This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. I’ve always whipped out a hack saw or angle grinder and abrasive disc when I wanted to cut some metal. Or, for thin sheet stock, the trusty old tin snips. A few years ago I got my first carbide-toothed metal-cutting miter saw blade. We’ve all heard about how fragile carbide teeth are, so it might be a surprise that such a thing even exists. Yet here we are; cutting steel with the Diablo Steel Demon cermet carbide-toothed blade. On a circular saw, no less! For a new favorite way to cut mild and stainless steel, we reverently say “hell-o” to this heavenly red devil!
A Gnashing Of Teeth – Diablo Steel Demon
Those who believe hell hath no fury like a woman scorned have clearly never tried Diablo Steel Demon blades. Though, if said woman’s saw is loaded with a Steel Demon blade, all bets are off!
Part of Diablo’s metal cutting lineup, Steel Demon blades are available in 10 different sizes, ranging from 5-3/8” to 14” in diameter. They have thin kerf cermet (ceramic metal) carbide teeth capable of lasting up to 5X longer than standard carbide blades and 40X longer than abrasive discs according to team Diablo. They cut faster, cleaner and cooler than any abrasive wheel ever dreamed of.
We tested the 7-1/4”, 48-tooth circular saw blade. Here are some things this particular blade can cut (specs may vary a bit, depending on size and tooth count):
* Mild steel & stainless steel
* 1/16” – 1/4” (wall thickness) metal studs, EMT conduit, steel channel and angle iron.
* 1/8” – 1/2” plate and bar stock
* 1/4″ – 1-1/2” diameter threaded rod
There’s also a “Perma-SHIELD®” non-stick coating to reduce friction, corrosion and tartar build-up on the teeth. Flossing not required.
Check out how much quicker Diablo Steel Demon cuts compared to an abrasive wheel!
The Devil Is In The Details
The teeth are brazed to the plate with a special tri-metal process that creates an extremely impact-resistant bond. Continuing with the rule of three, Diablo Steel Demon uses Triple Chip Grind (TCG) teeth for smoother cuts with less heat buildup and fewer sparks. With TCG geometry, every other tooth has beveled corners. After a beveled tooth removes material from the middle, a “regular” squared tooth comes in to chip away the two corners.
Speaking Of The Devil – Diablo Steel Demon
Diablo Steel Demon blades are touted as leaving a burr-free edge; and it’s true! I was surprised at just how clean the cuts are. Almost as if it they were done with an industrial shear. Almost.
The only burrs that developed were at the very end of the off-cuts. And that’s only because I allowed them to sag before dropping off. Even the world’s best blade can’t cut something that’s actively moving out of the way. The main workpiece, however, was beautiful, burr free and smooth (as smooth as a circular saw can yield in the hands of a slightly unsteady operator).
If you’ve never cut steel with an abrasive disc or hacksaw, you might not appreciate what you’re looking at here. But trust us, the difference is night and day. No, the difference is night and, uh, Jupiter. In other words, worlds apart.
Diablo Went Down To Georgia – He Was Looking To Saw Some Steel
No fiddling around here. This blade gets the job done.
Does The Devil Really Wear Prada?
Ok, so there are some cases where a Steel Demon circular saw blade might not be the best option. In tight spaces or when working with thicker steel (heavy beams or cast iron pipe, for example), you may be better off with one of Diablo’s reciprocating saw blades, or something like the Milwaukee Torch carbide toothed recip blade.
Giving The Devil His Due – Diablo Steel Demon Saw Blades
If you’ve ever cut a bunch of steel at a jobsite – or even a few chain link fencing posts or metal studs for a personal home improvement project – you’ve probably spent more time than necessary, and ended up with sloppier results than you might have liked. For faster, cleaner cuts without re-work or deburring, it’s time to step up to Diablo Steel Demon.
Some say “El Diablo” is to be avoided at all costs. “Like hell!”, I say. Prayers for better steel cutting options have been heard and answered by the folks in red! Diablo Steel Demon blades are one temptation you can feel good about giving in to. Can we get an amen?
Diablo Steel Demon blades:
Milwaukee Torch carbide toothed reciprocating saw blades:
I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with Home Fixated in sponsored content. As a part of the sponsorship, Home Fixated is receiving compensation for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. This post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.
