Choosing a chop saw?

[texasjohn]

Soundguy is right, the HF chop saw works fine.... I've gone thru about 3 blades.... lots and lots of cutting...... the original blade and the Russian blades have all worked fine for me.

 

[Sherweld]

I've never bought anything 'reconditioned' and have always been wary of what it meant. What do you guys think?

I buy reconditioned (many items) when available. Not only is the price usually much better, but some "qualified" person has supposedly given the item his full attention to make sure that it meets "new specs" before it goes out the door, as opposed to just coming off the end of an assembly line.

Also, many times an item is returned to the point of purchase because the buyer didn't know how to operate it, changed their mind, used it for the job at hand and returned for a full refund (cheaper than renting) So ... many times there is nothing wrong to begin with, but it must be checked out and sold as reconditioned.

Maybe just luck, but I have never been disappointed with a reconditioned item, to include printers, chopsaw, angle grinders, drill motors, computers, etc. But then perhaps others have not fared so well. JMHO

 

[Foggy]

I went through the same decision a year ago and ended up getting a 4x6" horizontal bandsaw. Absolutely brilliant. Only cost a little more than a quality chopsaw, but it's quiet, little mess, and once you set the cut up you can walk away and do other stuff (within reason). I've also found I need minimal cleanup of the cuts on the bandsaw. Oh, and blades last for ages and aren't very expensive. Never done a total-cost-of-ownership, but I don't think I'd give up the bandsaw now I have one.

Cheers, Iain

 

[canoetrpr]

I ask my wife what she thinks and she throws in a monkey wrench into my cutting situation. She did a bit of stick welding about 10 years ago in university - she's an artist.

She asks why I'm not getting a torch setup to cut?? I say ummmm... I have no clue. Donno what it is going to cost - anybody?

Any idea what the advantages / disadvantages are of getting a torch setup to cut vs. a chop saw?

 

[canoetrpr]

I don't know a dang thing about a bandsaw but... I'm assuming that the largest piece of metal I can cut with a 4x6" bandsaw is .... 4"x6". Is that right?

 

[kennyd]

A torch rig will cost probably double the price of a saw, plus you will have to source tanks-either rented or purchased that's semi convenient to you. Add on top of that, the price of gas has skyrocketed in the last year (at least here in the states).

Also, IMHO, be very careful of the cheapo band saws...that can be very tricky to get working well and cutting straight. I would rather work on my project then the saw I bought for the project!

 

[Bill_C]

I started with a chop saw--a Dewalt that cost around $200 some 15 years ago. Still have it, and it has cut many pieces of steel. About a year ago I bought the Harbor Freight 4x6 bandsaw and haven't touched the chop saw since. The bandsaw is quieter and more precise--and doesn't leave burning sparks all over the place.

Setup (from box to cutting) took two or three hours but I haven't had to mess with it since, even after a blade change.

For stuff I can't fit in the bandsaw, I use a Sawzall. I have used a torch but to me it's too rough and not precise enough for my metal fabrication work--too much gap when fitting stuff together. I'd like to have a torch but probably wouldn't use it once a year, the bandsaw is far superior for my needs.

 

[kenmac]

I have a Ryobi 14'' chop saw I bought from H.F. 10 yrs or so ago. (b-4 they sold their brand). I have built several trailers among other things with it. It's still going strong. I use the cheap H.F. cut off wheels

 

[Soundguy]

I'd buy a plasma cutter before antoher set of torches. They are always out of gas when you need them.

Bandsaws are nice for some things.. chops for others.. etc.

I'm too cheap to get a bandsaw yet.. even the 150$ chinese ones.. but if they ever hit near 99$ I'll get one

soundguy

 

[srjones]

I'll add another vote for the $50 HF chop saw. I've had it for going on 3 years and gone through more than 10 of the discs. A few months ago I thought I finally killed it, but there was a buildup of metal dust on one of the brushes. After pulling the brush, cleaning it out and putting the brush it, it ran good as new.

The inherent drawback to any abrasive saw is the dust and the smoke they create. A bandsaw may be a cleaner alternative. When/if plasma torch kits drop below $200, I think I'll make the jump.

 

[Soundguy]

Hmm.. anyone know if there are chinese plasma cutters.. i don't recall seeing any at harbor freight?

soundguy

 

[mjncad]

When I was looking for something to supplement my vertical metal cutting bandsaw, I looked at chop saws; but went with a Grizzly 4" x 6" swivel head that gives me up to 60-degree mitering capability.
G9742 4" x 6" Metal-Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head


Jet now has a version of the Grizzly saw with some extra niceties the Grizzly doesn't have.
WMH ® - JET 5 x 6 Swivel Head Bandsaw 1/2HP 115/230V 1Ph

I'm happy with the Grizzly; but would have bought the Jet if it were available at the time. Maybe one day I'll get a dry cut chop saw; but right now the Grizzly does all I ask of it. Are the Jet and Grizzly in the $99 to $200 range? No; but since they do what I need in one tool versus having a $99 HF bandsaw and a cheap abrasive chop saw, the monetary difference isn't that bad.

My vertical bandsaw is a Wilton, and I wouldn't be without it. WMH ® - WILTON 14 Wood/Metal Vertical Bandsaw 1HP 115V 1Ph

 

[kennyd]

Hmm.. anyone know if there are chinese plasma cutters.. i don't recall seeing any at harbor freight?

soundguy

They sure do, Look HERE to see one of them. There is also few other Chinese brand on the market under different names. They get A LOT of bad press on the welding forums. Seem some of them let the magic smoke out very early in there lives.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Hmm.. anyone know if there are chinese plasma cutters.. i don't recall seeing any at harbor freight?

soundguy

Hmmmm. keep buying Chinese, pretty soon we'll all be speaking it.

 

[canoetrpr]

Hmm.. anyone know if there are chinese plasma cutters.. i don't recall seeing any at harbor freight?

soundguy

Soundguy - right after your last post I went looking for a chinese plasma cutter too . Didn't find one yet. They are bound to come eventually. I'd rather buy a brand name welder like the Hobart I have now but I'll happily purchase a Chinese plasma cutter.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Seem some of them let the magic smoke out very early in there lives.

Kenny, any idea where I can get some of that smoke? And, how do you get it back in there? Seems like everytime I let the smoke out of something, it quits working.

 

[schmism]

Which would you pick?
[/SIZE]

none of the above.

my $50 HF 14" cuttoff has been great for me for a couple of years. It gets light use. Even if they only last a year under heavy use, you can buy 4 of them for the price of one of the others. (and really if its getting heavy use, you should consider a cold saw or horizontal bandsaw instead)

 

[Willl]

If anybody can see me, here's another vote for the HF saw.

 

[canoetrpr]

Turns out that our equivalent of HF (Princess Auto) has a 14" 15A chopsaw but it is no where near the price of $50. It is priced at $125. It seems a lot poorer in design / weight etc. than the Delta one that they sell at $175.

The Delta and the Makita are at the top of my list right now since I'd like to have it on the weekend to play with some stock with The Milwaukee is a mail order.

 

[patrick_g]

The Delta and the Makita are at the top of my list right now since I'd like to have it on the weekend to play with some stock with The Milwaukee is a mail order.

The Milwaukee would probably last as long as the Delta and Makita used one after the other.

I have Milwaukee tools that are 35 years old and running as good as the 5 year old and the 3 wk old Milwaukee tools I have.

My HF chop saw ran for less than 3 min before the trigger switch went intermittent and then quit altogether.

Pat