Cold cut saw

[Luke'sScreenName]

Here's some photo's. On the photo showing the top of the saw, you can see the adjustable index pointer and nice raised angle text. You also see the holder for the blade wrench
View attachment 502716

On the next photo, you can see the lever that tightens the fence to each position. You pull the lever out to gain more leverage and then can slide it in so it's out of the way for storage.
View attachment 502717

Here's the lever from the underside.
View attachment 502718

This last photo shows the quick engage/disengage for the all-thread clamp. You cam the knob left or right.
View attachment 502719

Let me know if you want any other photo's. I think you'd probably be happy with either the 14" Dewalt or the 12" Makita, I don't think the Makita's 2" diameter of the blade is much to worry about. It's amazing how fast these saws cut and how nice of an edge they leave. Just like any saw, you definitely want to use eye, ear and hand protection. I'll never use my abrasive saw again.

Awesome. Thanks for taking the time. It is now on my purchase list to budget for. :thumbsup:

 

[dragoneggs]

Here's some photo's. On the photo showing the top of the saw, you can see the adjustable index pointer and nice raised angle text. You also see the holder for the blade wrench
View attachment 502716

On the next photo, you can see the lever that tightens the fence to each position. You pull the lever out to gain more leverage and then can slide it in so it's out of the way for storage.
View attachment 502717

Here's the lever from the underside.
View attachment 502718

This last photo shows the quick engage/disengage for the all-thread clamp. You cam the knob left or right.
View attachment 502719

Let me know if you want any other photo's. I think you'd probably be happy with either the 14" Dewalt or the 12" Makita, I don't think the Makita's 2" diameter of the blade is much to worry about. It's amazing how fast these saws cut and how nice of an edge they leave. Just like any saw, you definitely want to use eye, ear and hand protection. I'll never use my abrasive saw again.

You sold me on the Makita... but yikes when I saw the price vs. the Evolution Rage 2, we are talking $419 vs. $189. Looks like a far, far better quality base but you lose 2in diameter on the blade (maybe not a big deal). Not sure I can justify that for my hobby shop.

 

[Sodo]

For $400 you'd better be cutting some metal. If just storing it they take a bit of space too.

 

[dragoneggs]

For $400 you'd better be cutting some metal. If just storing it they take a bit of space too.

Exactly! Thinking the $189 is more the ticket and I will get rid of my abrasive saw and use its space. So I'm not decreasing net... my shop is too small to add more 'stationary' (still on wheels) tools.

 

[Xfaxman]

I still use my abrasive saw to cut hardened metal.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I still use my abrasive saw to cut hardened metal.

I wouldn't be without mine even though I use the cold cut a lot more.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Exactly! Thinking the $189 is more the ticket and I will get rid of my abrasive saw and use its space. So I'm not decreasing net... my shop is too small to add more 'stationary' (still on wheels) tools.

It is a lot cheaper even including the fact you'll need to also buy an $80-100 blade (The "multipurpose" blade that come with the cheap saw is apparently junk).

Still the Makita it $140 more.

 

[dragoneggs]

I still use my abrasive saw to cut hardened metal.

I wouldn't be without mine even though I use the cold cut a lot more.

Dang it guys... you are ruining my strategy with the wife. I told her I was going to sell my Dewalt 14in to 'pretty much' pay for the dry saw.

 

[Fallon]

I've got one of the ubiquitous 4x6 horizontal/vertical bandsaws. Had an old Jet & got a Craigslist Harbor freight one just for the legs. Both worked the same. The jet ended up falling & breaking a casting & the HF one had the motor die or something. So I now have 1 Frankenstein saw. No change in performance or accuracy between the 3 incarnations. It's slow & doesn't cut that straight. Clamp sucks so you can't clamp that close to the blade & good luck with an angle. Blades pop off every few hours.

I had been thinking about upgrading to a bigger better bandsaw than a 4x6 for a while. Seriously thinking about a cold saw now.

 

[tjkubota93]

I have had the rage saw for about a year. It works great. The clamp is typical of a chop saw. Like they said, with a better clamp you could make precise cuts. You can actually touch the metal immediately after cutting. All those little filings stick to the bottom of your shoes.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Dang it guys... you are ruining my strategy with the wife. I told her I was going to sell my Dewalt 14in to 'pretty much' pay for the dry saw.

Well....you could live without it. My abrasive saw was burning out brushes more and more frequently so I needed to replace it anyways.

I use my abrasive saw to deburr the edge of cuts as there is no holding the metal against the side of the blade to deburr. Also you can hand hold a compound angle and cut with an abrasive saw. Dosen't work on a cold cut!

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Any opinions on this Fein 14" Slugger cold cut saw? $450 on Amazon.

Fein 729536112 Slugger 14 in. Metal Cutting Chop Saw

Even more expensive but 14" with a base that appears similar to the Makita. It is either made in Germany or Taiwan.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well....you could live without it. My abrasive saw was burning out brushes more and more frequently so I needed to replace it anyways.

I use my abrasive saw to deburr the edge of cuts as there is no holding the metal against the side of the blade to deburr. Also you can hand hold a compound angle and cut with an abrasive saw. Dosen't work on a cold cut!

Cutting angles for miter joints on my both my abrasive and portaband is driving me nuts.

 

[BukitCase]

No compound angles with the dry cut saw ?

Tarry99 might disagree with that -

I need a cutting solution. - Miller Welding Discussion Forums

If you're stubborn AND sneaky enough, sometimes there's a way... Steve

 

[dragoneggs]

I might have missed it earlier... but just what can you do on an abrasive saw that you can't on a dry saw?

 

[BukitCase]

You can get away with a crappier hold-down system before you break a blade, you can make bigger messes and less accurate cuts, which is part of why I GAVE my abrasive saw to my son - he does some patio brick work, etc, with masonry blades when he uses it at all...

I don't have a dry saw yet, but am in the "drool" stage - I DO have 2 of the little 4x6 bandsaws and a Jet 8x12, made 45* adapters for each so I can miter without disturbing the 90* setting - also have O/A torch, plasma, thin cutoff disks for side grinders, and an HF skil saw with metal cutting blades - each has (as commented on here) its strengths and weaknesses

Because blades for the dry saws run anywhere from $80 to $150, and because they don't tolerate crappy hold-downs any better than annular cutters do, I'm ONLY looking at sturdier built dry saws - CAST table, thicker stronger hold-downs - I haven't seen anything under $400 I'd be willing to pay for yet, if I had to pull the trigger today it'd likely be this one -

Evolution Power Tools EVOSAW38 15-Inch Steel Cutting Chop Saw - Power Circular Saws - Amazon.com

They call it a 15" saw, but it ships with a 14" blade - I'm thinking they're just trying to keep competitive on cost, since their 15" steel blade is about $80 more than the 14". I'll start with the one it comes with, then decide (based on whether I've wanted a deeper cut) whether to pay the extra for another 1/2" depth of cut... Steve

Found a better deal -

Evolution EVOSAW38 | Evolution Power Tools | Evolution 15

 

[pmsmechanic]

No compound angles with the dry cut saw ?

Tarry99 might disagree with that -

I need a cutting solution. - Miller Welding Discussion Forums

If you're stubborn AND sneaky enough, sometimes there's a way... Steve

Ha I learned something again! Thanks!

 

[pmsmechanic]

I might have missed it earlier... but just what can you do on an abrasive saw that you can't on a dry saw?

You can "hand" hold a compound angle and make a cut. You can't "hand" hold a compound angle cut on a cold cut saw. Stuff just flies everywhere and teeth break off. Ask me how I know.

 

[Sodo]

I hand-hold angle iron when nipping off the corners. Forethought and special procedure are required. If it moves at all the teeth bite in and sh*t flies.

Heres a 2 1/2" steel tube that I split, hand-held.

 

[BukitCase]

Sodo, I think if I were gonna do that with a $100 un-forgiving blade, I'd scheme on some sort of clamp setup from underneath the base - I've done that very maneuver with my 12" DeWalt slide miter saw and WOOD, and even doing THAT makes you-know-what pucker a little

Sooo, what's next - a rip fence fer your dry saw? ...Steve