Now that ive got a good welder coming, I need a decent chop saw.. I've been looking at the dewalts and Milwaukee, $199 for the dewalt and $179 for the Milwaukee, I've got dewalt drills, jigsaw and da sander, had good luck with all of them, I don't HAVE to get dewalt, just a good quality that cuts square and has a fence that's square and won't slip. I've read it's hit or miss on the harbor freight ones, besides the 2 that I said, what's some other good ones for a good price?
Chop saws?
- Thread starter jshultz78
- Start date
crewchief888
Well-known member
i have a ridgid i picked up at HD on clearance for $120
i like the cast base over the stamped steel base of most of the abrasive saws i looked at, and has a "toolless" angle cut vise
it replaced an orange HF saw that was subjected to a little too much abuse.
i like the cast base over the stamped steel base of most of the abrasive saws i looked at, and has a "toolless" angle cut vise
it replaced an orange HF saw that was subjected to a little too much abuse.
Ign
Well-known member
The newer (as in the past ~8 years) Milwaukees are 100% toolless even for blade change. I like the D handles too. Not sure what design Dewalt is putting out. Definitely get a cast base.
TechnoMayor
Well-known member
I've been looking at the Evolution Saws. They are expensive, but they get good reviews.
http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/us/
http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/us/
HAP
Well-known member
I would go with a portable band saw over a chop saw. Less waste and mess and you can cut in place, Not to mention mounting in a SWAG Offroad base.
Ign
Well-known member
Damn, I wonder why? Looks like they're still producing the dry cut?
My old 6176 is a bruiser, can't seem to kill it.
Went and picked it up today, was checking it out and noticed this:
Is this going to be an issue? It looks like it's angled because of the way the blade "rolls" down, instead of droping straight vertical. Just wondering if it's going to give any screwed up cuts on square tubing if I ever cut them at an angle besides 90 degrees..
Can anyone with this kind of saw check yours and verify for me? I'm **** about **** like this.
Is this going to be an issue? It looks like it's angled because of the way the blade "rolls" down, instead of droping straight vertical. Just wondering if it's going to give any screwed up cuts on square tubing if I ever cut them at an angle besides 90 degrees..
Can anyone with this kind of saw check yours and verify for me? I'm **** about **** like this.
Ign
Well-known member
What the hell are we looking at there? I see the base of what appears to a Milwaukee, and a tri-square, but what's the silver sliver to the left of the square's blade? I just can't fully make sense of it.
I WILL say my D-handle dry cut NEVER cut straight and I could NEVER figure out why. When you first said they discontinued the abrasives I was thinking they'd discovered a flaw in the design and discontinued ALL D-handles, but it looks like they have not pulled the dry cut from the market.
AFAIK the dry cut and abrasive D-handles were identical except for motor and maybe some other small electrics.
Other people seem happy with their Milwaukee dry cuts so I just figured I was unlucky.
I WILL say my D-handle dry cut NEVER cut straight and I could NEVER figure out why. When you first said they discontinued the abrasives I was thinking they'd discovered a flaw in the design and discontinued ALL D-handles, but it looks like they have not pulled the dry cut from the market.
AFAIK the dry cut and abrasive D-handles were identical except for motor and maybe some other small electrics.
Other people seem happy with their Milwaukee dry cuts so I just figured I was unlucky.
Went and picked it up today, was checking it out and noticed this:
Is this going to be an issue? It looks like it's angled because of the way the blade "rolls" down, instead of droping straight vertical. Just wondering if it's going to give any screwed up cuts on square tubing if I ever cut them at an angle besides 90 degrees..
Can anyone with this kind of saw check yours and verify for me? I'm **** about **** like this.
thats an allowance for flex, when you put stock in and tighten it, it will square up.
Ign
Well-known member
Ah, that's the fence! NOW I see it. The reflection had me confused.
bmxr4life87
Well-known member
Jschultz im assuming your from oklahoma?
I would personally recommend a small horizontal bandsaw. Sadly one of the off shore 4x6" ones. Much more versatile, cleaner, quieter than a chop saw just not as fast per cut. After that a cold saw, then finally an abrasive chop saw.
Just my 2¢
Just my 2¢
Looks like I'm going to get a band saw, Was using the chop saw today, on some square tubing, and I couldn't get what I was putting together squared up, got the square out and started checking the saw, lo and behold the blade doesn't drop straight down, it points to the right a little, maybe by 1/16" but it's still enough to mess up a project. Taking it back tomorrow and ordering a portable band saw, I'd like to try the new milwaukee one, but I don't know after this.
You can see the square touching up by the middle of the blade, and then the gap at the edge, I thought the blade wasn't flat, so I spun it by hand and it was the same gap all the way around.
You can see the square touching up by the middle of the blade, and then the gap at the edge, I thought the blade wasn't flat, so I spun it by hand and it was the same gap all the way around.
blacksuit99
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 21, 2007
- Messages
- 91
I like the Harbor Freight chop saw I bought. It has good reviews and is cheap
e-tek
Well-known member
I have a chop saw and have used it a lot but they are MESSY - both in how they cut and the metal they spew. I would totally agree with the suggestions of getting either a cold saw or a portable band saw. You'll waste less, be able to cut smaller pieces, they're both quieter than a chop saw and much less mess. Of course you'll pay 2-3X as much for those up front, unless you find a good used unit.
ryan t
Well-known member
I have a Hitachi and it has plenty of power, but it's loud and does make a huge mess. The bag attached to the back is totally worthless. If you are cutting metal 99% of the time you should def. get a cold saw. I use my bandsaw for any metal because the chop saw blade is way too fast.
crewchief888
Well-known member
i had one of the older orange ones, picked up on sale for something like $50.
used and abused it for 3 years cutting enough tubing for 3 roll cages, 2 sets of bumpers, 2 sets of rock sliders, snow plow frame, and more mounting tabs and gussets than i could count.
it finally died a horrible, smoking, and slow death....
Farmall450
Well-known member
I like my Dewalt!
I would recommend doing some research on here about "cold cut" and "dry cut" saws.
There is a difference. Cold cut is generally a industrial grade wet saw, sometimes no coolant and runs in the $1000's for a basic setup ie 8" blade and wet.
Dry cut saws are a newer breed that has become popular in the last decade that is basically a 14" abrasive saw with slower RPMs (1200-1800rpm) with carbide tipped blade. These will set you back $200-$600 usually.
I did the research and found the Evolution Rage III? (14" blade, not a "multi purpose one) for about $300. Lowes sells them, and others like Menards I believe. Quality is pretty good, and the price point is good.
There is also Milwaukees 14" dry cut, but I wasnt happy with the quality of my Milwaukee abrasive 14" which is almost a duplicate other then the motor.
I use mine on a daily basis for very accurate cutting (1/64") and found the results good enough for my small business.
There is a difference. Cold cut is generally a industrial grade wet saw, sometimes no coolant and runs in the $1000's for a basic setup ie 8" blade and wet.
Dry cut saws are a newer breed that has become popular in the last decade that is basically a 14" abrasive saw with slower RPMs (1200-1800rpm) with carbide tipped blade. These will set you back $200-$600 usually.
I did the research and found the Evolution Rage III? (14" blade, not a "multi purpose one) for about $300. Lowes sells them, and others like Menards I believe. Quality is pretty good, and the price point is good.
There is also Milwaukees 14" dry cut, but I wasnt happy with the quality of my Milwaukee abrasive 14" which is almost a duplicate other then the motor.
I use mine on a daily basis for very accurate cutting (1/64") and found the results good enough for my small business.