Tool Suggestion needed

[Mark_17]

I find myself doing a lot of exhaust work. I enjoy it but my fabrication skills make it more difficult than I think it needs to be.

I use a portable band saw on a SWAG stand. This works great but I can't get that perfectly square cut. Straight comes out "good enough", making pi cuts, not so much.

I'm looking for something so I can true up those cuts. I was thinking of a bench belt grinder. One with a large base so I can true up those ends. Something like this- https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Professional-Belt-Sander-Disc/dp/B0CBBTD272?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is this the right way to do this? Any recs?

I don't have a shop, just a 2 car garage, so I cannot fit a proper bandsaw or anything that needs a dedicated base. It has to fit on a bench top and be able to be stored on a shelf.

 

[The Cobbler]

a lot can be done with a handheld angle grinder and some practice . don't over think it .

 

[kaymccampbell]

I've got this. Sometimes it goes on sale. That's when I got mine.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-bench-grinder-with-belt-sander-58871.html

 

[tarmy]

a lot can be done with a handheld angle grinder and some practice . don't over think it .

This and a good flap wheel can do detailed things that would probably solve most installations you mention.

 

[Mark_17]

With a flap disc and angle grinder I can get "good enough". I thought this was garagejournal where we shot for perfection?

I can get as close to ~1/16" gap on tube with an angle grinder. I want better.

 

[iagsxr]

Why don't you buy a cheap band saw, spend a little time truing it up, and go from there?

Once you get it cutting straight in the vertical plane I'd mark the fence so you know where true 15°, 30°, 45°, and 90° are.

Constantly squaring stuff up with a grinder isn't how I'd want to go.

 

[tarmy]

With a flap disc and angle grinder I can get "good enough". I thought this was garagejournal where we shot for perfection?

I can get as close to ~1/16" gap on tube with an angle grinder. I want better.

Welp, in that case…get this. Dead straight cuts.

 

[Riverrat]

I find myself doing a lot of exhaust work. I enjoy it but my fabrication skills make it more difficult than I think it needs to be.

I use a portable band saw on a SWAG stand. This works great but I can't get that perfectly square cut. Straight comes out "good enough", making pi cuts, not so much.

I'm looking for something so I can true up those cuts. I was thinking of a bench belt grinder. One with a large base so I can true up those ends. Something like this- https://www.amazon.com/VEVOR-Professional-Belt-Sander-Disc/dp/B0CBBTD272?tag=atomicindus08-20

Is this the right way to do this? Any recs?

I don't have a shop, just a 2 car garage, so I cannot fit a proper bandsaw or anything that needs a dedicated base. It has to fit on a bench top and be able to be stored on a shelf.

I would suggest applying some bluing or marker on the tube where you intend to cut it. Cut within 1/16 inch of the line with your saw. With a piece of glass or a granite tile you can tape down a sheet of sandpaper and lap in the tube to the line. I suggest using a figure eight pattern to lap in your tube which will help you avoid sanding part of the tube more than other parts. Remove the sandpaper and check any gaps with a feeler gage to see if it meets your requirements. I have the luxury of having a granite surface plate in my shop but this will work for your application. I would like to know your results if you use this method which can be applied to other applications.

 

[GeoBruin]

A benchtop Femi/Hemsaw or an equivalent Dake really would make your life easier. It's so much nicer to just make a straight cut, than spend your time grinding a crooked cut straight.

I've also been looking at the benchtop "Trajan" bandsaws sold by Sawblade.com. I was able to handle one earlier this year and it's probably where I would put my money if I didn't have the coin for a Femi but wanted a Benchtop bandsaw. Here's a post I made about it.

I found a used Femi but I realized that's not always an option.

 

[v8nutz]

12 inch disc sander. Probably the most used tool in my garage, used a lot for exhaust work. I have a tired old Harbor freight one but if I had known how much I'd use it I would have bought a better brand.

 

[Mr.N]

With a flap disc and angle grinder I can get "good enough". I thought this was garagejournal where we shot for perfection?

I can get as close to ~1/16" gap on tube with an angle grinder. I want better.

For your price range look for used stuff, I've not been happy same price range new stuff. I've an old Craftsman 6x48 with a belt driven 1.5 hp motor and love it. I should try my 12" Jet disc grinder, but it's collecting dust.

Any advice for those of use that are newer to exhaust? What material do you use? Thickness you prefer or source for good parts?