cold saw or horizontal bandsaw

[E12-535iTurbo]

I love my horizontal bandsaw. I've used it a lot but.... it was a cheap dutch designed chinese manufactured one which needed modifications to cut (more) square and is slowly falling apart with age. The casting just *****. So I'm on the fence to buy something to replace it.

I have a tiny workshop so only have room for one machine. I'm mostly into automotive and small project work like desks, cabinets etc.

Would there be any reason to buy a coldsaw instead of a horizontal bandsaw?

 

[earlthegoat2]

The short answer is that a good bandsaw, like an Ellis, is technically better in most areas. The case for a cold saw would be it takes up less space and is only slightly inferior in mitering and general cut accuracy. A bandsaw can also be put on a large solid piece and just forgot about until the cut is done. They cost a lot though.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

First let me say I sell bandsaws bandsaw blades and MK Morse cold saws and blades. Bandsaw takes more space and a good one is not cheap even used. The blades are cheap though and can cut almost anything and can run unattended. Cold saw is less to buy but the blades are expensive. If you make a mistake with feed rate or the material moves you are out a blade. You can't run it unattended and it won't cut nearly as many different things as the bandsaw.

 

[bczygan]

Bandsaw

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

I bought one of the HEM bench bandsaws from Trick Tools. Saws like a dream, I was looking for a cold saw but they are close to $2000 for a decent one, one that is really accurate is over $5000.

The HEM saw maybe slightly slower but is as accurate as a high end coldsaw.

 

[Sjfab]

I have both. An Ellis 2000 horizontal bandsaw and an evolution chop saw. The evolution gets used for 90% of all the cuts in my shop.

 

[bcradio]

I have both. An Ellis 2000 horizontal bandsaw and an evolution chop saw. The evolution gets used for 90% of all the cuts in my shop.

No you don't as that is not a cold saw... it's a dry cut saw.

As said above, a cold saw will set you back a few grand and is quiet large. I personally would choose a cold saw over a bandsaw, but it will come down to which model of each.

 

[Shop Dad]

It depends on what you will be cutting I suppose. I have been really impressed with my Makita dry cut saw and at some point may add a Milwaukee portable band saw. For a small shop cutting smaller material one or both might work for you.

 

[dr_clyde]

A bandsaw is the best all around shop cutting instrument. Different blade geometries and speeds allow the cutting of pretty much any material in any configuration.

A good one will set you back a few grand but will outlive you with proper maintenance and care. I'm a fan of Kalamazoo, Ellis, or W.F. Wells for the smaller shop. Used is fine if you can get one that wasn't too badly abused. Marvel, Hyd-Mech or older Do-All if you have the coin and the space. Look for a top loader blade change with at least a 1" blade.

A cold saw is very useful for tubing, miter cuts and small solids. A true cold saw, mind you, not one of those ****** dry cut saws. Actual cold saws, such as a Scotchman or Doringer, will also be in the 3-6 grand territory, but cut solid bar like butter and are very accurate and fast.

I wouldn't use a dry cut saw if you paid me. Loud, messy, throws hot chips everywhere, not very versatile. I've used the "best" of these, and they can't hold a candle to any real saws.

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

To be very honest, we have a very nice Hy-Mech DM-8 horizontal bandsaw and a Haberle H350 coldsaw and I can't tell you the last time we used the bandsaw. Our coldsaw is used day-in and day-out and makes quick, super accurate and quiet cuts.
The bandsaw will cut larger sections than the coldsaw, and is great for bundle cutting multiple pieces, but we don't do either. I bought it for one job which required 45° miters on 6x6 sq. tubing and got a killer deal on it as it was a discontinued model.
It really boils down to what it's main use will be and how much you have to spend.

 

[earlthegoat2]

If I had both a cold saw and a bandsaw in my shop, yeah, the cold saw would get used 90% of the time. The cold saw is just faster for the majority of all fabrications. I have an Ellis bandsaw and I have a DeWalt chopper and the DW gets used the majority of the time. When I am breaking down 6" channel or 5x2 tubing, (which is often) the Ellis gets used 100% of the time. I will use both of them simultaneously quite often as well. The Ellis will have a large structural on it and I will be cutting 12" sections of 2x2 angle on the chopper.

All depends on your work to be done. The bandsaw is way more valuable to me than a cold saw because it frees up a ton of time breaking down big stuff since I don't have to be manually feeding it. If I only ever built utility trailers out of angle then a cold saw would make much more sense. I see that there are semi automatic cold saws which I know next to nothing about but I would assume the costs would appropriately skyrocket as more features are added to them.

 

[Ign]

Yeah I don’t understand comments that a cold saw is cheaper. I was told Baleigh was offering a baby single phase cold saw with 10”? I think? blade about $800 but that’s a budget, budget cold saw.

A true 3ph miter-in-either-direction, clamp-on-either-side-of-the-blade Haberle is $3-$6k as more informed users have said.

And has been stated bandsaw blades are CHEAP, cold saw blades are NOT

I’d love to have both but if only one it’s a bandsaw for me. Just so versatile. Even a 7x12 with 3/4” blade will do A LOT. But I’d love something more like a swivel head 9x16

If people are thinking of DeWalt and Evolution type hot saws, you’re mistaken. These are by no stretch of the imagination a cold saw (which often spins at 44rpm or so)

 

[tarbellb]

Lots of good info from above posters so I will keep it short.

Bandsaw- more versatile vs takes up more space and slow

Coldsaw- less capacity + speciality blades for diff materials vs super fast and small footprint.

Again, depends on what you are doing, but if you only cut 4"x4" or less I would lean towards a coldsaw.

A really nice cheaper option is that HEM pivoting head band saw. Accurate, cheap(er), small footprint.

 

[Sjfab]

Sorry, I missed the cold saw part

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

Thanks so much guys. The info is highly appreciated! I haven't made a purchase yet but getting more and more frustrated with my current saw. I'll purchase another bandsaw to replace it. Again, thank you very much for the replies!

BR. Jan

 

[DerekV]

I picked this thing up on sale a few weeks ago. It's awesome. I really like the swiveling head on it vs. the traditional swiveling vise. That and its size (not that big or heavy) are what really sold it to me. The miter gauge is dead nuts accurate. I put a 14-18 M42 bimetal blade on it from sawblade.com and it's perfect IMHO. I recommend watching the Grizzly video on YouTube for setting up the guides and blade tracking. Very helpful. There are a ton of adjustments.

I just finished a project with dozens of miter cuts and the fit up was flawless. Saved so much time and headache over other cutting methods, including a dry cut saw (which I highly DON'T recommend the "Ironton" one from Northern Tool...absolute total hunk of junk). I used to be all about dry cut saws, but the blades aren't cheap, good ones aren't cheap, the kerf is big, etc. I can go on and on. I'm a bandsaw believer now.











http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-x...742?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com

 

[tarbellb]

Excellent post and review! Thanks.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

For my needs, I use an Evolution chop saw for cutting items to length. I use a portable band saw on a removable stand for free hand cuts where a band saw is well suited (sheet metal, brackets, things you can't clamp in a chop saw). My horizontal band saw is in the trailer going to Cyberauctions in a few months. It took too much room for the amount of use I gave it. I liked the fire and forget nature of cutting steel with it, but the space it takes- I'll stick with the Evolution chop saw and stand I built.

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

I picked this thing up on sale a few weeks ago. It's awesome. I really like the swiveling head on it vs. the traditional swiveling vise. That and its size (not that big or heavy) are what really sold it to me. The miter gauge is dead nuts accurate. I put a 14-18 M42 bimetal blade on it from sawblade.com and it's perfect IMHO. I recommend watching the Grizzly video on YouTube for setting up the guides and blade tracking. Very helpful. There are a ton of adjustments.

View media item 80210
How about that . I picked it up barely used for 450 euro including a benchtop drill and a metal bender.

View media item 80211
View media item 80212

 

[shanny19]

A bandsaw is the best all around shop cutting instrument.

Unless your shop is the size of mine, in which case a dry chop saw is the best all around cutting instrument.

 

[Bretny]

Nice looking units. They do make a vertical self feeding band saw that is prety compact. Mine is a 15x10in or so. Its made by rollin saw or rolling saw. There an american company.

 

[ishiboo]

I think given your space requirements and fabrication needs, a dry cut saw like the Dewalt DW872 or Fein Slugger would be the way to go. Quick, efficient cuts just like you're working with wood. I got the DW872 for Christmas and it replaced my Rage 2, which was better than nothing.

I use my portaband a lot yet. I use it for cutting things I don't want to trash the carbide blade on. Rebar, small bundles (like I had about 200 pieces of 1/2" threaded rod to cut for my barn), higher grades of steel like the 7/8" diameter B7 threaded rod I had to cut, etc.

DerekV's saw looks REALLY cool as well. The smaller bandsaws are nice, but that one is also a mitering bandsaw where the head moves instead of the vise. Really nice setup and a reasonable price!

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I have a horizontal bandsaw and it just takes up a lot of space for the work I do. A bit of cleanup afterwards, always tinkering to keep it square and true. When I tried out an Evolution saw, I was sold and immediately put the bandsaw into the trailer to be sold off. I built a stand with drop leafs for the Evolution and it has become my go to saw.

I also picked up a portable bandsaw and built a small table stop stand for it to be used as a vertical band saw and that too has become very handy. These two items take up less room than the horizontal saw did, yet do more than the original saw could.

For *my* needs, it turned out to be the perfect combination.

 

[rsanter]

I have both and use both
for larger solid stock the cold saw takes a long time and I think it is hard on the blade.
I am not patient so I put it in the band saw and let it do its thing and come back later

for tubing and angle iron, cant beat the cold saw

 

[PNWguy]

A good horizontal bandsaw is great.
A good cold saw is amazing.

The cold saw can be more accurate, and keep a straighter cut. However, it has size limits. A Scotchman 350 (350 mm/14" blade) can only cut 5 or 6 inches.

For size, you'll get way more bang for your buck with a band saw, but you'll give up a bit of accuracy. I can't afford a good cold saw, so I'll keep my band saw.

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

Thanks again for the input guys. I've ordered some blades and have a few projects to work on. It should give me an idea if I've bought the right tool for me.

 

[E12-535iTurbo]

Very happy I went with the purchase of this band saw. It cuts straight and I can just set it to work and leave. In other words awsome to use while watching / playing with the kids

View media item 80976

 

[Badasssapper67]

Can you give us a report on the eclipse dry cut saw? Theyre the only "affordable" ones and I've heard bad reviews.
Would you buy the saw again?

 

[Musicinabottle]

No you don't as that is not a cold saw... it's a dry cut saw.

As said above, a cold saw will set you back a few grand and is quiet large. I personally would choose a cold saw over a bandsaw, but it will come down to which model of each.

Cold saw blades are expensive but they last a long time. Longer than band saw blades. You do have to pull the handle on a cold saw but I prefer them to band saws. Only thing better than a cold saw is a Piranha, but they aren't as clean on the cuts but boy are they fast, especially if you have a Tiger stop or similar.

 

[PNWguy]

Cold saw blades are expensive but they last a long time. Longer than band saw blades. You do have to pull the handle on a cold saw but I prefer them to band saws. Only thing better than a cold saw is a Piranha, but they aren't as clean on the cuts but boy are they fast, especially if you have a Tiger stop or similar.

There are plenty of cold saws with a power feed.

An iron worker is awesome, but the accuracy isn't even close to band saw, and light years away from a cold saw.