chop saw

[Army grunt]

I have a14" Hitachi chop saw.Its creat, also a 8"Hitachiit is great.
Army Grunt

 

[JB4310]

Little hijack here, I've never gave any thought to a metal cutting chop saw before today, now I'm seriously considering one. Normally I use hand held saws, from 4.5" to 12 inch gas powered. of course you can't get a very square cut with a hand held roaring in your hands.

I was thinking about getting a horizontal band saw but don't have the floor space to dedicate to leaving it set up all the time. with a 14" chop saw I could just put it on a rack when not in use.

Any thoughts on which one would be more useful? what trade offs?

I passed up a great deal on a little band saw last year cause like I said I'm running out of floor space.

Thanks, JB.

 

[moored4]

Little hijack here, I've never gave any thought to a metal cutting chop saw before today, now I'm seriously considering one. Normally I use hand held saws, from 4.5" to 12 inch gas powered. of course you can't get a very square cut with a hand held roaring in your hands.

I was thinking about getting a horizontal band saw but don't have the floor space to dedicate to leaving it set up all the time. with a 14" chop saw I could just put it on a rack when not in use.

Any thoughts on which one would be more useful? what trade offs?

I passed up a great deal on a little band saw last year cause like I said I'm running out of floor space.

Thanks, JB.

Suggestion JB4310! Go back and read this entire thread! Alot of discussion on just what your asking!:thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

I have a 14 inch milwaukee chop saw. It is a nice saw and have not had any problems with it, I was using a cut off blade in my angle grinder, but with the easy to use vice and the ability to change the degree of the cut makes a big difference.

 

[bigdad]

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

I think they hold up pretty well. They are not that pricey anyway.

 

[bigdad]

I used an angle grinder for years and was getting pretty good at straight cuts. One day I was doing a routine cut, no binding, taking my time and wham! The disk came apart and a piece of it hit the lense of my safety glasses. Big slice in the lense and a dandy shiner to go with it. Hello Popeye..........Hello Milwaukee chop saw. No sermon...... just the facts.

 

[JB4310]

Suggestion JB4310! Go back and read this entire thread! Alot of discussion on just what your asking!:thumbsup:

Well I just did again for the second time, couldn't find any mention of comparing a band saw to a chop saw.

I think they hold up pretty well. They are not that pricey anyway.

I found that the thinner blades cut much faster than the thicker ones.
I know, not rocket science I guess

Actually a thin Harbor Freight blade I just picked up for my 4.5 inch grinder, made 2 cut offs on thick walled 2"x2" receiver tube with out showing much wear at all, I was surprised. and the cutting went very easily.

JB

 

[robs660]

Metal pipe? Invest in a carbide metal saw. It will be well worth it over time. I run the snot out of mine

 

[moored4]

Well I just did again for the second time, couldn't find any mention of comparing a band saw to a chop saw.

IJB

I just read your OP and you really have to read between the lines to get that you want a comparing of band saw and chop saw!!! Sounded like you had made up your mind not to go with a band saw cause of floor space!!
I'm sorry I didn't understand what you were trying to Articulate!!:confused2:

 

[RobertBrown]

I bought the harbor freight and didn't get one cut before it quit and I had to take it back. The switch went out, couldn't handle the amps.
I bought the Dewalt and I wish it had more nuts. It's 15 amps, 14" keyless chuck I think it depnds on the diameter of the pipe and how many pipes you are planning to cut. The Dewalt is nice because it doesn't weigh a lot. I keep it on a shelf over head. But I wish it was faster.

 

[RobertBrown]

I used an angle grinder for years and was getting pretty good at straight cuts. One day I was doing a routine cut, no binding, taking my time and wham! The disk came apart and a piece of it hit the lense of my safety glasses. Big slice in the lense and a dandy shiner to go with it. Hello Popeye..........Hello Milwaukee chop saw. No sermon...... just the facts.

It happen to me too. 1/3 of the wheel stuck in my thigh and I found the other piece a week later about 150 ft away.

 

[J_J]

Pecking order according to price.

Hack saw
Angle grinder
Sawzall
Chop saw-abrasive
Power Hacksaw
Band saw
Chop saw or Cold saw with carbide teeth.
Plasma cutter
Laser cutter
Water jet
EDM wire cutting and wire spark erosion

 

[tawilson]

J J and others have mentioned how well the metal saw with the carbide teeth work. One thing they didn't mention is they create metal chips while anything with an abrasive blade creates metal dust.

 

[moored4]

Can a metal blade be put on a abrasive chop saw frame?

 

[Deere Dude]

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

Harbor Freight has different grades of saws like someone mentioned as does most companies. If you get a light duty saw and really take it easy and not horse it, it may work.
I got a medium duty 14" HF saw about 10 years ago and horsed it more than I knew I should quite often (3/8" or 1/2" thick x 6" angle iron). The brushes eventually failed but then it worked fine for 5 more years. Last year they failed again so I bought a heavy duty HF 14" chop saw because I thought the first one was shot.
The heavier duty one has a much heavier duty brush set-up at I can really horse that saw. In the meantime I bough new brushes for the old one and it works fine again, but now I have a good back-up.
You can't go wrong generally with a big brand name on anything and their prices are coming down because they are cheapening them up also, but the HF heavier chop saws can be had on some great sales and they are plenty durable.
I bought a 4-1/2 Milwaukee grinder 20 years ago for $80. A month or two later I bought a HF 4-1/2" grinder for cheap. $25 I think. The HF was more heavy duty and whenever I wanted to really force some grinding I would use the HF because I didn't want to wreck the Milwaukee. I was happy with both. I have bought cheaper grinders than those but they don't hold up at all.
No complaints here,

 

[Gary Fowler]

I cant say as to Harbor freight chop saw quality, but stay away from their abrasive blade. I put one on my Craftsman chop say and you have to hold it down to keep it from vibrating off the table, same thing with a 7" grinder wheel.
I did get their 4.5" grinder and after putting some grease in the final drive housing, the whine went away and it is smooth and as powerful as my Dewalt. When I opened the gear box, the gears were completely dry. There was a gob of grease in the case but it wasnt touching the gears at all. They would likely have worn out fairly quickly if I hadnt put in some lubricant. I also got the extended warranty for $5 on it just in case.

 

[tawilson]

Can a metal blade be put on a abrasive chop saw frame?

Usually metal saws are set up to run at a lower rpm. I don't know what would happen.

 

[tawilson]

Can a metal blade be put on a abrasive chop saw frame?

Usually metal saws are set up to run at a lower rpm. I don't know what would happen. I've got an old metal blade around and a couple of chop saws. Maybe I'll experiment this afternoon. I'm thinking it'll wear the blade out faster.

 

[J_J]

My 14 in Dewalt carbide cold cut saw runs about 1800 rpm. The abrasive chop saws run at about 3600 rpm. Rules are rules. I would not recommend running those blades faster than stated on your saw. Those carbide teeth imbedded under your skin probably hurts like he**.

I lost one carbide tooth, don't know where it went.

Use a magnet to help catch the metal chips.

Ear protectors are recommend also.

 

[georgia jeff]

I own a harbor frieght metal chop saw but I only use it about 4 times a year. I have cut 1/4 inch metal flat bar steel with it but that was all it wanted. If I were going to use it frequently I would buy a better quality one. However, I don't and the Harbor Freight works great for me so far.