Bill D 1,921 #1 Posted June 25 What do you folks have for a metal cutting chop saw? My abrasive saw died. I'm looking at various dry cut metal chop saws from Evolution and Fein. Any recommendations and why? Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,577 #2 Posted June 25 I've had this one for a few years. It has held up well. https://www.harborfreight.com/15-amp-43-hp-14-in-abrasive-cut-off-saw-56790.html It's not a daily use tool, but I have never lacked for power when I use it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,627 #3 Posted June 25 @Bill D https://www.google.com/search?q=porta+band+saw+table&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=porta+band+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgGEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyCQgBEAAYChiABDIGCAIQRRg5MgcIAxAAGIAEMgcIBBAAGIAEMgcIBRAAGIAEMgcIBhAAGIAEMgcIBxAAGIAEMgoICBAuGIAEGOUEMgcICRAAGIAE0gEJMTc2MzdqMGo0qAIAsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 worked in a metal / weld shop , had a porta band , on every bench end , was always making up brackets / fittings , also had pipe / tube flaring , set up . also had a ridgid tubing bender , set up , make anything , good ideas , pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wallfish 17,000 #4 Posted June 25 Go with a band saw instead is my recommendation 3 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill D 1,921 #5 Posted June 26 My neighbor is giving me an abrasive chop saw for free. That solves my short term needs. I see the wisdom of buying a band saw, or converting my current bandsaw to metal cutting duties. One of my neighbors uses a metal cutting chop saw at his job and likes it. Anyone here own a dry cutting metal saw? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OoPEZoO 524 #6 Posted June 26 Yup....I have a run of the mill Craftsman 14" chop saw that came with an abrasive wheel on it. The first thing I did was swapped it out for a 14" diamond edge cutting blade. The blades are not cheap, but In my opinion, its the only way to go. Especially for cutting things like angle iron or box tubing. If you let the saw do the work, and not lean into it, the blade will last a very long time. They cut clean and it doesn't heat up the metal nearly as much as an abrasive wheel or band saw. I have a band saw as well, and it serves its purpose, but when I want easily repeatable cuts for things like angled brackets, I always reach for the chop saw. I have mine mounted to a piece of plywood with mounting brackets on it so I can snap it on to my miter saw stand. Those metal cutting blades have come a long way in the past few years. In fact, last time I was cutting 1/4" plate, I grabbed one for a circular saw and was blown away by how good of a job it did. I clamped a straight edge to the plate, and just zipped right through it. Previously I had always used my plasma cutter for big things like that, but the circ saw left a perfect clean edge that I didn't have to go back and clean up. Saved me a ton of time for the big cuts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 552 #7 Posted July 7 Mine is a cheap off brand I got from Tractor Supply, maybe Black Bull or something like that. I did melt the wires going to the switch when I was cutting old carbide tippred snow blade edges that came off of state trucks , but after fixing that it's still going strong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mickwhitt 4,624 #8 Posted July 8 Steer clear of the evolution type saws, one the expensive blade dulls you are sunk. I use a milwaukee M12 hand held bandsaw. It's pretty good for most stock chopping jobs and way easier to handle than lugging a chop saw about. I use a Donkey saw for most big cuts, power hacksaw that is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sqrlgtr 552 #9 Posted July 8 1 hour ago, Mickwhitt said: Steer clear of the evolution type saws, one the expensive blade dulls you are sunk. I use a milwaukee M12 hand held bandsaw. It's pretty good for most stock chopping jobs and way easier to handle than lugging a chop saw about. I use a Donkey saw for most big cuts, power hacksaw that is. I already have a corded electric band saw but will defiantly go cordless if it ever bites the dust. Chop saws and bandsaws both have there place but if I could only have one it would be the portable bandsaw. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BBQVultureWings 100 #10 Posted October 28 I would check out proxibid because you can get some really nice Professional Equipment for a Great price. They have auctions all over the country. I just scored a Wheel Horse service kit for the Onan Engines (ON-420-0526) for $50.00. + shipping that kit is Hard to find & I was really surprised I got it for 50.... There are a few Auctions in NY this week so you might look there.... Never know you might get the 1 you've always dreamed of for far less than you planned on spending in the 1st place. I was thiMking $800-$1200 for a good compressor & this was Way Less than $800 for a Macine that should have cost Thousands.. A friend of mine scored this Quincy Air Compressor on Proxibid. It's a 3 Phase Unit so it was gonna need some work or someone like Moo-Wah with industrial Motor control experience to make it work. So He sold it to Moo-Wah for $1.00 over what he got it for. i posted a few pics of the Quincy-Saurus & the little Crapsman tractor that couldn't. It just couldn't ... like a dog poopin' a peach pit.... it just can't. I bet If my wheelhorses were operational they would be able to do it.... I have used a lot of different chopsaws over the years & i really liked the Milwaukee & Makita made a pretty good 1 as well. You might look into blades for your circular saw as I was using a 20V Makita 5" or 6 " circular saw with a Makita metal cutting blade (in 2014 on the last big project I was ever on before I retired) We were using that little saw to cut Unistrut, all thread, pipe, rebar & just about anything else with Ease. the cordless technology has come a very long way & that little saw Is Impressive & I do Not dole out compliments about tools without actually torturing 1 for a while. The battery gave 25-30 cuts of 1 5/8" strut & a bundle of about 6 3/8" all thread. it would give a really nice cut in doublestrut too. The blades lasted a good long while too a few hundred torturous cuts. Those are my suggestions. Hope that helps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,918 #11 Posted October 28 On 6/25/2024 at 10:44 PM, Bill D said: My neighbor is giving me an abrasive chop saw for free. That solves my short term needs. I see the wisdom of buying a band saw, or converting my current bandsaw to metal cutting duties. One of my neighbors uses a metal cutting chop saw at his job and likes it. Anyone here own a dry cutting metal saw? I bought an evolution saw a few years ago. I don’t use it a lot, but I love it. Nice clean cuts, no heat, etc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WNYPCRepair 1,918 #12 Posted October 28 (edited) This is an 1/8” thick 6” square tube I cut. It will not cut this in one cut, you have to turn it because the motor will hit. im very pleased with it though. Edited October 28 by WNYPCRepair Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
