i have a dewalt abrasive metal chop saw that im thinking of selling. i hate selling tools but since i bought a 4x6 horizontal band saw ive never touched the chop saw. i dont see anything i could do on the chop saw that i couldnt do on the band saw. should i keep it or sell it. i have a feeling if i sell it im gona need it the next day. you know how that goes.
keep or sell metal chop saw
- Thread starter slow50
- Start date
Stay with the horizontal. Probably my favorite power tool in the shop.
About the only place abrasive chop saws excel is on extremely hard steels. Dirty, noisy, dangerous, limited in material type and cross section. Bandsaw all the way for me.
About the only place abrasive chop saws excel is on extremely hard steels. Dirty, noisy, dangerous, limited in material type and cross section. Bandsaw all the way for me.
CAOS
Well-known member
Unless you need the money, keep it.
An abrasive saw is just as dangerous as any other tool used improperly.
An abrasive saw is just as dangerous as any other tool used improperly.
rancherbill
Well-known member
Sell it, taske the money and buy something else to fill the now vacant chopsaw space.
trackwelder
Well-known member
Any chance that you might need it to go away from your shop. I started with a abrasive chop, then a band saw, and lastly a carbide chop saw. Still have all three and no plans to get rid of any of them.
Funny you ask, I had to pick up a new blade for my bandsaw a few weeks ago, and somehow I got a bad one and the teeth just sheared off after a few cuts, I was replacing it due to the old one breaking. Suddenly I had a bunch of cuts to make and no bandsaw, So I grabbed the old abrasive saw from under the bench, put a new disk on it and finished the job.
So keep it.
BTW the last time I used that saw was 3 or 4 years ago when I was working on a friends dock, doing some welding repairs and replacing the support pipes, boy it was nice to be able to bring the saw to the job.
So keep it.
BTW the last time I used that saw was 3 or 4 years ago when I was working on a friends dock, doing some welding repairs and replacing the support pipes, boy it was nice to be able to bring the saw to the job.
oldtractors
Well-known member
I hate my abrasive saw, but try to cut a bunch of hardened steel with your bandsaw. Or if you try to build something with bedframe angles. They will take the teeth off of a bandsaw in about 1 second.
I use mine about once a year. Keep it. You will need it sometime.
I use mine about once a year. Keep it. You will need it sometime.
Letsgobowhunting
Well-known member
I say keep it if you have room to store it. Your not going to get much for it and what would you spend the $50 bucks on that wouldn't cost you more money anyway.
Very true. Just something about a spinning abrasive blade. I once witnessed a 14" abrasive blade explode on a guy after someone before had cut aluminum on it. Luckily he had a leather apron on, but man, there were pieces of abrasive blade stuck into the drywall behind. I think the guy shat himself, literally. After that, no more abrasive saws for me. I don't even like using a thin cut off wheel on a 4.5" grinder.
Very good point. The most use I had for the abrasive chop saw was when I was making billets of Damascus. That stuff and bed frames are a real bandsaw blade killer. Even with good blades and coolant.
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rsanter
Well-known member
I have both
I use both
I'm keeping both
Bob
I use both
I'm keeping both
Bob
crewchief888
Well-known member
i wouldnt get rid of it.
i dont have a bandsaw, and will probably never buy one.
i'd rather use an abrasive chop saw.
i've done several projects for select friends, at their garage or barn.
lugging a bandsaw around wouldnt have been a good thing...
i dont have a bandsaw, and will probably never buy one.
i'd rather use an abrasive chop saw.
i've done several projects for select friends, at their garage or barn.
lugging a bandsaw around wouldnt have been a good thing...
koditten
Well-known member
Useless, noisy, fire hazard, dusty and takes up space. I had one for 6 months ten years ago. The Bandsaw does everything I need. I do not miss it.
CAOS
Well-known member
I'd bet people were de-burring pieces on the side of the abrasive saw before he used it.
I work in an industrial metal fabrication shop, in the last ten years I have yet to see an abrasive blade on a chop saw explode. We still keep them around, along with dry saws, cold saws and the Hydmech automated band saw.
Zip cuts tend to separate themselves from the metal ring in the centre because the operator puts too much flex on the blade. On Wednesday I had a 6" Makita grinder with a zip cut so hot I couldn't hold the body of the grinder anymore.
What scares me most is all the pictures I see on here of people running angle grinders without guards. Especially those with a wire wheel on it.
Having a bit of fear when using a tool is better then being TOO confident, thats when the bad **** happens!
PCO6
Well-known member
YIKES !!!
That never would have even crossed my mind!I've had a horizontal band saw for at least 25 yrs. and always liked it. One day I decided to buy an abrasive chop saw (a DeWalt like the OP's). I didn't like it at first for all of the reasons stated above (noisy, dirty, etc.). I also thought of selling it but despite being almost knew I figured I wouldn't get enough for it to make it worthwhile.
I've learned to like it for quick jobs and being able to take it to places I can't take my horizontal saw.
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I'd bet people were de-burring pieces on the side of the abrasive saw before he used it.
I work in an industrial metal fabrication shop, in the last ten years I have yet to see an abrasive blade on a chop saw explode. We still keep them around, along with dry saws, cold saws and the Hydmech automated band saw.
Zip cuts tend to separate themselves from the metal ring in the centre because the operator puts too much flex on the blade. On Wednesday I had a 6" Makita grinder with a zip cut so hot I couldn't hold the body of the grinder anymore.
What scares me most is all the pictures I see on here of people running angle grinders without guards. Especially those with a wire wheel on it.
Having a bit of fear when using a tool is better then being TOO confident, thats when the bad **** happens!
Don't mean to hi-jack, but does someone have a link to what NOT to do with an abrasive blade to keep it from exploding? I've never heard of this before...
sberry
Banned
InPrimer
Well-known member
I have some tools that I seldom use... My friend is in the same boat, so we have different tools that we swop when needed and we don't need duplicates
StumpXJ
Well-known member
Between the portaband and thin cut off wheels on the grinder, I never used my Milwaukee chop saw. I traded it on Craigslist for some stuff. I have never missed it.
BD1
Well-known member
Depending on what type of work you do, the chop saw would be quicker on stainless. I could see you selling one chop saw but ONLY if you had two. Plus, you could set the chop saw up for miter cuts and leave the band saw for 90's. I can't believe the moderators haven't stopped this thread. Selling a TOOL . 
sberry
Banned
A chop saw is a little like a pair of vise grips, so fast and does so many things. I never miter in a saw though, usually design with a 90 or a cope or nip any angle stuff with a plasma.
CAOS
Well-known member
YIKES !!!
I've had a horizontal band saw for at least 25 yrs. and always liked it. One day I decided to buy an abrasive chop saw (a DeWalt like the OP's). I didn't like it at first for all of the reasons stated above (noisy, dirty, etc.). I also thought of selling it but despite being almost knew I figured I wouldn't get enough for it to make it worthwhile.
I've learned to like it for quick jobs and being able to take it to places I can't take my horizontal saw.
Happens often when people cut threaded rod, then de-burr the end so the nut will thread on. Terrible, but I used to be that guy when I started out in the trade and knew any better!
Keep it.That's now your field saw and back up. I bought mine specifically for that purpose. The trade being fast, portable and rough cut to clean, precise and sedentary use of a bandsaw. And BD1 is right, you never get rid of a tool, preposterous
Ign
Well-known member
IMO you must have an abrasive saw in the shop for cutting hardened materials. Graded bolts, re-bar, or anything else where you don't want to destroy a bandsaw blade or rip teeth off.
1953mercury
Well-known member
I just purchased a horizontal band saw and haven't used it yet. Have had the chop saw for 25 yrs, and use it regularly. Have had one blade come apart, and it is scary. Got the band saw because I'm tired of noise and mess, but I won't be getting rid of the chop saw. Mike
malibu101
Well-known member
A fact that has not been mentioned.
Aluminum grows a lot (expands) when it is heated.
Once aluminum is embedded in a grinding media, no matter if a handheld wizzer wheel or a bench grinder wheel, once steel is ground on the same wheel the wheel gets hot which causes the embedded aluminum to expand and possibly shatter the wheel.
Much like how water freezes and expands causing a beer can to pop if left in the freezer to long.
Moral of the story- Aluminum should not be ground, only cut with something having teeth.
Aluminum grows a lot (expands) when it is heated.
Once aluminum is embedded in a grinding media, no matter if a handheld wizzer wheel or a bench grinder wheel, once steel is ground on the same wheel the wheel gets hot which causes the embedded aluminum to expand and possibly shatter the wheel.
Much like how water freezes and expands causing a beer can to pop if left in the freezer to long.
Moral of the story- Aluminum should not be ground, only cut with something having teeth.
R.Anderson
Well-known member
I vote keep for backup and harden steels.
I have a bandsaw I use alot and chopsaw I rarely use. I keep it for harden steels and anything else that would kill the bandsaw blade.
bed rails
auto axles
grader/plow blades
I have a bandsaw I use alot and chopsaw I rarely use. I keep it for harden steels and anything else that would kill the bandsaw blade.
bed rails
auto axles
grader/plow blades
R.Anderson
Well-known member
There are special grinding and flap discs for aluminum.
malibu101
Well-known member
Steevo
Well-known member
I haven't used my abrasive chop saw since I bought my horizontal band saw over two years ago.
I may put it in my yard sale next spring.
I may put it in my yard sale next spring.
Grumpy365
Well-known member
I have both, I use the chop saw most. It is quick & easy.
Ign
Well-known member
Sure, but he's talking about getting rid of the abrasive saw and keeping the bandsaw which WILL safely cut Al. The point here would be finding reasons to *keep* the abrasive saw, such as hardened materials.
If he were looking at getting rid of the bandsaw I'd also point out it's one of the best ways to cut large chunks of plastics such as acetal and UHMW, but since he's planning to keep the bandsaw anyhow it's moot.
And while Al should generally not be ground (altho as mentioned there are grinding wheels specifically for Al; Sait is one manufacturer I've used and it works well) it can be sanded to shape it, ie belt sander or flapper wheels.
Abrasive chop saws are excellent for cutting PVC, CPVC and ABS plumbing pipe-- especially handy for the larger diameters. Cut like a hot knife through soft butter. I'd keep it for that purpose alone, as well as for hardened steel as already mentioned.
Also for portability, I'd rather throw a chop saw in the truck than a horizontal band saw. A Milwaukee Porta-Band is, of course, a different matter.
Also for portability, I'd rather throw a chop saw in the truck than a horizontal band saw. A Milwaukee Porta-Band is, of course, a different matter.
Guster
Well-known member
I have a heavy 14" 2.5hp belt drive chop saw and one of those small import horisontal bandsaws as well as a plasma cutter and I use them all regularly. The chopsaw is fitted with an inox blade and I do a lot of stainless work with it. Burs are nasty but it cuts fast and straight, a blade/disk lasts a long time and I can debur pretty quickly. Stainless is not kind on bandsaw blades and plasma is messy when cutting tube stock.
Only once thought of selling the chopsaw as I can cut most stuff using smaller angle grinders though I ended up needing it for a large job before it could sell. All have their own strengths and benefits but it really depends on what you do and what you might use it for most. Often no point just having stuff for the sake of having it when it takes up space or could pay for more important tooling or materials.
Only once thought of selling the chopsaw as I can cut most stuff using smaller angle grinders though I ended up needing it for a large job before it could sell. All have their own strengths and benefits but it really depends on what you do and what you might use it for most. Often no point just having stuff for the sake of having it when it takes up space or could pay for more important tooling or materials.
Strouty
Well-known member
Chop saws also cut hydraulic hose very well. That being said, I have one, but it rarely gets used.
Kaasdief
Well-known member
The neighbours dig my bandsaw. I can use it on a Sunday afternoon!
RRich
Well-known member
I have neither band saw nor chop saw but I do have a HF mitre saw. Is there any reason I shouldn't use a chop saw abrasive blade in it?
Guster
Well-known member
First guess would be that the speed and torque would not be suitable for friction cutting. Second is that there is likely a lot of plastic parts that would not handle the additional heat from a friction cut.
motobilt
Well-known member
I still have a Dewalt abrasive saw. I have certain things I keep it around for. General cutting I use a carbide tooth saw. The Dewalt I use more for building headers from J-bends. Like mentioned above I have yet to see a blade explode. Buy quality blades, and be careful not to bounce the blade off material you are cutting. Pay attention to how much down force you are applying. Let the saw do the work. Always try to cut through the thin side and not the wide side on an abrasive saw.
Dan
Dan