chop saw

[SandburRanch]

For GAWD sake don't call a miter saw (usually for wood) a chop saw and a chop saw (usually for metal) a miter saw. There's enough confusion without creating our own.

 

[J_J]

mechanic, The original poster is asking about metal cutting saws.

If you get a chance to try one of the metal cutting saws, you will be impressed.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have been thinking about getting this one. You can cut a little bit larger metal with it and it has more power than the dewalt. Another thing I liked about it over the dewalt is it has a cast base not stamped steel.

 

[bigdad]

I have been thinking about getting this one. You can cut a little bit larger metal with it and it has more power than the dewalt. Another thing I liked about it over the dewalt is it has a cast base not stamped steel.

I have one like it and it works great. Gotta be patient though. Draws some mean current.

 

[PILOON]

My chop saw is a 12" MAKITA that was a yard sale find that I purchased about 12 or so years ago for about $50.
I just can't kill it. Have cut 4 x 4 x 1/4 many times and loads of stock.
like even 1/2" flats.
Downside is 12" but learned to live with that at the price.
Upside is I get worn 14" blades from the local rental shop for $1.00 each as their rentals usually get returned with 12" remaining.

 

[94BULLITT]

I have one like it and it works great. Gotta be patient though. Draws some mean current.

Does the cut off wheel last very long on heavier gauge metal?

 

[boggen]

ya didn't give very good details if you are cutting metal, or plastic, or wood. perhaps giving some detail of what ya trying to do. might allow folks, to give you a better feedback.

chop saw for 1/4" metal pipe. if you are not cutting that much. i would say go with a reciprocating saw. and place pipe in a bench vise. it is a litter harder to get a perfect cut on 1/16" measurement. but a quick grinding to end can work. even with a metal chop saw. you may still need to take a grinder or like. and get a couple burs off.

if ya go with wood chop saw. for cutting 1/4" plastic pipe. flip the blade around. and you will have a better cut. and less splintering and cracking of the ends of the pipes. though chop saw just for 1/4" pipe. if me, i would look at what other projects needed to be done. and choose something that could handle larger size lumber, say 2x8's or 2x10's or 4x4 posts or a 4" pipe.

 

[6011Artist]

it's all according to how precise your cuts need to be, how often you will use it, how much jingle you want to spend on a new saw.

I bought a stamped out base type 20 yrs ago from agri supply for (I think) around 100.00. The 200.00 Milwaukees at that time also had a stamped out base. I figured it was good for what I wanted as my cuts didn't have to be machinist precise. It only took about a week to strip out the plate below the base that the backstop bolts to. I rebuilt it by fabricating one out of heavier steel, I can really lock down the backstop now and it has cut TONS of steel, is pretty much precise in my cuts, light enough to take to heavy steel and block the saw up under the long pieces I don't want to lift by myself. I definately got my money out of that saw and it's still going strong.

I bought a brickmasons saw for 20 bucks, needed a motor, just happened to have one on the shelf. It has the 3/4 arbor. It is more precise on small stock than the bigger saw, has a nice heavy aluminum table and clamp. (Never cut a brick with it in the 12 yrs I've had it). It carries about a 10 inch blade. I use my 14 inch blades down to a reasonable depth and if cutting bigger pipe or tubing I need a full blade to cut it. I put the smaller blades in the bricksaw by using a bushing and continue using them on small stock until they get down to about 6 inches. So basically I cut with free blades on the brick saw. After I get my moneys worth out of the blade on the brick saw, I save a small stack and with yet another bushing, I can use them on a skillsaw, although I do not do much cutting with a skillsaw on metal, the blades are free scrap to me. So, I do get a lot of cutting out of a 14 inch cutoff wheel...lol. And you can buy the bushing pack from Harbor freight for less than 2.00 with about 8 differnt types/sizes in the pack, even the skillsaw one.

Might give a few of you guys some ideas on longer cutoff wheel usage...lol.

I also have a Husky gas powered job saw that carries the 14 inch wheel so lots of wheels to go on the bricksaw.

Soooo, that Milwaukee is nice, and at that price, if I needed one today, it looks like a good saw for the money. But my old stamped out table type sure has served me well in the last 20 yrs.

 

[Carl Bert]

Harbor freight is pure garbage. I have a dewalt and have no complaints

 

[J_J]

This is the saw for metal cutting. The called it a cold cut saw. Has carbide tips on the bld. Turns slower than a regular chop saw. If you have not tried it, you have no idea about it's potential.