I bought a chop saw.

[bad_idea]

I bought a Dewalt 14" chop saw from home depot the other night. I like the tool, it is much nicer than using a 4 1/2" grinder for all my cuts. But the clamp/ angle guide is severely lacking in comparison to my miter saw as far as precision of angles.

So I figure if I am finding the saw lacking in this area, others must also. Has anyone modified their chop saw to be more accurate or easier to use? I have looked around and all of the chops saws are about the same. It seems odd to me that they put so much into a miter saw but a chop saw is so basic.

 

[WILD-BILL]

Only thing I ever saw was a friend who put a smaller chop saw blade on a miter saw.

And yes, I saw this after I had already bought my chop saw too.

 

[Outlawmws]

Only thing I ever saw was a friend who put a smaller chop saw blade on a miter saw.

And yes, I saw this after I had already bought my chop saw too.

That will work until the grit eats the miter saw motor up...

 

[bert.]

my old man has a block of wood thats cut at 45 degrees and it bolts to the back jaw with a wing nut so all you do is set the main back stop to 90 deg with a square and then bolt in the dit of wood when doing 45's if that makes sense. the only time i've ever needed anything other than 45 and 90 was when notching pipe

 

[ElectroLight]

No advice for improving a chop saw but when I was in the market I chose a band saw, cleaner cuts, much less noise and no fireworks to be concerned with. A cold saw would be even nicer but I can't justify the $$. I guess it all depends on what you need the saw to do.

 

[bad_idea]

I bought a Dewalt 12" compound sliding double bevel miter saw about 2 weeks ago. I thought of putting an abrasive wheel on it until I read the directions. The directions expressely said 'do not put an abrasive wheel on this saw'. For the money I paid for the miter saw, another $200 for a chop saw seemed like a good investment.

I like the idea of a chunk of wood cut at 45 degrees. I will have to look into that closer.

Any other ideas? Thanks all.

 

[crewchief888]

i dunno, but i'f you're looking for a perfect angle, a chop saw probably wasnt the best tool idea.

i use an adjustable angle finder/ protractor to set mine.

 

[sberry]

You rarely actually need a perfect angle especially for welded work. I rarely make a miter cut on a saw, I nip corners with a plasma or torch, rarely design anything that needs 45. You can notch with a chop saw,, its my go to tool for general maint type work, only occasionally use band saw.
I got a pic somewhere, we since modified the spark shoot to direct into the base properly.

 

[bad_idea]

Is that stand a re-purpose? There are some nice curves on that stand.

 

[Flatland Dave]

the stand looks like a modified fuel oil barrel

Nice set up!

 

[cobymoby]

Working with metal vs. wood are two very different things. Metal likes to bend and grab the blade whereas wood is a nice soft buttery material to work with.

DO NOT put a chop saw blade on a miter saw. That blade will shatter at a very high speed.

 

[LSU]

+1 on this. I saw the aftermath of a guy who did this. The chop saws have (or supposed to have) greater safety features in case the blade shatters.

The savings is not worth the risk.

 

[darkk]

+1 on this. I saw the aftermath of a guy who did this. The chop saws have (or supposed to have) greater safety features in case the blade shatters.

The savings is not worth the risk.

Thanks for making me spend money! I have an old left over 10" Craftsman miter saw and was thinking of putting a metal blade on it, I guess I won't now...

 

[Mmfh]

Did a little research on the subject of using chop saw blade on a miter saw, not a good idea and will void any warranty you have on your saw. The motors are wound differently and have a different torque ratio. You will eventually burn out the motor on your mitre saw if you do it.

I have the same Dewalt chop saw as the OP. Best thing you can do is use a really good cut off wheel on it. I used the one that came with it and it has too much flex to it. I picked up a thicker blade and its cuts much straighter and where I want it to cut.

Mm

 

[larry4406]

I had an old miter saw. I put a 10-inch abrasive disc in it to cut steel. i built 2 work benches and a rotissorie and the motor finally died. I agree that chop saws suffer with their poor miter function.

 

[Ign]

Yep, the market is severely lacking here. Evolution has tried to fill the void kinda with their Rage 3
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030M2TCC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

but isn't meant to cut thick wall steel. You might be ok if you stayed at 1/8" wall thickness and under.

If your Dewalt has the stamped base, I'm sorry.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

If you guys intend to cut steel with a miter saw, use a saw in the proper rpm range for metal.

I have a Rage 3 and I love it. I've cut 1/4" thick mild steel. Let the saw do the work and use a good blade and you can make your cuts just fine.


bad_idea, I've seen a chop saw jigged up to make accurate repeatable cuts on steel. I'll dig up those links and get them to you. They might provide you with ideas you can use.

 

[Outlawmws]

Working with metal vs. wood are two very different things. Metal likes to bend and grab the blade whereas wood is a nice soft buttery material to work with.

DO NOT put a chop saw blade on a miter saw. That blade will shatter at a very high speed.

Did a little research on the subject of using chop saw blade on a miter saw, not a good idea and will void any warranty you have on your saw. The motors are wound differently and have a different torque ratio. You will eventually burn out the motor on your mitre saw if you do it.

I have the same Dewalt chop saw as the OP. Best thing you can do is use a really good cut off wheel on it. I used the one that came with it and it has too much flex to it. I picked up a thicker blade and its cuts much straighter and where I want it to cut.

Mm

While not arguing about it being a good idea to put an abrasive blade on a saw designed for wood, I don't think speed is the issue?

My 12" chop saw is rated @4000 RPM

My 12" delta miter saw is rated @ 3500 RPM...

YMMV...


The guard IS a concern, the chop saw has a steel blade guard, the Miter is aluminum... (in some cases possibly plastic...)


I have doubts about the torque ratings being an issue; both wood and abrasive cutting are high torque apps, (Type of wood has a lot to do with the load placed on the saw, granted.) - Care to expand on what you found?


The Miter saw is not designed to eat the abrasive dust. The Chop saw is, as far as is practical. This is far more likely to smoke a Miter saw. (I have killed a couple of circular saws with masonry abrasive blades...)

 

[GirlnAgarage]

(I have killed a couple of circular saws with masonry abrasive blades...)

I'm waiting to kill mine. It's the cheapie $30 Skil saw and I've run it with the understanding it'll likely die. For now it still trucks.

 

[rsanter]

If you want greater precision you need to get a thicker piece of angle and make a new back fence, then dial it in very well and then drill some holes that you can drop pins in to index to the 90 & 45 as well as any other common angle you will be cutting

For thin tubing you need to slow how fast you push the blade through the material or the blade will wander

For thick material use a horizontal band saw

Bob

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm wanting to kill mine. It's the cheapie $30 Skil saw and I've run it with the understanding it'll likely die. For now it still trucks.

Fixed!

 

[sfckiddo]

use a T-Bevel to set the angle on the fence with the disc quick simple and easy

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Fixed!

I am surprised it made through the 16ga for my drawers. I was not gentle.