) will allow you to cut and process different types of steel. If the Bulgarian is rechargeable, then there is no dependence on electricity and you can save time on finding and connecting cables.No cost period (1 year for battery-powered earphones and 6 months for mains ones) and a brushless motor (for battery-powered models) will reduce repair costs and minimize downtime.
A diamond disc for metal has an extremely high resource, ten times higher than that of abrasive discs.This allows you to make a huge number of cuts with one disk without the need for frequent disk replacement.
Disadvantages: A diamond disc for metal, although universal, is inferior to other solutions in terms of convenience, safety and performance. It is not the safest, because the disk rotates openly, there is a chance of injury, especially if you work in uncomfortable positions. Also, a diamond disc is ten times more expensive than an abrasive disc, so it will not be the cheapest solution. In addition, the disk creates quite a lot of noise and a lot of sparks, it is uncomfortable to work.When cutting the stud, there are burrs that do not allow you to tighten the nut, so you need to additionally process the stud (which is not present when using other solutions).
Where is the best place to use the solution: A diamond disc angle grinder is a universal solution from the presented in the article, so it is suitable for those who want to do all the work on the object with one tool and cannot invest in more productive cutting solutions, or the amount of work is small to pay off the tool, as well as those who for what-that is, he does not want or cannot use an abrasive disc.
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AG 4S-A22 |
AG 125-13S |
Diamond Disk SPX |
Аngle grinder and abrasive disc
Advantages:The angle grinder is the most versatile tool on the construction site, can be used for a large number of tasks: cutting and grinding of various metal elements. This means that one tool can perform a wide range of tasks and you do not need to buy a large fleet of tools. The presence of speed adjustment (available in AG 4S-A22, AG 125-SE and AG 125-19SE) will allow you to cut and process different types of steel. If the Bulgarian is rechargeable, then there is no dependence on electricity and you can save time on finding and connecting cables.No cost period (1 year for battery-powered earphones and 6 months for mains ones) and a brushless motor (for battery-powered models) will reduce repair costs and minimize downtime.
The abrasive disc is the cheapest and most affordable consumable.
Disadvantages: An ear with an abrasive disc is the most dangerous solution, because if the disc is cut incorrectly, it can fly apart and injure the operator, and it also creates a lot of sparks and noise.This solution is far from the most convenient in operation, and the resource of the abrasive disc is quite low compared to other types of consumables. When cutting metal, the disc heats up and damages its coating.In the future, this will lead to corrosion, so after cutting with an abrasive disc, you need to additionally process the metal. When cutting the stud, there are burrs that do not allow you to tighten the nut, so you need to additionally process the stud.
Where it is best to use the solution: The angle grinder with an abrasive disc is the most versatile and budget solution presented in the article, it is suitable for those who want to do all the work on the site with one tool, do not want or cannot invest in more productive cutting solutions, or there is not a large amount of work to recoup the tool.
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AG 4S-A22 |
AG 125-13S |
Abrasive disc SPX |
Abrasive disc SP |
Circular metal saw SCM 22-A
Advantages: The circular saw is a very safe solution, equipped with a safety switch, a cut line illumination, a fast brake, a protective casing that completely covers the disc, as well as a chip container. The cut is very fast and cold, no sparks and chips are formed, the metal coating is not damaged. The saw can be used with a guide rail for precise straight cuts.The no cost period is 2 years.
The circular saw blade for metal, when used correctly, has a very high resource.
Disadvantages: The circular saw has a limited range of tasks compared to the USM: it is not recommended to cut thick metal (for example, fittings or pipes with a large wall thickness), it cannot make curly cuts. It is also not very convenient to work on the weight due to the weight and ergonomics of the tool. The sound when cutting is very loud.
Where is the best place to use the solution: SCM 22-A is ideal for cutting sheet metal (except when a curly cut is required), profiles, studs, pipes (thanks to a special adapter for cutting SCM PCA pipes), trays, sandwich panels and ventilation ducts.
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SCM 22-A |
Disk SCB M Xcut |
Band saw SB 4-A22
Advantages: the band saw has a quiet cut without sparks, which does not damage the metal coating. It is perfect for cutting small diameter pipes, profiles, studs made of ordinary, galvanized, stainless steel and plastic. Its design allows you to work on the weight with one hand. It has illumination of the cutting zone. The no cost period is 2 years.
Band saw blades have a fairly high resource, at the level of saw blades for jigsaws and saber saws.
Disadvantages: due to the limited cutting area, it has a narrow range of tasks: it can cut materials up to 63.5 mm thick. Serial cutting of thick metal – fittings, thick pipes, thick metal corners, etc. is not recommended.
Where is the best place to use the solution: ideal for trimming small diameter pipes made of steel and plastic, profile, studs during the installation of internal communications thanks to a quiet, comfortable and cold cut that does not damage the metal and does not violate its coating.
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SB 4-A22 |
SBB blade for band sawFor cutting metal, ordinary and stainless steel, non-ferrous metals and plastic |
Reciprocating saws
Advantages: thanks to a wide portfolio of saws for completely different materials, reciprocating saws are a universal tool and can be used for a wide range of tasks (dismantling, cutting cast iron pipes, studs, wooden bars with nails, etc.). The saw can be bent when cutting, this allows you to cut pipes flush to the wall/floor/the ceiling, in hard-to-reach places.Keyless replacement of saws greatly facilitates the replacement of consumables, and the adjustment of the cutting speed depends on the degree of pulling the trigger of the switch. The cut is sparkless, the metal coating is not damaged during cutting. There is an AVR vibration reduction system, and almost all saws in our portfolio (except SR 4-A22) are equipped with brushless motors. The no cost period is 2 years.
The cost of saws is average, lower than a circular saw blade, but higher than an abrasive disc.
Disadvantages: it is inconvenient to cut thin sheet metal due to the fact that the reciprocating saw tears it, and it is also difficult to maintain the cutting line. The cutting speed is lower than that of a circular saw or a saw blade with an abrasive disc.
Where is the best place to use the solution: it is perfect for work on weight and in hard-to-reach places (especially the SR 2 saw), for trimming studs, pipes, as well as dismantling works (pipes, doors, windows, aerated concrete blocks, bricks).
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Reciprocating saws |
Blades for reciprocating saws |
Jigsaw saws
Advantages: like reciprocating saws, it is a universal solution thanks to a wide portfolio of jigsaw saws – it is possible to choose canvases for most materials, ranging from wood and plastic, ending with stainless steel.Due to its ergonomics (the presence of a support platform), it is best suited for cutting sheet metal, ventilation ducts, profiles, trays, especially if a curly cut is needed. The cut is comfortable, without sparks. There is a keyless replacement of saws, a backlight, a vibration reduction system and a switch lock, which increased comfort during serial cutting of a large number of materials. The cutting speed is regulated by the degree of pressing the trigger of the switch. The no cost period is 2 years.
The resource of saws is average, the cost is low (lower than that of saws for reciprocating saws, but higher than that of abrasive discs).
Disadvantages: jigsaw saws have limited functionality due to their ergonomics – it is impossible to work in hard-to-reach places, it is not very comfortable to cut by weight. The speed of operation is lower than that of the USM and circular saw on metal.It cuts thick metal hard, so we do not recommend using a tool to solve this problem.
Where it is best to use the solution: for curly or straight cuts of sheet metal, ducts, trays.
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SJD 6-A22 |
SJT 6-A22 |
Blades for jigsaw saws |
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