Scotchman Coldsaw User Guide
This guide covers basic usage of TEAM Lab's Scotchman Coldsaw. If unsure about operation, ask a staff member. To complete the upgrade use the upgrade guide.
Coldsaw Upgrade Guide
Safety Precautions
- NEVER operate this machine with the guard disconnected or removed.
- ALWAYS wear eye protection when operating or observing machine operation.
- Observe all TEAM Lab safety precautions and follow all staff instructions when operating the machine or working in TEAM Lab spaces.
- Disconnect the machine from the power source before performing maintenance or changing blades.
- Practice good housekeeping. Keep the area around the machine clean and dry and clean machine after use.
- When sawing, always support long pieces and ensure sure that the material is properly clamped.
- Inform staff of any discrepancies concerning machine working condition.
About
TEAM Lab’s Scotchman Cold Saw is
designed to cut solid, tubes, flats and other profiles in grades of material
that range from hot and cold rolled steel, stainless, aluminum, brass, copper,
synthetics and extrusions. Cold sawing is a process similar to a milling
process. In most cases, this, combined with the self-centering vise feature and
the variable speed drive, gives a finished cut that does not require any
secondary machining or de-burring, in other words one does not have to machine
these edges to clamp on them on a milling machine.Since milling spindle speeds are
used in cold sawing, there are several things that are required to achieve
quality results. The selection of the proper pitch (number of teeth) on the
blade and the proper spindle speed for the type of material being cut are
critical. Proper material clamping and a good quality coolant are also
important.
Parts of the Coldsaw
- Outlet for Coldsaw
- Speed Selector Switch
- Operation Trigger
- Blade Guard
- Tension Handle
- Miter Lock Release
- Vise and vise jaws
- Vise handle
- Chip tray
- Outfeed tables
- Storage Locker





Capacities and Workholding


Basic operation
Have shop staff unlock the machine and storage locker
Determine the correct blade to use based on material you are
cutting
- 220 tooth – all tubing
- 180 tooth – solid steels, stainless steel
- 150 tooth – solid aluminum, brass, copper, plastics
CLIP NEEDED - Changing blades [Ask shop staff for assistance for changing the blade and in plugging the machine into the outlet.]
- Unplug saw
- Remove the knob from the guard linkage and manually open the guard.
- Remove the blade bolt through the center hole in the blade guard.
- Remove the blade flange and blade.

- Install the blade with the teeth that are closest to the front of the machine pointing down. Line up pin holes of blade with pin holes of spindle.
- Replace the blade flange and line up pins with pin holes in both the blade and spindle.
- Start the bolt into the spindle, but do not tighten.
- Before tightening the blade in position, the back lash must be taken up. To take up the back lash, rotate the bottom of the blade towards you until it seats against the drive pins.
- CAUTION: THE BLADES ARE VERY SHARP AND CARE MUST BE TAKEN WHEN REMOVING THE BACK LASH. DO NOT GRIP THE CUTTING EDGE OF THE BLADE BARE HANDED. THE BACK LASH MUST BE TAKEN UP EVERY TIME A BLADE IS CHANGED.
- After taking up the back lash, tighten the blade bolt.
- Plug in saw for use.
Determine the correct speed based on material you are
cutting with the speed selector switch
- Fast speed (aluminum, brass, copper)
- Slow speed (steel, stainless steel, tubing)
Determine the best set up for material you are cutting
Changing vise jaws
- Loosen and remove vise jaw bolt and nut
- Remove vise jaw
- Place desired vise jaw on platform with the notch facing down and the point of the chamfer facing the middle of the vise
- Install the vise jaw bolt and nut
- Ensure vise jaw has clearance from the saw blade and tighted the bolt
Adjusting vise jaws
- Loosen vise jaw bolt and nut
- Vise jaw will now slide freely along the length of the slot
- Ensure vise jaw has clearance from the saw blade by closing vise on the stock but not tightening the vise
- Bring saw blade down without turning the saw on and sliding the vise jaw out of the blades way but leaving 1/8 inch gap between saw blade and vise jaw
- Tighten the vise jaw bolt
- Tighten vise firmly on stock
Mitered cut
- Use appropriate blade for material
- Use flat vise jaws
- Unlock Tension handle
- Push miter lock release handle
- Turn the head in the direction that you want to miter until the pin snaps into a preset pin (45 or 90)
- If using a different angle than 45 or 90 miter lock release handle will not snap into a pin
- Re-lock the tension handle
- Ensure vise jaws are clamping the material as close to the blade as possible but not hitting the blade
Angle Iron
- Use 220 tooth blade
- Use flat vise jaws
- Ensure vise jaws clamp material as close to the blade as possible without hitting blade
- Clamp with point up
- Run in slow speed
Square stock
- Use appropriate blade for material
- Install V-block jaws for 90 degree cuts
- If mitering square stock, follow the mitering procedure
- Ensure vise jaws are clamping the material as close to the blade as possible without hitting the blade
- Clamp material in the V-Block so a point is facing up.
Round stock
- Use appropriate blade for material
- Use flat vise jaws
- Ensure vise jaws are clamping the material as close to the blade as possible without hitting the blade
- Clamp tightly
Tubing
- Use 220 tooth blade
- Use flat vise jaws for miters, round, and rectangle tubing
- Use V-Block vise jaws for square tubing
- Ensure vise jaws are clamping the material as close to the blade as possible without hitting the blade
- Clamp tightly
- Run machine in slow speed
Rectangular and flat bar
- Use appropriate blade for material
- Use flat vise jaws
- Ensure vise jaws are clamping the material as close to the blade as possible without hitting the blade
- Clamp tightly with the shorter side up and the longer side clamped in the vise.
- Use slow speed for anything under 1/4 in thick
Ensure there is enough coolant in the base of the saw. Look from back side of saw. Inform staff if coolant level is low
Clamp material in vise tightly. If your part is loose, it may damage the saw blade.

Pull trigger to start saw, wait for coolant to start flowing on blade.
Slowly pull handle down to engage the material, then firmly pull into material to make a chip until the saw blade is completely through the material.
Bring saw blade back to the up position while running and
release the trigger
Remove part from vise and turn motor switch to the OFF
position
Return saw angle and vise jaws to their original position (90 cut with flat jaws)
Clean saw and area around the saw. Ethyl alcohol is used to clean up coolant on floor.
Inform staff when completed with use.