Saw recommendation

[Coach James]

I want to get a chop/cut off saw, preferably a dry saw. I used the search feature and nothing came up. Any recommendations under $200?

Are the Harbor Freight saws any good?

This one got good reviews on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00551DJBQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Any other ideas?

Thanks

Coach

 

[tarmy]

Check out Milwaukee 6 1/2" cordless 18v...

I was a bit skeptical...tried it and that thing is great. I use it for bearking down sheets...I have cut 1/2" thick stuff...

A bit pricey...but I like mine.

 

[zmotorsports]

I had a Milwaukee 14" abrasive/chop saw that was a beast. Worked great for many years and is still going strong. I haven't used it much at all for the past 5 years because I went to the horizontal bandsaw but it is still going strong even after about 10 years of solid hard use. If memory serves it was right at or around your $200 budget.

Mike

 

[ocloc24]

We have that dewalt at work and people beat the piss out of it and it keeps asking for more. Tgere isn't much it can't cut. Doesn't give the straightest cuts but I'm fairly sure that's because the clamps are messed up from idiots messing with them. Great saw though, I had no idea they were this cheap, now I might buy one. I'm a Milwaukee guy so I have a bias but I can't say anything bad about the DeWalt, it's a great tool.

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[tarbellb]

It will be hard to find a sub $200 dry cut. But there are few that are close and get good reviews.

Look for the Northern Tools 14" dry cut, ~$250 iirc.

and also the Evolution 380 Raptor? 14", $300+. I really like my Evo, it has been the best price/performance yet and I have owned or used almost all on the market.

(I do not recommend the All in One Evo saws, to much compromise)

There is a huge jump in performance over a standard abrasive cut saw, well worth the extra money imo.

 

[Mowerdoctor]

Plus 1 for Dewalt.

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[bob15]

Look on c-list for a B&D Professional (the predecessor to DW). You cannot kill them.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

If you want to dry cut saw. By the one from Northern tools. Usually it's 300 but they always market down to like 230. Then if you buy online you can get a $20 off over $100 purchase and then get the free shipping and no tax. I have it and it's pretty darn good I got to say. Last job I used it for 4 in.² tubing with quarter inch wall had no problem at all just took my time.

 

[Coach James]

By Northern Tool, you mean this:?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641810_200641810

Coach

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Yeah sure do. I'll post a video up of it in action here in a bit if I can get it to work.

 

[Stevenn1]

You can't go wrong with Dewalt.
I got a in house brand at HF with coupon it was $49,
5 years ago. I only use it maybe 4x a year with basic quick cuts. It's just ok. The blade/disc vibrates and it's under powered. If your going to use it often get a better one.

 

[Major Ramifications]

If you want to dry cut saw. By the one from Northern tools. Usually it's 300 but they always market down to like 230. Then if you buy online you can get a $20 off over $100 purchase and then get the free shipping and no tax. I have it and it's pretty darn good I got to say. Last job I used it for 4 in.² tubing with quarter inch wall had no problem at all just took my time.

You would only get no tax if they do not have a facility in your state. We lost that advantage ever since they moved here last year or so.

I've never used a dry cut type, but I would certainly gravitate in that direction as the abrasive ones are not exactly a pleasure to use.

 

[crewchief888]

are you looking for a true dry cut saw or an abrasive type cutoff saw?




i'd had one of the old orange chop saws from HF. it lasted several years, and cut a LOT of material for bumpers, cages and rock sliders. it eventually went up in smoke, i replaced it with a ridgid cast base abrasive i picked up at home depot on clearance for right around $100.

it's a much better saw than the stamped steel base milwaukee we have at work.

 

[tarbellb]

They are simple machines, regardless of dry cut or abrasive you will want to look for these couple features:

Base material- stamped steel vs cast aluminum/steel

Fence adjustment- tooless vs tooled

Vise action- how beefy is the fence/ vise

Less important are handle type- D handle vs horizontal (horizontal is way more ergo)

Like I said, I have used just about all of them but the Jancey that gets rav reviews from Strouty. The Dewalt cut well when new, but is mostly stamped steel, cheap fence/vise, not worth the extra $ IMO. Id rather save and go Northern Tool and buy a good backup blade, or buy the Evo 14".

 

[kkroger]

DO NOT buy that Turd from Northern, I had one it is a POS, the fence is a joke the clamp is a joke... it is a $300 saw... Normally Add a hundred and fiddy to that and get an MK MORSE Metal Devil Under $500 and will cut better and last longer than the Northern Turd.

 

[Wamsutta]

What about the Ridgid?

 

[James-W]

I have a Ryobi that I got from my older brother when he died. I use it maybe once or twice a year. Personally, I am not a Ryobi fan, but it works just fine for what I do with it.

 

[WittHay]

Seen this at the Stihl dealer, the other day. TSA 230 cordless cut-off saw. Sounded cool, it was quiet and powerful

 

[Marctrees]

Coach - Go to "Advanced search" and type in "Metal Saw" in quotes, click on Titles only, leave everything else at default and hit Search..

The below is what comes up .. Marc

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=35834333

 

[Marctrees]

My Makita abrasive blade saw of 12 yr old has been great. Marc

 

[kkroger]

Abrasive Saws are Old and Generally Reliable but don't cut particularly well and definitely not Cool to the touch after cutting, for a while, They are inexpensive (lots of options for Abrasive saws) just get one with a lot of POWER, and use GOOD Blades...

Dry Cut Saws (carbide toothed metal cutting chop saws) cut VERY well and VERY Accurately, Cool to the touch immediately... most good ones are not cheap and the blades if worth a **** are not cheap, Lennox makes good Blades, Freud, Oshuln, and Morse all make good blades, they cost from $65-over $150 each, can be re-sharpened by a competent grinder, if you can find one in your area, Life of the blade sort of depends on the operator, Not enough pressure, Ruin the blade, Too Much Pressure, Ruin the blade, use the wrong blade (aluminum vs Ferrous or SS) ruin the blade, Let Co-workers use your saw, ruin the saw, plus the blade etc.

The ironton saw mentioned earlier works, Just... the clamping mechanism and fence are terrible, you can't tighten it enough to maintain the angularity, and you can't tighten the clamp itself tight enough to miter without dragging the material through the clamping setup, adding clamps helps but the fence will move. the blade works fairly well, the replacement blades also work fairly well but the Freud or Morse blades are head and shoulders above... the Ironton Saw is $300 regular price on sale for $234, the MkMorse Metal Devil can be had from Coastal Tool for $449, and the clamping system is AWESOME the Saw has POWER cutting through 2"x1/4" Angle is like cutting through a 2x4 seriously...

the V Blocks shown in this image are "Extra" for $45 or so... yielding even MORE clamping options.

It has a cast base and housing, the clamping mechanism is Iron and very solidly built.

http://www.coastaltool.com/morse/csm14mb.htm

Rigid makes a nice saw... but at a cost, last I looked they were over $700 or so

https://jet.com/product/detail/e548...&clickid=e9226fcc-30d0-4180-aa9a-92d99078e49a
Fein makes one the "Slugger" Cost is in line with Morse, and similar features..

https://feintools-online.com/mccs14...MI2tz44Mr41QIVC45pCh30SgPMEAQYAiABEgJIu_D_BwE
Dewalt offers a Dry Cut machine but the base is stamped and the clamping feature is meh... cost is about what the Fein or Morse saws run

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-15-Amp-14-in-355-mm-Multi-Cutter-Saw-DW872/203164101

 

[strength_and_power]

I have a Milwaukee dry cut saw i used to use quite often. A lot more accurate than an abrasive chop saw. Used to find blades on eBay at decent prices.


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[kkroger]

I have a Milwaukee dry cut saw i used to use quite often. A lot more accurate than an abrasive chop saw. Used to find blades on eBay at decent prices.


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I remember the Milwaukee Dry Cut, I wanted one because I LIKE Milwaukee tools, by the time I was ready to buy one they quit making it typical! I have a Milwaukee 8" Metal Cutting Circular Saw, and a Fein Slugger 9" Metal Cutting Circular Saw, both are good but will KILL blades FAST.
All in the operator though, and over working the saw...

 

[Wamsutta]

Rigid makes a nice saw... but at a cost, last I looked they were over $700 or so

I didn't see that one on their website, just orange one I posted. You got a link?

 

[kkroger]

I didn't see that one on their website, just orange one I posted. You got a link?

Don't know, I just grabbed a pic off the web, the for sale link I posted is the Dry Saw...

 

[tomshep]

Another Makita chop saw owner here that is very satisfied. Had it for probably 10 years and never a problem.

Tom

 

[tarbellb]

Abrasive Saws are Old and Generally Reliable but don't cut particularly well and definitely not Cool to the touch after cutting, for a while, They are inexpensive (lots of options for Abrasive saws) just get one with a lot of POWER, and use GOOD Blades...

Great info kkroger.

I believe Ridgid and Milwaukee stopped making their dry cut saws years ago. It had good marks, but got nixed for some reason? Probably people burning through blades and blaming the saw.

The saws on the market that I know of are:

roughly ranked best to worst.

MK Morse
Fein Slugger
Hitachi CD14F (my current saw)
Makita (~12" blade)
Evolution Tools (14" only)
Dewalt
SteelMax
Northern Tools Ironton

 

[Coach James]

Thanks for the info guys. Now I deed to decide if I can afford to increase my budget or if a sub $200 saw is adequate for what I will be doing.

Thanks

Coach

 

[619DioFan]

Look on c-list for a B&D Professional (the predecessor to DW). You cannot kill them.

I have one of those. prob 30 years old. only had to replace the power cord. this is one tough saw.

 

[aslack99]

You can't go wrong with Dewalt.
I got a in house brand at HF with coupon it was $49,
5 years ago. I only use it maybe 4x a year with basic quick cuts. It's just ok. The blade/disc vibrates and it's under powered. If your going to use it often get a better one.

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[jw3]

The real question is Where to buy affordable blades for the saw?


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