Chop saw recommendations

[branimal]

I'm looking for a chop saw to cut metal stock.

Debating the Dewalt 15amp 14" Chop saw vs the similair sized Ridgid. I've read the blade on the Ridgid is absolute trash, but the Ridgid has better clamping mechanism.

Anyone have a recs?

Thanks

 

[dogdog]

abrasive or dry cut saws... makes a differences...I think the steel supplier I go to uses the Industrial abrasive version of the Dewalt 14" man that thing cuts nicer than the dry cut I have... dunno which model though... doesn't look like something off Lowes or HD...

if it is abrasive... blades are interchangeable... just get a better one... clamps on the other hand, you can't change if it *****.

Mostly either 1" holes or 20mm ones for some odd reasons...or was that 22mm...

 

[sparky 1971]

If it's abrasive you are talking about. I have the Rigid. It's a good saw. Other than the saw I have, I have only used a Skil and a Makita. It's better than those. No experience with the DeWalt unfortunately. The blade that comes with the Rigid is a piece of ****. Just buy a couple of good blades when you get the saw and you will be set.

 

[Marctrees]

I have the Makita abrasive blade saw, approx 15 yr old.

Works well for hobbyist use.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

". clamps on the other hand, you can't change if it *****."

I disagree w that.

Depends on how the main bed is made and your ingenuity.

Marc

 

[ChrisLS8]

I literally use the DeWalt all day 6 days a week, the one with the quick change blade setup. They are workhorses for sure, sometimes I'll cut like 6 14g studs at a time and can't bog it

 

[superduty1]

I have the Makita abrasive blade saw, approx 15 yr old.

Works well for hobbyist use.

Marc

I have the same Makita. Hobbyist use for at least 15 yrs. I've used it hard on many projects and it's still going strong.

If i were in the market today i would get the non abrasive version.

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[dogdog]

". clamps on the other hand, you can't change if it *****."

I disagree w that.

Depends on how the main bed is made and your ingenuity.

Marc

LOL... yea, I hate the freaking Rage2 14" I have (older ones with SOLID cast iron base same as the EVO380...,newer one is thin sheet metal )... clamp **** donkey D*ck.... always about 1/16 off no matter how much I tight and check it will be off after 2 cuts. Which is a PITA to adjust every time....But if I were to buy a new saw, not inherited one , I would not want to go fine tuning it / re-engineering it... like a broken step child... I want to use it to cut something... and hopefully it is straight and not 1/16 off after a few cuts... I am talking about the top of the cut to the bottom ....

What I say still stands, if the saw blade *****, just get another one they are cheap sub $10 for abrasive... and dry cut there are plenty of choices now...
but if the clamp base ***** well... you'll going to have a lot of fun engineering a better mouse trap out of it....

 

[Farmall450]

Most of the mainstream abrasives seem nice. I have a Makita, dad has DeWalt, uncle has DeWalt, brother has an old Ryobi. Basically the Makita and DeWalts run a bit smoother and have beefier bases, but not by much.

 

[tarbellb]

Very simple tool, find either a older USA or Japanese made unit or buy a new one with the best base/vise combo.


Or if doing more precise work check out a benchtop bandsaw. Quiet, clean, better cuts.

Northern Tool has a Femi knockoff for <$300.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200660083_200660083

 

[u2slow]

Other tools to consider:

- old mitre saw with abrasive blade
- cutting disc on angle grinder
- bandsaw (horizontal or portable)

I went with a Chinese 14" chop saw a few years ago for ~$80 or so. Works fine. Have not needed it or used it enough to be worth having more money ******* in one.

Would prefer to get a metal cutting horizontal bandsaw some day.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

Have a look at the EVOLUTION line of metal cutting saws. they do a very good job of cutting all kinds of metal at a very reasonable price.

https://evolutionpowertools.com/us/build/chopsaws/rage2/

 

[crewchief888]

I have an older ridgid abrasive with the cast base in the garage. much nicer than the more expensive Milwaukee we have at the shop.

the ridgid replaced an even older HF (orange) abrasive. I cut a lot of tubing for cages, bumpers and rock rails with it

I beat the HF literally to death. it got so hot one day the brush holders melted, started smoking. it still ran for several more cups with electrical tape holding the brushes and holders in place.

 

[branimal]

I'm glad I posted. Didn't know they made drycut saws. Watched some videos on the evolution rage ($230). Looks like it cuts faster and straighter than abrasive saws. But after I read the reviews - the darn clamping mechanism *****.

The reviews on the ridgid & dewalt abrasive also complain about the clamping mechanism - but not to the extent of the EVolution rage.

I have a bench top grinder which I can use to clean up cuts afterwards.

Dealing with a crappy clamp would drive me mad.

Thanks!

 

[dogdog]

the evolution rage... it's not that good especially after they downgrade the clamping base even with that cast base I have, it always wants to go 1/16 off from top of the cut to the bottom on 2" 10 ga squares I try to cut........ Evo380 (the blue one) would be better... or some other brand.
.

I think almost every major manufacture have one now...
Fein Slugger Metal Cutting Saw
Mk morse
Makia
dewalt
even eastwood have a rebrand...

probably many more all have one...

 

[bob15]

Never had any issues using this style B&D Professional. I use United Abrasives/Sait Iron Worker & Aluminum wheels

 

[erty67]

I just picked up a Porter Cable at Tractor Supply for $60. Good enough for me!


https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/porter-cable-14-in-chop-saw?cm_vc=-10005


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[barracudadave67]

I couldn't resist I went to Tractor Supply and bought one of the Porter Cable chop saws.
Seems like a decent machine. an aluminum base, decent instructions. 15 amp motor. I don't know about the cut off wheel, I'll find out when I use it. For $57.79 OTD, I'm happy.
Dave

 

[Steve_P]

I have a 20 yr old B&D abrasive saw and hate it. Should've bought a Makita instead. I have the Morse dry cut and like it so far. Looked at the Evolution but the reviews are not good for the newer models.

 

[Shane6377]

I have a Makita so can't speak to the models that you're looking at but I will say the cutting blade/wheel makes a big difference. Dewalt and Diablo have been good to me.


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[erty67]

I couldn't resist I went to Tractor Supply and bought one of the Porter Cable chop saws.
Seems like a decent machine. an aluminum base, decent instructions. 15 amp motor. I don't know about the cut off wheel, I'll find out when I use it. For $57.79 OTD, I'm happy.
Dave

Cut off wheel seems decent. I picked up some Mibro wheels at the same store for $2 each as well.

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[Farmall450]

I'm glad I posted. Didn't know they made drycut saws. Watched some videos on the evolution rage ($230). Looks like it cuts faster and straighter than abrasive saws. But after I read the reviews - the darn clamping mechanism *****.

The reviews on the ridgid & dewalt abrasive also complain about the clamping mechanism - but not to the extent of the EVolution rage.

I have a bench top grinder which I can use to clean up cuts afterwards.

Dealing with a crappy clamp would drive me mad.

Thanks!

For a cheap cold cut, I'd go Northern Tool. I've been watching it for years, recently went up a bunch...I can't justify it, though. Especially once a bandsaw entered the picture.

 

[Farmall450]

I couldn't resist I went to Tractor Supply and bought one of the Porter Cable chop saws.
Seems like a decent machine. an aluminum base, decent instructions. 15 amp motor. I don't know about the cut off wheel, I'll find out when I use it. For $57.79 OTD, I'm happy.
Dave

I bet it will perform good.

 

[sberry]

I had a Skil, it was very good and I got in a hurry and overheated it, if it wasn't for operator error it would still be working. I replaced it with a Rigid. It was the only one on the shelf that had a trigger lock.

 

[lilredex]

You might want to build your own after watching this.. Check out that steel store too.

 

[BD1]

My first abrasive saw is a Milwaukee made in Japan. This was before they changed too a quick opening vise. It still works today.
My newest is a DeWalt. That's what we have at work too.
Depending on what you are cutting, and room available, a horizontal bandsaw maybe a option.
IF you cut small materials a portaband with table and base is handy. I use mine for my artwork constantly.



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[finn]

I have an older lightly used Craftsman. It’s lightly used only because I hate the sparks and grit that it flings across the shop. I usually use an old Wilton band saw or a newer Jet, as they don’t sling sparks or grit.

If I did more metal cutting, I think a dry cut saw would be on the shopping list.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

bought my Milwaukee 14" at a yard sale. it's an older one but works great

 

[sberry]

For maintenance and salvage I can get by and just as soon has a simple abrasive. The downside is the mess. It needs to be outside or have a containment. I got a catch can for the plastic a too, it was a pain to keep up when every cut produced fine spray or grit blasted everywhere every small use.
When I first got a saw thought I had to miter everything in sight, so rarely do it now and if I have to cut exact length at 90 and nipped to 45 with a plasma, some light can even cut sawzall if I wanted to.
I design mostly simple 90 degree chop and ain't above hand cut plasma.

 

[Fatboy148]

I joined the Tractor Supply/Porter Cable club too. For $60.00 we can't go too bad, can we?

They had the $2.00 Mibro wheels in the store too.

I'll go pick it up when it quits snowing and blowing!

 

[barracudadave67]

Yes................. I went back to TSC today and bought some of the Milbro cut off wheel @ $1.99 ea. I bought 5 of them. got them for metal cutting. They also had concrete cutting wheels also, same price.

Dave

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a Milwaukee that is about 10-12 years old. Sometimes it works fine, other times it trips the breaker when I hit the trigger.

First thing I wanted to do is try some new brushes. I sent them an email with a picture of the model number tag and where to buy service parts. You know what they said ? Nothing and never replied back. Will I ever buy another Milwaukee power tool, probably not.

 

[sberry]

I have an.outlet/circuit just for mine. For giggles you can try adding a 25 ft 16 cord, cold try 14 or 50 ft 14 but it acts a little like a choke on starts,, has worked.
My helper pulled a couple 10's down the pipe when I did mine before I caught him, I would have used 12. In a perfect world would put 30A outlet and plug with this, I have metered the saw and it can really spike on overload as well as start.
It tripped a 20 guite regular, never the 30.

 

[speed bump]

We have both Milwaukee and DeWalt at work they do the job. For an abrasive chop saw buy a good blade (Walther, sait, Norton etc) not the cheapies just the difference in blade life pays for a better one

 

[4miller1]

Long time reader 1st time poster.
Ive used the old style makita abrasive type saw for years. It had a twin hinge so that pulling on the handle moved the saw into a slightly new part of the cut. That might not sound like much but that feature made for much faster cutting. Unfortunately that saw isnt made any more and i cant find any other like it.

 

[branimal]

I ended up buying a factory blemished Ridgid 14" chop saw from DirectTools for 87+T&S. Same one that HD sells for $180. Would have preferred the Dewalt, but this was too good of a deal to pass up. Now I just need to get around to unboxing it.

https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/P...IDGID-14-In-Abrasive-Cut-Off-Machine/p/R41422

 

[nautique1228]

I have the porter cable from tractor supply as well. I’ve just never got it to cut very good. Anytime I have to make multiple cuts, the blade gets to hot and it just won’t cut anymore, what’s the best blade for mild steel? I was looking to upgrade to the evo380, I’d like to start some more in depth fab work, but I can barely make a square table with this chop saw.