Metal Chop Saw Who Has What?

Unfortunately every tool has a use & purpose.........the floor model band saws are nice but only for a 90 degree cut-off, stand up band saws are great for cutting out things that are smaller than the depth of the saw throat.......What I liked about the EVO 380 is it allowed me with and additional fixture I made to make compound miters in 4x2" chassis tubing........and it stores under that table on wheels when not in use. It comes with a 14" blade but it is a 15" saw........I like running the 15" blade as it gives me more capacity when cutting miters.........If you shop around the blades can be bought for just under a $100 bucks..........knock on wood the blade that's in there is the original one........and still going strong.

 

I have the HF Abrasive version. Think it was about $80 with a coupon. "Old Sparky". It's noisy as heck too. Cuts good. I keep a bucket of water close. That lets me cool off the metal, then I use the side of the wheel to trim up the sharp edges... It's nice, but it is messy. HAven't had to use the bucket of water to put out flames yet, but I usually have a fire extinguisher close by as well.

I usually dress the cuts up afterward with a mill file (ensure they're square, etc.). YMMV.

Just an FYI: the sparks will pit a car windshield, DAMHICK.

 

Great replies and great thread I will probably end up with old sparky the HF saw due to costs.

 

enough of them in one spot will break them...

 

That was an expensive lesson for me as well with weld spatter and windshields...

 

Here is a similar machine

 

Good review........4 seconds vs 25 seconds............I'ts the carbide blade and the slower motor RPM speed that is the key to the cutting............a regular abrasive chop saw spins around 3500 vs the EVO carbide saw at 1450.

Cuts like butter , No selling me on the EVO 380 as I love mine..............

 

Al-u-minium too. I love they way the Brits say that. Yea. I'm sold. It's what I'll buy when the time comes. Thanks to all who posted thus far.

 

Actually, if your floor model bandsaw has a real vise, it is likely more accurate than just about any of the chop saws. And a lot of those smaller versions can be used as a vertical bandsaw also which makes them extremely versatile in a small shop.

Once upon a time, I had a 14" HF chop saw. Motor burned up in the first piece of 1/2" bar stock I put in it. Only plus side was DeWalt's tool trade-in where I got $50 credit for the carcass on a yellow one which has been a good tool. I also have Milwaukee's version of Tarry's type cold cut saw and those really do work very well. Only down side to those is keeping all those nasty little cuttings off the floor. Much, much faster than an abrasive saw.

 

John............EVO 380 making Compound Miters in 4x2x.188 wall tubing within a 1/8 degree ..............Yes, the setup takes longer than the cut..........and needs lots of clamps , but the EVO frame is also very stable and I doubt there is another portable saw out there that can hold that tolerance...........this is also where the 15" blade pays off with the deep compound angle cut.


That's offset 2" , with a rise of 4"

 

I also have an EVO 380, I like the way it cuts! The hot chips will stick to your arms, but no heat transfer to the part. For a back stop, I set up cardboard to keep FOD from getting all over the shop.

My old abrasive saw burned up my truck tailgate bed liner. You can also catch a 2x12 on fire, using it as a table, with an abrasive saw.

But I started with a 4" Makita grinder. Cut everything in the shop with a 1/8" cut off wheel.

toolman_ar

 

same here. i hate using my HF chop saw so much i usually end up using a sawzall. the sad part is that when cutting square or roung tubing the sawzall makes a straiter cut than the chop saw. i found the EVO rage 2 saw on home depot's web site for $124 and tryinh to fight the urge to buy it

 

Just as an FYI, none of these are cold saws, cold saws turn less than 100 rpm. Generally have bi metal circular blades that are 10" to 18" in diameter and weigh more than 200lbs, most are in the 400-600lb range. they also have a coolant pump. There are band saws accurate to less than .005" and repeatable that close with feeders on them and digital readouts. Roll-in style vertical bandsaw's will cut stock 40' long if you so choose to doe it. The throat size on these saws determine the width of stock not the length of cut. In other words a 14" roll-in will handle tubing up to 14" square. and as said 40' long.
We have a chop saw at work, it gets used to cut braided hydraulic line before crimping the fittings. of cutting off bolts, we never cut tubing or solid bar stock with it.

 

Just opened my package from Brown Santa…

14" Evolution Rage 2. $149 delivered from Home Depot on-line.

After two test cuts so far, I love it.

Thanks for the tip.

 

Yeah, when I look now it is $187, and the price jumped around while I was trying to order.

Maybe it is the new "Big Brother" system where the price is adjusted to each individual, depending on your browsing history, and the time you wait to order.
Like the Coke machines that raise the price when the weather is hotter.

Don't get me started.