Chop Saw?

[J Persons]

HF has a 14" chop saw for $99.99 and with the 20% off coupon brings it down to $80. Is this worth it or should I get something else, Amazon has a Makita for $170 with no tax and free shipping. I'm concerned about the reliability of the HF saw and don't want to have to buy another after a couple of uses.

 

[Falcon67]

I have one, works OK for me. Had it for several years but it's only used to cut the occasional big chunks now.

 

[PushnFords]

I was worried about the cheapness of the HF saw so I bought a cheap Northern Tool one instead. I'll admit I did abuse it...I put a 14" diamond blade in it & used it to cut patio bricks. The next year I was cutting 3 & 4" square tubing to make a car body lift. The motor survived but where the outer motor housing bolts to the inner the screws all came out & stripped the threads in the holes. I ended up buying a used DeWalt I found locally & it doesn't compare. Feels & cuts much better. I'd get a Makita or DeWalt

 

[E.Marquez]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200495769_200495769?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Power%20Tools-_-Chop%20Saws-_-21413&ci_sku=21413&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}&gclid=CPON4euYwrMCFXGRPAodrhoAIQ
For a cheaper one.

If you want to step up consider a carbide cold cut saw....

 

[koditten]

Hell no! Get a portable bandsaw. Infinitly more usefull. I have zero need for a chop saw. Chop saws work great for cutting axhaust pipe, after that the bandsaw pulls way ahead.
The BS is so quiet compared to the CS and no sparks ar produced with a BS.

The band saw takes up little space, I can take it to the were the work is if I need to. My saw gets used...alot. 20 years old and going strong. Blades are way, way cheaper for the BS as well and they last a long time.

I checked out the HF portable bandsaws. I can't comment on longevity, but they seemed to be built fairly well.

Sorry to sound so blunt, but there is just no comparison. This is only an opinion, so use the info as you see fit.

 

[Steevo]

I haven't used my trusty old DeWalt abraisive chop saw since I bought my horizontal band saw.

 

[csp]

Sold my abrasive chop a couple months ago. It had been collecting dust for several years after purchasing a porta band and stationary band saw.

I don't miss that noisy, dusty thing one bit!

 

[Leadfoot3232]

I use a 14" Makita, that thing has cut many thousands of pieces of square tubing, I've had to replace the brushes in it once..still works great..It replaced a cheap one that lasted about 6 months, that was about 14 years ago..

 

[Falcon67]

I haven't used my abraisive chop saw since I bought my horizontal band saw.

A lot of that here too. But using the band saw for cutting down a 10' section of 3" exhaust pipe is kinda difficult. Or trimming a 24' joint of 11 gage 2" square tube. But you are right - with the band saw, the 14" chop stays idle a lot more these days.

 

[Steevo]

A lot of that here too. But using the band saw for cutting down a 10' section of 3" exhaust pipe is kinda difficult. Or trimming a 24' joint of 11 gage 2" square tube. But you are right - with the band saw, the 14" chop stays idle a lot more these days.

I have a cheap jack stand that I welded in position at the same height as my band saw table, which I use for holding up the back end of long material.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

More money then you might want to spend but well worth it http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200326857_200326857 ....here's my review of mine http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83622 .

 

[BC1]

Best abrasive chop saw is Rigid hands down. Heavy but it doesn't flex.

 

[PCO6]

I bought a DeWalt abrasive chop saw and it's probably the most disappointing tool purchase I have ever made. Nothing wrong with DeWalt. It's the noise, mess, slowness, etc. I can't stand. I didn't pay much more for my 4"x6" band saw and it is WAY more useful and enjoyable to use. I'm going to feel guilty selling my chop saw to someone without telling him how terrible they are.

 

[WILD-BILL]

I bought the HF chop saw years ago and it has performed great ever since.

 

[jptbay]

Best abrasive chop saw is Rigid hands down. Heavy but it doesn't flex.

x2 Heavy cast iron base. No flimsy stamped metal here. Plus lifetime warranty.

 

[aka Larry]

Evolution with a metal cutting blade will be my next big purchase. I have the HF 14" abrasive saw and it ***** IMO. I also have a Jet horizontal band saw that I use for most cuts because it makes no mess and cuts straight. The Evo saw is just 10X faster. I borrowed a friends to do my DIY Jeep roof rack and I've wanted one ever since.

 

[NorDel Garage]

I just built a 700 square foot paver patio. I bought the Harbor Freight chop saw for $80.00 also. I purchased a good quality diamond blade from the people who sold me my pavers. My experiance was awsome with this saw. I did have to buy a second blade because we made literally hundreds of cuts . For the price and the work that I got out of this saw , no complaints. I would recommend it . If it craps out return it. I still have mine and will use it again next spring on another project. The key, for me at least was buying a good blade.

 

[crewchief888]

i had one of the HF chopsaws, during it's abused life it cut enough tubing for 3 cages, 2 sets of bumpers, 2 sets of rock sliders, and more steel that it ever should have (for the price, at the time, $70 on sale)

it finally went up in smoke,
i tossed it in the scrap pile, it owed me nothing.

replace it with a ridgid from HD, found it on sale for $125

FWIW, IMHO
the ridgid is a much nicer saw than the milwaukee we have at work

 

[5lima30]

I have a Speedway version (made in China) I bought at a tool truck sale for $69 about 10 years ago. I expected it to last 1-2 years LOL! It's still working great but is LOUD! When it dies I will buy a Milwaukee. JMHO.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

If your not close to HF. Make sure you can get replacement blades. HF sometimes uses off size arbor holes so you have to buy new blades from them.

 

[LG63]

Like ohers have mentioned my chop saw was retired once I got a portaband. My only regret is that I bought a Makita, which is a fine saw but doesn't lend itself to being used with one of those nifty tables that makes a portaband into a vertical band saw. I believe the Dewalt is best for that purpose.

 

[E.Marquez]

I haven't used my abraisive chop saw since I bought my horizontal band saw.

Have both, use both..

Both have things there are better at.
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Used both today as a matter of fact.. Some fast cuts using the shop saw, some slow repetitive cuts using the band saw.


And I would not own or use either tool from HF.

 

[blacksuit99]

I am perfectly happy with the one that I bought. I don't use it everyday, nor do I use it to make a living. I did compare it to several at menards and lowes and the Harbor Freight saw appearred to be better built and much cheaper

 

[FluxCore]

I didn't read any of the replies, so mine in unbiased

I'll admit I shop often at HF for shop stuff......most things I've purchased from them are ok and just need a little tweeking or mods to be a really good deal....For many, tweeking and mods are beyond their abilities and they go away saying all HF stuff is junk-and I admit lots of their 'soft' stuff is, but most of their 'shop' stuff serves well in a home shop IF you KNOW what to expect going in.

There is NO shortage of reviews for most HF stuff....Google it up and read them all before you purchase.....YouTube also has tons of HF video reviews and mods posted.

Their chop saw is NOT a bad buy PROVIDING you use decent blades and not overfeed it.

Outfit it with quality blade like you would any $300 saw and feed it kinda slow and careful....It will serve you well-and if it don't they have a great warranty and return policy.

If you need a production saw used constantly all day/every day, then move way up and pay for it.

 

[darkk]

I really wanted a chop saw until I used a small portable band saw. I ended up buying a Dewalt portable band saw and a swag bench stand. It works for most everything. But as has been pointed out. one tool can't do everything. I also have a full size Delta 14" metal/wood band saw I hardly use now. That's a 10 ft 2.5" x 3/16" angle on the saw...

 

[stingry]

Evolution with a metal cutting blade will be my next big purchase. I have the HF 14" abrasive saw and it ***** IMO. I also have a Jet horizontal band saw that I use for most cuts because it makes no mess and cuts straight. The Evo saw is just 10X faster. I borrowed a friends to do my DIY Jeep roof rack and I've wanted one ever since.

Bought one of these to replace my BD chop saw which perished in my shop fire. Great machine! Fairly quiet and cuts fast. Blades are pricy and don't have enought use time to get a feel for the blade life.

Cheers
Steve

 

[PatDoody]

I have a rigid it works great. Been using it for years. Looking to buy a vertical bandsaw to replace it tho. The chop saw is so loud and dirty.

 

[OccupantRJ]

This is one of the saws I use for cutting metal. This is a nice attachment for a devoted portaband.

http://www.toolsbyhh.com/product/5032/

I also have two more portabands, an abrasive chop, vertical bandsaw, and a horizontal bandsaw that I use.

 

[Exceller8]

I looked at the HF saw yesterday as I'm needing one, but even with a coupon I wouldn't buy it. It looked really cheap in the build quality and that was enough for me to not buy it.

 

[2mJps]

Bandsaw is the only way to go. Unless you like loud noises and clouds of lung killing dust.

 

[superdutymike27]

I have a 14" Milwaukee I haven't used in years just collecting dust. Should sell it.

 

[bop_pa]

I have the HF Chop Saw and have questioned it slowness in making cuts. I have no personal experience using other chop saws but to me it is really slow. I have even bought other blades for it. I am anxious to try a different saw and/or band saw as a test. My thoughts are you would be better to apply that money to a better quality saw. As the quicker you can make cuts you can build things faster=meaning you will be more willing to start a build instead of worry about how long it will take to make the cuts.

 

[Mr.N]

That reminds me, I should dust off my old chop saw and sell it.

I'd rather use a 4.5" angle grinder, if a band saw is not available.

 

[IONH]

I haven't used my abraisive chop saw since I bought my horizontal band saw.

Used a chop saw for years, but I agree.. once I got my vertical/horizontal band saw, I have never used the abrasive chop saw.

 

[MegaManny009]

nice

 

[IONH]

Just graduated the chop saw to my garage attic today in an attempt to clean the garage due to its lack of use.

 

[kyles974]

x2 Heavy cast iron base. No flimsy stamped metal here. Plus lifetime warranty.

yep

I had two HF saws over the years. The first one I took back one day before the one year warenty ended....the guy asked, just curius, anything wrong with it? I said not really, maybe a little down on power.

So I got a new one for free. The sencond one lasted a few years. Then I let someone borrow it...of course they burned it up. (Im sure the were trying to make the motor do the cutting instead of the blade)

So I got tired of worring about trying to "baby" the HF to make it last...so I bought a Ridged. Used it a dozen times now and the first thing I noticed was heavy cast bottom. It makes a big difference

 

[IONH]

What does the base have to do with this? I've picked up the HF one by the base alone and had no warping or other problems. I don't know what you guys are doing with the bases to have a problem, I suspect you just like to complain.

 

[E.Marquez]

What does the base have to do with this? I've picked up the HF one by the base alone and had no warping or other problems. I don't know what you guys are doing with the bases to have a problem, I suspect you just like to complain.

The base is, well the base of the tool, when it dents, warms, deform due to being made from cheap, thin, stamped steel, and having 20 foot sticks of tube, angle, bar dropped on it for cutting.. you get to see one of the several reasons to purchase a better machine if you plan on using it for more then very, light duty sporadic use.

And by all means if your needs are to cut a piece of gutter down spout once or twice a year, and a hunk of muffler tail pipe occasionally... get the HB one or use a hack saw

Otherwise, stay far away from the very cheap, minimal duty Harbor Freight low quality chop saw

 

[BWS]

Pretty much all said above.I'll just add a bit of rambling,then gotta go build sumthin.

In brickworld,chopsaws are a fact of life.Be they electric hinged POS or chainsaw type.I usually coerce someone else into the job....duh.But one things for gauldang certain,you WILL be intune with which way the f**king wind is blowing.And pretty darn quick.

Now move to "choppin" steel.You see the sparks....and deal with it(don't lite the curtains up).But you aren't seeing how much "chit" gets thrown up.We see it in brickworld very easily.

I can "almost" set up our horz. bandsaw in the living rm and get to processing parts.They're that effective in controlling dust/funk.That ain't gonna happen wif a chopsaw.Heck,I still use a M/F(Miller's Falls),hand mitre box on A LOT of jobs in highend woodworld.Not only because its "cordless"....and does a way better job on MOST things......but it doesen't sling sawdust everyflippinwhere.

Have fun.....Ciao