Log Shear vs. Hot Saw:
A Debate on the
Cutting Edge.

Some extruders think the new Granco Clark Hot Saw is a wonderful new development that will add a big boost to their productivity. Naturally, we agree.

But others greet the news with a hearty “That’s nice. But I’ll stick with my Granco Clark Log Shear.” Since hundreds of extruders have long enjoyed the reliable performance of that shear for many years, we find it a little difficult to disagree with their sentiments, too.

How can we feel strongly both ways? Easy: to paraphrase your mother (and mine and everyone else’s)—to each his own! The reality is that some extruders choose shearing and others opt for sawing—and, while sometimes it is based upon a particular aspect of their operation, it is equally often a matter of personal preference or philosophy.

A very productive pair.

The good news, of course, is that the biggest benefit to productivity is one shared by both the Log Shear and the Hot Saw: cutting the billets to the appropriate size after heating, immediately prior to entering the press. This brings many advantages.

Most obvious: there is no longer a need to inventory many different lengths of billet. The “right” size is always available, because you cut it as needed. That frees up the space and money you used to have tied up in inventory.

In addition, we all know that an extrusion line can occasionally have a problem that results in some scrapped profiles. This can make it difficult to accurately predict the exact number of billets of a certain length needed to complete a particular job. This means that you can wind up with a furnace full of heated billets that are the wrong size for the job you need to complete.

Removing those billets and storing them safely takes labor, space, and—most importantly—production time. And on top of that, consider the ever-increasing cost of heating those billets—which is then wasted.

So the first thing to acknowledge is that if you’re still storing billets of many different lengths…either the Log Shear or Hot Saw would provide a big boost to your business.

Complete log utilization for shear efficiency.

The Granco Clark Log Shear has for many years had “the field to itself” when it comes to cutting billets to the right size at the press. One thing that has made it such a popular technology (along with the benefits mentioned above) is the fact that the shear makes 100-percent consumption of the log possible.

Because of the way the shear operates, no chips or kerf is generated in the course of its operation. And, with its “compensation cut” feature, scrap end pieces can be avoided, as well. So for all practical purposes, every bit of the log is turned into extrudable billet.

It is certainly understandable why so many extruders prefer this kind of efficiency, and are equally happy to avoid dealing with the need to remove any fragments in the cutting zone to maintain precise operation.

Granco Clark has sold literally hundreds of Log Shears, most integral to a Granco Clark Hot Jet Furnace, to maximize productivity. It is a proven technology, and one that a great many extruders refuse to be without.

Granco Clark’s Hot Saw: a hot commodity!

With the popularity of the Log Shear, why have so many extruders recently embraced the new Granco Clark Hot Saw for the pre-press billet cutting? Simple: the Hot Saw offers several interesting benefits that, depending upon the situation, can make it the preferred choice.

Several points of difference come directly from the “givens” of shearing vs. sawing as a process. When a log is “sheared,” there is, inherently, a mild deformation of the log edge as the aluminum is forced aside by the cutting edge. This deformation can result in occasional profile abnormalities as that segment of the billet is extruded. For some extruders, that is not an acceptable price to pay for 100-percent log consumption.

In contrast, the Granco Clark Hot Saw produces perfectly even, accurate cuts, leaving the billets with uniform consistency and no edge deformities or length variance. This helps ensure problem-free profile extrusion, and eliminates the scrap that the shear can, at times, generate.

Also, the intense pressure required for the shearing process has other potential disadvantages. High pressures can create an environment in which lubricant leaks are more likely to occur. The Hot Saw operates at lower pressure levels, which can reduce leak-related and other maintenance tasks.

In addition, the Granco Clark Hot Saw can successfully cut harder alloys that are unable to withstand the higher pressures required for shearing without cracking.

And the Granco Clark Hot Saw also deals efficiently with swarf with a well-designed chip collection system. Chips created by the saw blade are removed quickly from the cutting area and relayed to a collection point for recycling.

The bottom line: your bottom line.

The “right” choice all comes down to your specific extrusion operation. Where do your personal choices lie in terms of the tradeoffs? Potential profile damage vs. 100-percent log consumption. Saw blade changes vs. pressure-related maintenance needs. Ability to cut any alloy hardness vs. your primary customer needs.

If you need help making the decision, learn more at www.grancoclark.com or call your Granco Clark sales representative and talk about it. After all, you can’t make a bad choice: just a better one!