Metal chop saw — Makita LC1230

Low-speed "cold-cut" chop saw for metal. Cuts steel, stainless and aluminium, each with its own blade.

Makita metal chop saw with vise, stop and blade guard

Blades

There is one blade for each material group:

• Aluminium and non-ferrous metals

• Mild (black) steel

• Stainless steel

The material is printed on each blade, and blades and signs are colour-coded with small dots. Each blade has a magnetic sign. The sign for the mounted blade goes on the holder on the left side of the saw, so you can see which blade is fitted.

Cutting with the wrong blade destroys it almost immediately. Replacement blades cost 750–1800 SEK.

Blade signs

Safety

• Safety glasses and hearing protection.

• Clamp the work firmly in the vise.

• Unplug the saw before lifting the blade guard or changing blades.

• Stop immediately if there are lots of sparks or the material discolours from heat — the blade is being damaged.

How to use

1. Check the blade. Read the sign on the holder and the text on the blade. Change the blade if it's wrong for your material (takes about a minute — see below).

2. Check the rotation. With the saw unplugged, lift the guard: the arrow on the blade must match the arrow on the saw.

3. Set up. Set the stop to the angle you need. Support long material with stands.

4. Clamp. Clamp the work firmly in the vise. A chart on the wall by the blades shows how to cut different profiles — some need packing with e.g. wood blocks.

5. Cut. Plug in, put on protection, press the guard lock and trigger, and lower the saw slowly with light pressure. Let the saw do the work.

   • On a flat face (e.g. the top of a box section) the saw seems to barely move. Don't press harder — let it take its time.

   • On thin walls (e.g. the sides of a box section) it drops fast — ease off and keep a steady rate.

   • Done right, the cut pieces stay cool.

6. Finish. Unplug the saw, clean up and put it back.

Changing the blade

1. Unplug the saw.

2. Take the socket wrench from the left side of the saw.

3. Remove the bolt on the right side that holds the centre cover.

4. Lift the blade guard to expose the blade bolt and the red round washer. Hold the spindle lock button in (photo below) and unscrew the bolt. Hold the blade — it comes loose as the bolt comes out.

5. Remove the red washer and the blade. Hang the blade on its wall holder.

6. Move the sign from the saw's holder to the removed blade.

7. Put the new blade's sign on the saw's holder.

8. Fit the new blade with its arrow matching the arrow on the saw. Refit the red washer and bolt with the spindle lock held in. Tighten just enough to remove any play — no more.

9. Lower the guard and refit the centre cover bolt.

The spindle lock button

Maintenance

Maintenance and repairs log

Specifications

Documents and links

• Makita LC1230 manual (PDF)

• Makita product page

• Metal — Open questions