New Way to Cut Down Brass

PvtGreg · November 28, 2011, 06:53:05 PM

Hi All,

This is a more detailed post of Two Flints' "What Do You Use to Trim Your Spencer Brass?" topic as it pertains to a new tool I found to cut down brass.

As I said in my post to that topic, I found a new tool to cut down brass. You can get it at Harbor Freight Tools and is called the 4in Mighty Mite table saw. It cost me $39.95. http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-mighty-mite-table-saw-93211.html

Its wood blade doesn't do all that well, but the diamond blade does OK on brass if you move slow. Here's more details of the jig I rigged.

First I scavenged a piece off a tri square like this one http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/279369247/Aluminiun_Alloy_adjustable_tri_square.html and set it in left hand miter slot tight against the right edge of the slot.

I added a shim to the flat edge of the tri-square to make the distance between the shimmed tri-square edge and the blade ~1.155".

I then made jig to hold the 32ga. (or Lebel) case so I could push it through the saw. Note I uses a 1" thick piece of wood and drilled 3 9/16" holes through it. The last hole holds the uncut case. The two other holes hold a case cut to 1". The two 1" cases are to keep the jig square as you push the jig through the saw.

You then place the jig as shown below on the saw surface:

Start up the saw (let it get up to speed) and push it through (see below). MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR FINGERS AWAY FROM THE BLADE!!!! - sorry to yell, but be safe!!

Push it through slow and steady and you will get a good cut. As you can see here I get a shell cut to 1.155".

I like this tool better than the cut off saw because the blade lasts MUCH longer. I only got 9 cuts out of the cut off saw. I've done 40 with this tool. I will admit that the cut off saw was easier to use when you have a good jig, but this tool works well too.

http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-top-cut-off-saw-42307.html

Hope this helps all you out there doing your own shells from 32 ga. or 8mm Lebel brass.

PvtGreg

Mossyrock · November 28, 2011, 08:43:44 PM

Hey, that's pretty neat!

But, I'll bet there's some old coot here that will say, "Hell, Boy!!! Where ya been? I been doing that for YEARS! Why, back in MY day, we didn't HAVE no fancy cut-off saw! We CHEWED on our brass to shorten it! AND WE LIKED IT!!

Two Flints · November 30, 2011, 08:37:04 AM

Hello SSS,

You guys are so darn creative with all your jigs and such

Thanks Pvt Greg for your thread

I kinda wish Perry Owens would post his comments on the lack of extended cutting ability of the blades that go with his Harbor Freight Chop Saw. Only 9 cuts per blade

Is there another correct fitting blade that will give you more cuts?

Two Flints

PvtGreg · November 30, 2011, 09:50:42 AM

I should say 9 smooth cuts & maybe 18 acceptable cuts total, then the blade gets snaggle-toothed and useless.

A 2" diamond blade would be the best if there is one.

Perry Owens · November 30, 2011, 01:16:59 PM

I am at a loss to explain why you get such poor blade life. I purchased my mini chop saw about 4 years ago and am on my second blade.

This is the one I am using now. It has cut 200 24gauge Magtech brass shotshells and 60 50-70 Starlines.
Just to make sure it is ok I went out and cut another 50-70:

There is some burring on the offcut but none on the main body. In any case, I use a Forster case trimmer for final finishing so burrs don't worry me.
Maybe Harbor Freight changed their supplier or you got a dud batch of blades?
You can get tungsten carbide tipped or diamond blades for 2in saws but they cost as much as the saw.
Perry Owens

PvtGreg · November 30, 2011, 02:31:55 PM

Perry I'll have to take a picture of my blade for you. Its looks like something out of the SAW movies its so jagged.

I am at a loss - you're cutting what I'm cutting {shrug}.

Two Flints · November 30, 2011, 04:40:08 PM

Mike,

You posted . . ."You can get tungsten carbide tipped or diamond blades for 2 inch saws . . .

Where

A link please (in the USA

).

Two Flints

Perry Owens · November 30, 2011, 05:36:48 PM

Proxxon sell them in the USA - http://www.proxxontools.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=7
Unfortunately they have a 10mm hole,not 3/8in, so you would need to make an adapter or a replacement arbor. I have not looked into that as I don't have the need but I will take my saw apart to see what could be done.
BTW, I checked the Harbor Freight web site and noticed that they say the mini chop saw will cut soft metals but don't make that claim for the table saw.
Perry Owens