Chop Saw Reccomendations

[BukitCase]

Mickey, all the 10-12" steel demon blades I've seen spec maximum rpm at 1800 (same as most dry cut saw blades) - I did your same experiment several years ago, I too was amazed at the results...
Til about the 25th or 30th cut, when it'd quit cutting AT ALL -

So finally last year I bought the saw they were INTENDED for, an EVOSAW380 - not quite as versatile as a wood chop saw (no bevel cuts, just miter) but it at least TRIES to contain the chips. The "escapees" get handled with a magnetic sweeper. The plus - original blade is still sharp after about 100 cuts... Steve

 

[ArlyA]

I used abrasive blade chop saws X years ago and glad they are gone. Today, its all cordless band saws and love them. We mostly use makita and they rock for $325. (do use regular band saws and ironworkers as well) If I had to buy one for home use, it would be a cordless band saw.

 

[Smokeydog]

I got a Jancy cold cut saw last year for under $400. It has its place with all the other bandsaws and plasma cutter. Spent another $50 on MK Morse vise jaw inserts. Holds work better for longer blade life. Cuts fast, clean and accurate. No dust or smoke hazards. Easily paid for itself after a custom small metal building and hand railing job in time savings.

Still on original blade after hundreds of cuts. Getting duller now after cutting some 5.5” SS 304 tubing recently, my fault. Still cutting 2x2x11ga square tubing easily.

Don’t have experience in different blades and sharpening yet. So far been impressed. Highly recommend the vise jaw inserts and watching MK Morse cutting video to get the most out of a cold cut saw.

 

[AHNC]

I had the Makita abrasive and when I went to the Evo 14” I gave the abrasive saw so I would never be tempted to use it again. I’ve done a lot of 2, 3 &4“ sq tube and smaller pipe sizes up to 2”. The evo has been clean cutting consistent. Yes, I confirm angles, but I’d do that anyway. I lost a tooth on my first blade. I think it was my own fault. I was hasty in withdrawing the blade and think the contact against the material blew that tooth off. The weakest link, so to speak. Now, I make the cut and let the blade stop before withdrawing it. So far so good. I have horiz BS, plasma, torch, Porta-band and Evo. Evo is the best for my hobbyist work. I will say I have gotten great usage out of the Perta-band since adding the Swag Off-road mounting plate. It turns it into a vert BS

 

[MoArk Willy]

I bought a benchtop band saw from Northern Tool. I also have used cutoff wheels but I like the fact that there are no sparks with the saw.
It cuts very smooth at 0° to 45° and will handle 3" stock.
Not as fast as a cut off wheel or chop saw but nice to have when working in the garage.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch?storeId=6970&ipp=48&Ntt=band+saw#

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I simply put a metal cutting blade into my 14" Ridgid abrasive saw and called it good. I also have a 8" metal cutting Milwaukee skills thingy, a plasma cutter and my acetylene torch.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Most welding doesn't require nice cuts anyway.

I just have a junky off shore thing. Fold away guard was the first thing to go. Frustrating when the blade gets smaller though and you didn't quite make your cut, plus less speed as it gets smaller.

I put a block and raise metal to use that blade up.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I've got both but I think you'll be happy with a cold cut if you're welding. Go slow on angles so blade don't wander. An abrasive might be a good start because cold cuts are expensive. And blades are high.

 

[newbury]

For an inexpensive solution ($30) for small stuff the Northern Tools angle grinder holder is on sale.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200711894_200711894

 

[Tinhack]

Once you go band saw, you'll never go back. I use coolant. If it fits into the 7x10 clamp/vise, it gets cut on the band saw. Turn it on and walk away. It shuts off when the cut is done. The only problem I've had is space for the in-feed and cutoff area. (Small shop)

Get one with coolant or add your own. Beats having to stand there squirting juice. It cuts faster too.

 

[Big Barn]

I removed the coolant setups ( pump, tank, and feed nozzles) on my saws and sold them.

Much too messy.

I just used a lube stick.

 

[Sberry]

I am going back with the guy said most of this doesnt require precision
I rarely cut 45 with a saw and rarely then. I dont have to design every angle they ever invent and out of structural I rarely use tube unless I have to and even less at 45.
That is kind of an amateur type thing fostered by the internet. I built 2 or 300 benches and used 45 on one and no angle cuts for the tube which I did for legs mainly due to customer request.
My chop is set to 90 and hasn't been moved since it was set there.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I have not lubricated the band saw or used a lube stick, but it is making cuts very straight and clean. As a newb learning mostly from the internet I would love to see a list of ways things are commonly joined together since I don't have that experience. I completely agree with posters saying they rarely cut angles as you can build in a way to limit complex cuts. I am generally going for strength and functionality with minimal prep over beauty on my joining methods.

Does anyone know of a site that is fabrication basics for dummies with pictures of join options?

 

[BukitCase]

A simple google search should get you started -

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=steel+fabrication+methods+for+beginners

I've found that I also get much more targeted results using google to find things on Amazon - makes Amazon's incredibly useless search engine look like it was coded by somebody who always got trophies simply for BEING there...

If you don't have an engineering degree, I recommend always testing whatever you build to at least TWICE the stress you think you'd ever need (WITHOUT being UNDER it while you do) - that way when it breaks (and it probably WILL) you're still able to fix/reinforce/start over, preferably LEARNING from your mistakes - just the welding part can take YEARS to get right; besides practice, the site

www.weldingtipsandtricks.com

is a good place to start, but a mentor that's BTDT would probably be better. BOTH would be best, just because somebody's done something for 30 years does NOT mean they've learned the BEST way to do things, just ONE or three of the ways... Steve

Oh, other google searches to try -

types of welding joints
angle vs. square tubing
open root weld
reasons for stitch welding
keeping weld joints square

anything ELSE you wanna know (don't google that one :=) HTH... Steve

 

[Tinhack]

I've found that I also get much more targeted results using google to find things on Amazon - makes Amazon's incredibly useless search engine look like it was coded by somebody who always got trophies simply for BEING there...

Oh man, isn't that the truth. I find myself frustrated enough to click on the X most times I'm there and go to Bing. (I'm not a fan of Google--They keep trying to get into my machine.)

Sorry for the drift.

 

[JohnnyMX]

Weld.com and WeldingTipsAndTricks.com are the two sites that have got me going to this point. I was hoping for more of a diagram with pictures that says you are connecting Angle to Square Tube, here are the best ways and why with pictures and a rating 1-5 of prep-time and 1-5 strength type of thing. Asking too much

 

[BukitCase]

"Asking too much"

Or maybe trying too little - the first suggestion in my list yielded a few DOZEN links worth checking out.

Then I searched on book - which welding joints to use and why and got several MORE suggestions worth checking out. Searching the above highlighted string will get you dozens of book suggestions just from amazon, but you'd have to read thru the descriptions to see if a particular book SOUNDS like it'd help YOU. My own library (just reference) takes up 8 feet of floor to ceiling book shelves and covers pretty much everything I've EVER been interested in (a really LONG list) -

Your request sounds like a SIMPLE one, but it really isn't - my own "path of enlightenment" on just this subject happened over a span of about 56 YEARS starting with Acetylene (nearly getting KILLED by an IDIOT tended to increase my thirst for KNOWLEDGE), then a brief period with TIG (called Heli-Arc back then), then stick in 1973 (pipeliner friend's SA200), then bought a 250 amp ac/dc buzz box (still works), then got my first MIG in about 2010, second one in 2012, third one in 2015 (added a stick/TIG combo in there somewhere, had the plasma cutter since about 2011) -

BTW, the "enlightenment" won't end til they "pat me in the face with a shovel", which hopefully is still a ways away

Sorry, that got a bit longer than I expected; best of luck, and don't give up til you find something that works for you; stubbornness can be a useful tool... Steve

 

[jjp8182]

... searched on book - which welding joints to use and why and got several MORE suggestions ....

Have been watching this thread for a bit and not only have to agree with the full post, but add that it's worth following links and reading things that are written with an educational value (rather than just marketing value).

For example: following the results to quoted search, and letting one thing lead to another lead me to this article: Is Welding Hard (And Can You Teach Yourself)? - Welding Headquarters

Which has a key point at the end (that I've seen elsewhere as well): "Malcolm Gladwell says in his book, Outliers, that it takes a person about 10,000 hours to master a skill. Don’t set yourself up for failure by thinking you’ll master welding in a matter of months."

....and I'd wager the phrase "master a skill" in that context doesn't mean becoming a leading expert as the latter generally takes many (many) more years, and encountering a variety of situations/circumstances/projects (20 years of experience doing a single type of project repeatedly isn't the same as 20 years where each year provides different problems on different projects to face & solve) and even then an "expert" could/will/should keep learning -- and that applies to more a lot more than just welding.

 

[deezler]

Average clown on couldesac just run longer and let blade rub thru. Probably got no idea blade is directional. Look at most hand hacksaws, 3" of blade wore out, rest still got factory paint on de teeth. Supposed to be dat way, don't it look good hanging on pegboard wall? Even spent time to shadow paint all his tools. Man gets paycheck for sitting in little cube and has time to moderate internet board from his device at work too. Spent a lot of time in school stuffed in hall locker when he was Hall Monitor. Switched to dat job from Crossing Guard after girls hooked his belt to flagpole rope & hauled him up.

(removed), is that you....?

I can't type f e r d ?

 

[Big Barn]

(removed), is that you....?

I can't type f e r d ?

Is he still around?? I blocked him a long time ago. First and only time I’ve ever done that.