Please recommend a good chop saw

[Scooby074]

Makita.


If i was buying again, id strongly consider a cold saw. No sparky sparky, plus cleaner , straighter cuts.

Amazon.com: Makita LC1230 12-Inch Metal Cutting Saw: Home Improvement

 

[woodlandfarms]

So how long does a blade last on a cold saw? I would like one as well, but the price seems prohibitive for replacement blades.

 

[SpecElim]

I have a Titan Industrial 14" chop saw that I have had no issues with. It will allow cuts up to 45 degrees and cuts relitively fast with a good cut off wheel.

These are relitively cheap compared to other brands as well. I have used a Bosch at school and one works just as well as the other. It also only uses 2000 Watts of power where some could draw upwards of 5-6000 watts.

 

[Scooby074]

So how long does a blade last on a cold saw? I would like one as well, but the price seems prohibitive for replacement blades.

I dont have a "dry" type cold saw, but from what ive read, everyone seems to say that the blades really last. I imagine that alot depends .on the thickness being cut and operator technique.

Also i imagine that some blades are better than others. Replacement blades are around $80 IIRC. A good chopsaw blade is $10. Considering the carbide cold blades can be resharpened and you get much more life per blade before sharpening, it should work out equal or maybe cheaper than the abrasive saw.

My local metal supply has a wet cold saw (coolant flood) and the blade LASTS a LONG time in a production environment. But that machine is a different animal and much more money ($4k +).

Check some of the threads over at Millerwelds and the other welding sites, There is some good discussion about the blades and quality of the different dry saws available. Makita seems to be the favorite, having the best base and vise, but they say the blade is only middle of the pack.

 

[gsganzer]

I'd buy a Milwaukee portaband. They also make an attachement that turns it into a bench mounted unit. Much better than throwing sparks and grit with an abrasive wheel chop saw.

 

[s78wingrider]

Don't know if you would ever see an add for one but the one I use to cut small angle, ect, is an old shopcraft, very heavy and well built. Aaron

 

[/pine]

FWIW...Northern Tool is having a special "Free Shipping" on power tools right now...several chop saws (metal) and some other types too

Power Tools | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[dan c]

It all depends on what it will spend most of its life chopping

For me a good general purpose saw was the Milwaukee 14'' ? amp. It cuts most of what I need. Victor makes another good saw that uses ocy / acetylene gas for the rest of what your saw won稚 fit:thumbsup:

 

[lostcause]

i've never had any interest in a chop saw, but from the looks of the replies here, i guess a lot of people use them. for the last 15+ years i've used one of the harbor freight metal cutting band saws. i think they retail them for around $200, give or take. it's most likely the same saw that someone posted about earlier that they got for $150ish. blades are about $10 each. they leave a very small kerf and they make very little noise, with no dust or sparks in the air. i just recently saw virtually identical ones at a tool dealer made by jet and a couple other makers. they really looked identical.

i wouldn't hesitate on the harbor freight brand though, it seems durable enough. the only thing i wouldn't buy is their blades (or any cutting and grinding consumables, for that matter) i bought 6 blades for a total of under $10, and they are too soft. i don't think i could break one, no matter how i twisted the blade, but they almost have to be forced through the metal. my local home depot stocks delta 64 1/2" blades for the saw at around $11, and they work much better.

 

[Scotty370]

I use, or I should say "used" a Ryobi 14", 'til it recently "pooped-the-bed"! I'm looking for a replacement to! I liked it because of the 'quick-vise' and cast iron table. Those thing have gotta be a 'tough' rascals, what with steel dust flying, and a cooling fan sucking in air and magnets, armatures, brushes,......and well..............you know! I'm sad to see it die! I'll be watching this thread! ~Scotty

PS- Guess I'm going to look hard at /Pine's suggestion! ~S