Cutting metal w/o plasma

rodnocker

rodnocker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Location
Clayton NC
Plasma is on the horizon, but I need something until I can get there. I'm looking at two different directions...

Bandsaw or Carbide Chop Saw

I can afford about $300.00 right now and need something this weekend.

Just looking for ya'lls suggestions on this.

Thanks
 
Bandsaw makes less of a mess and cuts cleaner. If I had to buy one for the house I would get the bandsaw
 
bandsaw is much cleaner...
chop saw will get the job done.
 
Might help to know in general what kind of cuts you anticipate most of the time.
Cut-off type, like cutting tube into pieces or angles, vs cutting longer lines, jigs, etc.
 
As of right now, most of my cuts will be 90 degree with some 45's. Most critical thing for me is being able to be accurate and square. For instance, being able to cut 4 table legs that are the same length so the table sits level and the cut being 90 degree so they sit flat.

I like the band saw because I can cut 4x 2" square tubes at the same time so they all match. I also like the ability to cut vertical for smaller pieces.
I like the chop saw for speed and size. Most of the cuts I have seen from metal bladed chop saws seem as clean as a bandsaw.
My concern with a porta-band is keeping the cut straight and it seems less versatile than the band saw.

I'm not over worried about noise. While I do have neighbors, they don't seem to worried about how much noise their dogs make. As far as cleanup, that's what a shop-vac is for.

Still on the fence about it. I can see advantages on both sides. Guess I'll just have to see what seems to work best for me.

Time to go shopping...
 
industrial chopsaw at harbor frieght 130 bucks leaving 270 for a good band saw, port-a-bands a a great tool, just not when you need to be precise, problem solved
 
a cheap metal band saw would be my choice over just a chop saw. The band saws even cheap ones the blade life is good when used properly, cut square, require much less clean up, and space. Why space? They don't shower everything you own with sparks and debris. If you get one that will stand up (blade end not the base) you bolt on a small table and with the right blade you can cut more entricate shapes in sheet metal. One of the more respected cage builders on here coped alot of tubing this way before he aquired a very high end tube notcher. Just take some skill developement. With the saw you'll be less limited and it would be a more versitale tool saving lots in the long run.

awww.northerntool.com_images_product_images_155790_lg.gif
I have a larger, more expensive, different brand than this but you get the idea. I have also used several smaller simaler machines with no issues on stock size related to 4wd stuff.
 
I'm sure you have already made your decision, but I'll weigh in anyway. I have the HF band saw. It's fun, but takes some setup to get it dialed in and accurate. Stock, it performs well, but there's forums dedicated to making these little guys powerhouses.

I've also got a DeWalt chop saw. It works, it's easily portable, and fairly easily adjustable. cuts are junk, though, especially on thick stuff. it's hard to get a cut dead-on for length or angle, the vice doesn't hold as tight as I'd like, and the blade flexes while cutting. For quick and dirty, on-the-go cutting, it's hard to beat, as long as it doesn't have to be too accurate.

For what you need, I'd go with the bandsaw. It's a little slower on some stuff, but there's little to no cleanup afterwards, so it balances out. It's not a fire hazard, doesn't smoke up the house, cuts nice and square, and is pretty quiet too. Put a good blade on it and you'll notice a big difference. It's just a pain to lug around. I typically go for my chop saw first, but I don't typically need overly accurate cuts. If you can swing it, get one of each. And both need decent blades.
 
Well, I did decide. After reading here, and a few other sites, as well as looking at my options in the store (Northern tool). As well as factoring in portability and size, I ended up getting a 14" chop saw. I did not get the abrasive blade chop saw, I got the carbide blade chop saw. I did some cutting yesterday and was really impressed with the cuts. I started with 4" x 1/8" stock, cross cutting pieces 2" wide (stacked 2 pieces, cutting through 1/4"). I then cut those in half, stacked 4 deep (cutting through 1/2") to make 2" square pieces. All of the heat gets transfered into the chips and leaves the actual pieces easy to handle. When I made the final cut to make the 2x2's, I was able to pick up the stack and felt no additional heat on the parts and was able to hit my mark dead on as far as making an accurate cut.

I will admit that there is some clean up from the metal chips. The saw catches about half or a little more of them, but there is cleanup with drilling, sanding and grinding as well, so cleanup with cutting isn't that big of a deal with me.

RatLabGuy said:
Whatever you get - please wear hearing protection while you use it...
Click to expand...
This I do. I have a pair of electric headphones that I use when shooting that allow you to hear until somthing reaches a certain threshold and then cuts out the sound. I use then when I'm cutting, grinding or anthing that can get loud.

mbalbritton said:
Portaband!
Click to expand...
This is certainly a future consideration. I'm already looking at finding one and building a stand for it so that I can use it horizontal for smaller pieces.

This is my current, portable, temporary setup. Worked really well. Will post some pictures of the cuts that it made a little later today or tomorrow.

image.jpg
 
Picture after the cut on the angle. No cleanup. Clamp holds material strong enough I could pick up the saw with the material.

Not sure how well it comes through, but if you can zoom in, you can see a few chips on the table and a small bur on the bottom left edge of the angle.

image.jpg
 
I hope you have better luck with the carbide blades than I have had. They are nice, as long as they are sharp. I quite buying them and use abrasive blades.
 
These are the pieces I cut. There has been zero cleanup on them. No more cleanup than they need, I could just use a sanding block with 120 grit and be done in no time.

532084_10151573700711940_725110827_n.jpg
 
rockmafia said:
I hope you have better luck with the carbide blades than I have had. They are nice, as long as they are sharp. I quite buying them and use abrasive blades.
Click to expand...
Most everything I have read about the blades on these is people not taking their time on the cut and trying to push it through. Either that, or they didn't tighten the clamp and the material got loose and got in a bind with the blade and broke teeth.

Time will tell, but right now, I couldn't be happier (unless it was free and I had someone else to do it for me).
 
We had a guy demo one of those type at AR. The boss man happened by and got: "what's that?" out right when the feller got going on some angle. In his haste to show it off he didn't tighten down on the stock well enough. After nearly taking off some skin on a few of us the boss man politely asked him to pack it up and leave. BE SURE THAT STUFF IS WELL CLAMPED, and it running wide open before cutting.;)
 
rodnocker said:
Well, I did decide. After reading here, and a few other sites, as well as looking at my options in the store (Northern tool). As well as factoring in portability and size, I ended up getting a 14" chop saw. I did not get the abrasive blade chop saw, I got the carbide blade chop saw. I did some cutting yesterday and was really impressed with the cuts. I started with 4" x 1/8" stock, cross cutting pieces 2" wide (stacked 2 pieces, cutting through 1/4"). I then cut those in half, stacked 4 deep (cutting through 1/2") to make 2" square pieces. All of the heat gets transfered into the chips and leaves the actual pieces easy to handle. When I made the final cut to make the 2x2's, I was able to pick up the stack and felt no additional heat on the parts and was able to hit my mark dead on as far as making an accurate cut.

I will admit that there is some clean up from the metal chips. The saw catches about half or a little more of them, but there is cleanup with drilling, sanding and grinding as well, so cleanup with cutting isn't that big of a deal with me.


This I do. I have a pair of electric headphones that I use when shooting that allow you to hear until somthing reaches a certain threshold and then cuts out the sound. I use then when I'm cutting, grinding or anthing that can get loud.


This is certainly a future consideration. I'm already looking at finding one and building a stand for it so that I can use it horizontal for smaller pieces.

This is my current, portable, temporary setup. Worked really well. Will post some pictures of the cuts that it made a little later today or tomorrow.

View attachment 66344
Click to expand...
Looks like a good compromise. I've used some high quality cold saws before and loved them. I didn't know Northern made one.
 
I know one other guy using a budget cold saw, and his initial reports were very good. I haven't heard any long-term reports, though. I've got the HF carbide 7.25" circular saw, and it's pretty cool, but I've only cut a few pieces of .250 with it so far, can't really comment on blade life yet. How much are the replacement blades for your saw?
 
catfishblues said:
How much are the replacement blades for your saw?
Click to expand...
Replacement blade is $94.99
Good reviews on it as well. I figure as long as the carbide lasts as long as 10 abrasive wheels, I'll break even. Even if it only lasts as long as 6-7 abrasive wheels, I've saved loads of finishing time as well as no heat transfer to the part and a much cleaner/straighter cut.
 
Back
Top