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Metal Chop Saw

outsider347

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Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
97
Location
Orchard Park NY
My pos china freight just **** the bed. What a surprise, yea, I should have known better

Any way. Need a new REAL ONE and wondering what you gents are recommending.

I use it 2-5 times a week & looking for a better unit
Tks
 
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scott37300

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May 5, 2010
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Wisconsin
Dewalt multi cutter or similar different brand. Uses a carbide blade and leaves a clean burr free cut and doesn't heat the metal up.
 
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outsider347

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Sep 27, 2011
Messages
97
Location
Orchard Park NY
Yea just now reading here about the Evoloution Rage 3 saws
Neg comment seems to be that the saw is limited to 1/4 in metal
Thoughts?
 

rockchucker

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Mar 27, 2010
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Location
Seattle WA
I have a DeWalt 14" Metal Saw. I have used their 12" Chop Saw for Construction and they last a long time. Pretty durable just don't drop them or bang them around too much. The Metal Saw is definitely more rugged.
 

ng8264723

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Joined
Aug 28, 2006
Messages
732
Location
Oakham MA
I hate chop saws. They are noisy dirty and the sparks! I have searched for a long time and recnetly purchased a power hack saw. This is the same model as mine

What a great machine! I still have to set it up in my shop but I love they way they work
 
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outsider347

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Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
97
Location
Orchard Park NY
ng
I have seen those saws over the years
& thought they work well, but space limitations in my shop will not accommodate such a large footprint

any have a suggestion where to purchase a dry saw
 

mitusa

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Dec 24, 2011
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Location
SW Oklahoma
ng
I have seen those saws over the years
& thought they work well, but space limitations in my shop will not accommodate such a large footprint

any have a suggestion where to purchase a dry saw

Look on CL. Some people don't like the abrasive chop saws. You can usually get a Makita or a Dewalt for $100 or less. I have both brands, some say the Makita is the best.
 

mcckkey

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Joined
Oct 18, 2009
Messages
8
I like my Makita Lc1230 metal cutting saw I've had it about 4 years now and finally changed the original saw blade with a Diablo 15 inch replacement blade.
DSC_0002-4.jpg
 

jonzer12

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Oct 17, 2011
Messages
165
I have the rage 3, its about 5 years old now. I have cut 1/2 with it a few times, it is simply a matter of blade wear. I wouldn't hesitate to cut 3/4 with it if I needed to. It is a fantastic saw, I just wish I bought the rage 2 instead. I have never made a compound cut and I only use it for metal so the larger rage 2 would be far better.
 

GirlnAgarage

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Jan 21, 2011
Messages
4,668
Location
Texas
I have an Evolution Rage 3. So far 1/4" is the thickest I've cut. Can't say it's the max the saw will cut as I haven't tried thicker materials yet. As for the cost of a blade they're $40-$80 depending on type and brand.

This topic comes up a lot lol
 

buening

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Dec 17, 2007
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1,338
Location
Decatur, IL
Out of curiosity, can you put a dry cut blade in an abrasive saw body?

FYI outsider347, you may pull the brushes from the motor and see if that is all that fried. I have a china saw too and the cheap brushes fried after a few uses. Put some good brushes in there and you should be good to go. There should be plastic plugs with a flat tip screw slot on the motor to access the brushes.
 

GirlnAgarage

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Jan 21, 2011
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Location
Texas
Out of curiosity, can you put a dry cut blade in an abrasive saw body?


lol And that is the follow up Q that always comes up in this original metal saw question.

You have to match the saw RPM to the blade. Usually the answer is no, abrasive saws and wood saw turn too fast.
 

JayL

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Apr 17, 2008
Messages
1,789
Location
Manila, Philippines
I like my Makita Lc1230 metal cutting saw I've had it about 4 years now and finally changed the original saw blade with a Diablo 15 inch replacement blade.
DSC_0002-4.jpg

I also have a n LC 1230. Currently it's loaded with a 12" Diablo Steel Demon.

Can you please re confirm if a 15" Diablo Steel demon works with this chop saw.

Thanks
 
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805gregg

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Nov 12, 2011
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272
Location
Ojai, Ca
I've had a Makita 14" abrasive saw for years, I just got an Evolution Rage 2, I love it, the Makita will take a rest.
 
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outsider347

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Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
97
Location
Orchard Park NY
buening
Yep checked the brushes, and they are like new, actually the whole saw is like new. I bought it used from a guy that used it for 1 job, to cut metal studs

When I try to use it the blade seems to want to melt the metal, & skew off track, I don't think it's rpm fast enough. Took it apart...strange noises from the gear box. Thats when I decided time for a REAL SAW
 

Monte

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Dec 23, 2008
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Location
Germany
Monte
That is a fine looking piece.
I went to the site to check it out,
worries me when the cost is not listed

If the price is not listed it´s better not to do a further research because it might end with a heart attack :)
 

tarbellb

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Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
5,752
Location
Oregon
I also did a ton of research and ended up buying the Rage 2 with 15" carbid blade and 1850rpm motor.
Ive used both the Dewalt and Evo. There are pros and cons to each, as with any of them:

Evo Pros:
great table/ vise setup, much beefier then anybody else in same category.
seems to have the most robust pivot/base system also.
cheaper then others at retail prices. I paid just over $400 w/ tax.
available at Lowes with coupons (special order at my local Lowes tho)

Evo Cons:
very heavy due to cast base
seems to have some blade deflection on all cuts, 90 or other wise?
- not sure if this is the case with other brands
oem blades are kinda pricey, but i buy 15" diablo blades much cheaper (read $40)

Dewalt Pros:
seemed smoother? quiter? almost like a higher build quality?
readily available parts

Dewalt Cons:
****** base/ vise/ pivot system. all stamped steel. all the units at the metal shop i worked at had broken vises (3 total).
more expensive

ive heard the Milwaukee is good, looks about the same as the Dewalt i think. i had the exact same thing but abrasive and the vise broke within hours of first use.

do remember that my line of work my differ then yours. i do high end steel work, mostly furniture and architectural elements. i need my cuts accurate to within 1/32" usually.

OH! and Monte suggestion is beautiful, sell your truck and buy one. :)
 
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spv

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Aug 6, 2010
Messages
301
Makita LC 1230 - Can JayL and mcckkey comment on what you cut with this saw and how it performs? I have been throwing around the idea of buying one for quite some time. I keep thinking it wont cut the capacity I need, the vice/clamp seems flimsy (a lot of play in the slider). Do you get accurate square cuts with this saw?
 

tarbellb

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Apr 17, 2011
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Location
Oregon
oh and ive cut 1/4" x 4" flat bar steel no problem with the Evo saw many times, does great.
ive even cut a 4"x 2.5" solid steel block, went slow, had no issues.

i would like to hear other peoples experiences with their own carbid steel cutting saws. accuracy, blade wonder, fence and vise, etc.....
 

blasto9000

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Joined
Mar 20, 2011
Messages
92
Location
Los Angeles, Calif.
I had a Grizzly cold-cut saw ($895):

http://www.grizzly.com/products/9-Slow-Speed-Cold-Cut-Saw/G0681

Nice piece for aluminum and steel, but no-go for almost anything outside of that. I wound up switching to a Horrible Freight metalworking band saw due to the amount of titanium and inconel I cut, and it also does aluminum and steel, but not as neatly or as quickly as the colt cut saw. The band saw also does not cut a very straight line in cut-off mode, but it is versatile, and you can keep a blade on-hand for any and every material.

A while ago (desperate weekend) I had a bunch of lengths of 80/20 aluminum extrusions to cut, and a woodworking Ryobi miter saw with carbide-tipped blade did it just fine, and actually, I was surprised how clean, true and burr-free the edges were.
 

uhohjim

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Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
127
Location
Crete Illinois
I'm thinkin I'm going to buy the
Evolution Power Tools 14' Mp Chop Saw Rage2

Any thoughts or opinion?
Tks

I've got one..............AWESOME would be the word I would use to describe it.........still had the original blade on it til a couple weeks ago when I hit a weld I didn't notice.............that was after 100s of cuts.........Jim
 

mcckkey

Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2009
Messages
8
Makita LC 1230 - Can JayL and mcckkey comment on what you cut with this saw and how it performs? I have been throwing around the idea of buying one for quite some time. I keep thinking it wont cut the capacity I need, the vice/clamp seems flimsy (a lot of play in the slider). Do you get accurate square cuts with this saw?

SPV Sorry about not getting back to you sooner, I didn't see your question until the thread got bumped back to the top.Regarding the cutting capacity it's my go to saw for mild steel anything up to 1/2 inch thick......I have a older wellsaw horizonal 8 x 12 band saw I use if I have to make a lot of cuts on thicker material I found used on craigslist.

The lockup vice clamp is very secure once tightened down theirs no movement.The saw really shines when making angled cuts very accurate and easy to use.I like the fact that the makita comes with a $ 125 blade that last a long time.
 

JayL

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Apr 17, 2008
Messages
1,789
Location
Manila, Philippines
The Makita LC1230 is a great saw. Well built and have lots of torque. It's only 12" but so far I have not found a need for a saw with a 14" blade capacity. I cut mainly angle bars and square tubes and for that purpose it had served me well. Loaded with a Freud Steel Demon it will zip through mild steel easily.

IMG_1408.jpg


IMG_1402.jpg


My question now is will this LC 1230 cut non ferrous ( aluminum ) well using this blade below?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008WQ39/?tag=atomicindus08-20

My understanding is that the above Freud blade is designed for faster spinning Miter Saws and the LC1230 is a slow RPM saw. Do you think this lower speed will affect the cutting.

I do have the option to use a wood Compound Miter saw for ferrous metals but am looking at the dry cut saw instead because it has a more sturdy fence and clamping system.

Any thoughts on this guys?

Thanks
 
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cegreen

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Feb 27, 2010
Messages
63
Location
New Jersey
JayL - Not to go off-topic, but I LOVE your saw stand! Did you make it? Got any more pix? I want one of those!

-Chris
 

Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
Messages
38,215
Location
Southern Maine
I have a hitachi, this is mine except I bought mine about 8 years ago.

http://www.expresstools.com/Hitachi...r-Metal.aspx?gclid=CL7zpLvCkrMCFQqe4Aodi0UArw

I think I have used about 10 blades over that time. I had a job that I needed to cut a bunch of 4" pipe and my chop saw was using blades like crazy. Also the cuts were totally skewed. I have found with this saw, my cuts are so square and clean it has saved me lots of prep time. I do still use my chop saw, for threaded rod, really rusty stuff, or demo work. I think there are a few other things I still use it for, they are just eluding me for the moment.
 
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