Abrasive Chop Saw or Dry Cut saw
- Thread starter isuhunter
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crewchief888
Well-known member
if you want an abrasive chop saw, i'd recommend the ridgid.
it has a cast base vs. the stamped steel bases most other saws have
it has a cast base vs. the stamped steel bases most other saws have
Ign
Well-known member
What sort of work?
Hobby or light pro?
What exactly do you anticipate cutting? ie size and w.t.? Any solid stock? Do you ever need to cut rebar or hardened material? Plastics or Al?
Hobby or light pro?
What exactly do you anticipate cutting? ie size and w.t.? Any solid stock? Do you ever need to cut rebar or hardened material? Plastics or Al?
OCJohn
Well-known member
I posed the same sort of budget limit as you and got a Milwaukee abrasive. It's fine. But it's no dry cut. Wish I'd just gone all in from the start.
If you can do it, you won't regret it.
If you can do it, you won't regret it.
I've used a dry-cut saw at a couple different shops--they're awesome. Quick, clean, quiet, and they make a clean cut.
They're also really expensive.
I've got a really good abrasive chop saw on a roller stand--when I use it, I just wheel it out into the driveway to blow dust and sparks out there. I don't use it a lot, but it's handy for rough or big fabrication work.
I've got a horizontal band saw that I use for more precision stuff.
And for small stuff, I use a cut-off wheel on my hand-held grinder. Oddly, I hadn't ever done that before I built my race car 18 months ago--I'm shocked at how much I like it, and can't believe I've never done that before.
A dry-cut saw would be nice in my shop, but there's a LOT of things I'd rather spend that money on for the amount of times I'll use it.
-Brad
They're also really expensive.
I've got a really good abrasive chop saw on a roller stand--when I use it, I just wheel it out into the driveway to blow dust and sparks out there. I don't use it a lot, but it's handy for rough or big fabrication work.
I've got a horizontal band saw that I use for more precision stuff.
And for small stuff, I use a cut-off wheel on my hand-held grinder. Oddly, I hadn't ever done that before I built my race car 18 months ago--I'm shocked at how much I like it, and can't believe I've never done that before.
A dry-cut saw would be nice in my shop, but there's a LOT of things I'd rather spend that money on for the amount of times I'll use it.
-Brad
Ign
Well-known member
In that case a dry cut COULD work for you, but I'd do abrasive and save for a decent 4x6" band saw. The abrasive will cut sq tube under 1/4" wall easily and blades are cheap. Since you're talking hobby use it sounds like you won't be doing a ton of cutting so the extra time per cut w abrasive is not a big deal. You'll have abrasive dust vs hot chips everywhere, so it's a matter of opinion which is the lesser of the evils.
Also if you're doing this in a residential garage the abrasive is just noisy (much like an angle grinder) but the dry cut screams like a banshee, literally.
Mohawk Dave
Well-known member
Used USA milwaukee portabaND with SWAG offroad table. 1/4 is so tiny. No need for a big saw.
I think he means 1/4" wall? In that case either go all in and get the dry cut or a decent bandsaw. You wont regret it.
Both can be had for <$300 if you are ball'n on a budget and dont mind fiddling around a bit.
Northerns version - http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641810_200641810
HF bandsaw -
http://www.harborfreight.com/horizontal-vertical-metal-cutting-bandsaw-93762.html
That Portaband / Swag combo is excellent, but smaller scale.
Both can be had for <$300 if you are ball'n on a budget and dont mind fiddling around a bit.
Northerns version - http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641810_200641810
HF bandsaw -
http://www.harborfreight.com/horizontal-vertical-metal-cutting-bandsaw-93762.html
That Portaband / Swag combo is excellent, but smaller scale.
Anyone check out the Evolution saw line?
HD had this one for close to your budget on Black Friday, I almost bought it and then the price went back up, so I decided to wait. I figure it is one of their blades on a knock-off budget saw frame.
http://www.toolfetch.com/evolution-...oANUlIAe4ZdfLY3qg5bfkfci2sf7Z-8_DwaAtSc8P8HAQ
HD had this one for close to your budget on Black Friday, I almost bought it and then the price went back up, so I decided to wait. I figure it is one of their blades on a knock-off budget saw frame.
http://www.toolfetch.com/evolution-...oANUlIAe4ZdfLY3qg5bfkfci2sf7Z-8_DwaAtSc8P8HAQ
fsae0607
Well-known member
Hobby use, get a chop saw. I have a Hitachi 14". I have a blade for ferrous and non-ferrous. Works great, but I also take it out into the driveway as previously mentioned because it's messy.
sberry
Banned
texasfiremedic
Well-known member
Unfortunately, dry cut does have its limitations. i had to get rid of my dry cut an get an abrasive. The blades on a dry cut don't like oilfield pipe or sucker rod.
sberry
Banned
For some fab work the dry is ok but for general and repairs, salvage, light fab the abrasive is it.
aka Larry
Well-known member
Are you must be talking about one that goes slow and runs lubrication, i.e. not dry-cut? I have an Evolution Rage dry-cut, and yes, it makes fast, clean cuts, but quiet? Not even close!
Hybridss
Well-known member
I have both a Makita abrasive and an Evolution Rage 3 dry cut. If you are making angle cuts or any cuts of any type other than simple 90 degree cuts the Evolution is the way to go.
For very hard tool steel or anything other than mild steel I would probably use the abrasive saw.
Hot chips VS abrasive dust? Hot chips ****! I am constantly digging them out of my hands.
But having said that I use my Dry cut 10 to 1 VS my Makita abrasive. It just does a better job.
For very hard tool steel or anything other than mild steel I would probably use the abrasive saw.
Hot chips VS abrasive dust? Hot chips ****! I am constantly digging them out of my hands.
But having said that I use my Dry cut 10 to 1 VS my Makita abrasive. It just does a better job.
wendlwacker
Well-known member
Earplugs are a must! I like mine other than that though.
texasfiremedic
Well-known member
This begs the question: What are you primary cutting hard steel or mild steel?
Loscaldazar
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
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I'd go dry cut. Quicker, better cuts, less clean up time, more accurate, the blade doesn't shrink...
The initial investment into a Dry Cut is higher, but the cost to run is about the same. The one dry cut blade will last for many abrasive blades, especially for larger material (as the abrasive blade shrinks, it will not be able to cut at or close to it's max capacity anymore, so you will have to swap out the blade more often to keep cutting a 4x4 tube or larger angle iron- not sure how much of a concern that is to you). Dry cut blades can also be resharpened instead of buying a new one. Costs $25-$40 depending on size, number of teeth, and hopefully that you didn't chip off the carbide teeth. That makes long term operation of the Dry cut cheaper, and you not only save time on cutting and not having to clean up that cut, but also save time not having to change blades out frequently.
As far as which dry cut saw, evolution has three lines of saws. The homeowner or Fury range is pointless for cutting metal. Not that great of stuff. Then there is the all in one pro range, which is okay, but again, isn't meant for people who are constantly cutting metal. Then they have their top line up of the Evo380 and the two handheld circular saws. These are the best ones they offer. The Evo380 is what you are looking for. It's about the same price as an MK Morse and has pretty much the same features. The vise is upgraded above their others and it has a cast base, not stamped steel. It is every bit as good as the MK Morse I'd say. Don't buy a used one unless you know that it is the 2013 Revision of the Evo380 (they upgraded a TON of stuff on it to make it competitive with other dry cut saws in the $400 price range).
The initial investment into a Dry Cut is higher, but the cost to run is about the same. The one dry cut blade will last for many abrasive blades, especially for larger material (as the abrasive blade shrinks, it will not be able to cut at or close to it's max capacity anymore, so you will have to swap out the blade more often to keep cutting a 4x4 tube or larger angle iron- not sure how much of a concern that is to you). Dry cut blades can also be resharpened instead of buying a new one. Costs $25-$40 depending on size, number of teeth, and hopefully that you didn't chip off the carbide teeth. That makes long term operation of the Dry cut cheaper, and you not only save time on cutting and not having to clean up that cut, but also save time not having to change blades out frequently.
As far as which dry cut saw, evolution has three lines of saws. The homeowner or Fury range is pointless for cutting metal. Not that great of stuff. Then there is the all in one pro range, which is okay, but again, isn't meant for people who are constantly cutting metal. Then they have their top line up of the Evo380 and the two handheld circular saws. These are the best ones they offer. The Evo380 is what you are looking for. It's about the same price as an MK Morse and has pretty much the same features. The vise is upgraded above their others and it has a cast base, not stamped steel. It is every bit as good as the MK Morse I'd say. Don't buy a used one unless you know that it is the 2013 Revision of the Evo380 (they upgraded a TON of stuff on it to make it competitive with other dry cut saws in the $400 price range).