Special cutting applications for saws
(Non) Explosive success…. 1000lb sawing concrete filled test bomb!
Cutting the bomb
This was a test cut using a metal cutting horizontal bandsaw and a carbide tipped bandsaw blade for a customer sawing concrete filled test bomb casing. Of course, we’re never told why. In this case, cutting concrete, inclusive of aggregate etc., wouldn’t be a normal application for a carbide tipped blade, however, as we were sawing a steel case at the same time, an abrasive blade was unlikely to survive.
We believe this was after being dug up some considerable time after the “drop” from a testing site.
To resist blades jamming in the cut in materials prone to internal stress, it’s important to use a wide set blade to give more clearance on the blade body, and enrich the coolant mixture to reduce friction.
It’s equally important to use a saw with sufficient power to haul the blade through the cut removing material and resisting the clamping pressure on the blade body at the same time.