fabricators chime in
03-03-2010, 09:14 PM
#21
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it is probably ok with a super narrow cutoff wheel, but aluminum is known to clog up abrasive wheels and there are rumors of exploding wheels from it because of the increased friction (aluminum clogged wheels dont grind so good). But a dressing tool would probably deal with it ok on a wider wheel.
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03-03-2010, 10:09 PM
#23
I built this over the weekend (tow bar for a Geo Metro):
I pulled out my cheap *** HF chop saw and again remembered why I never use it. It doesn't cut ****. I don't know if it is the blade/disc or what but it just kind of grinds on metal forever (oh, it makes it really hot too). After 5 minutes of playing with the chop saw I pulled out my reciprocating saw (sawzall) and cut through the square tubing like butter. A band saw would have done the same thing but I don't have one <G>.
Oh, just in case anyone is interested. This is what I paid $225 for and towed home. It is a Geo Metro XFI with a rebuilt engine (XFI means it gets 55 MPG).
I pulled out my cheap *** HF chop saw and again remembered why I never use it. It doesn't cut ****. I don't know if it is the blade/disc or what but it just kind of grinds on metal forever (oh, it makes it really hot too). After 5 minutes of playing with the chop saw I pulled out my reciprocating saw (sawzall) and cut through the square tubing like butter. A band saw would have done the same thing but I don't have one <G>.
Oh, just in case anyone is interested. This is what I paid $225 for and towed home. It is a Geo Metro XFI with a rebuilt engine (XFI means it gets 55 MPG).
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03-03-2010, 10:24 PM
#26
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though i am wondering why you're having trouble with the chop saw, in my mind it's like a big angle grinder with a big cutoff disc. i've got a nice sawzall too but for the same reason i don't want to use the angle grinder is because i haz no steady hand
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03-03-2010, 10:44 PM
#28
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Only thing I don't think I would like about the portable band saw is the limitation of about 5 inches of cut depth. Bigger ones (scissor?) are very nice and if you are fabbing will be awesome.
Chop saws are for quick dirty work. Perhaps you need to find an auction and go buy a used larger band saw. Use a sawzall for portable work.
Chop saws are for quick dirty work. Perhaps you need to find an auction and go buy a used larger band saw. Use a sawzall for portable work.
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03-04-2010, 05:02 AM
#29
Anyway, I think my problem might be just a crappy cutoff disc. I wouldn't use my experience as a reason not to buy one.
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03-04-2010, 02:21 PM
#31
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My 2 cents:
I use a 14" abrasive chopsaw to cut mostly all my straight cuts. My current one is a hitachi from Lowes...about harborfreight price but much better quality and I have yet to find a blade that cuts as nice or lasts as long as the hitachi blade that came with it.
Unless you buy a quality $$$$ industrial band saw, it's not worth the grief getting shitty cuts from a junk budget band saw. I have a budget vertical band saw and i only use it to cut firewood. Now those sizzer type horizontal ones...that'd be something I'd try. I can't see it being faster than a chop saw however.
I use an aluminum specific chopsaw wheel to cut aluminum without any drama whatsoever, but it looks and feels to be the same thing as a steel blade.
I use a harbor freight $10 4.5" angle grinder with "type 27" .045 cutoff wheels. Works sooo much better than my dad's air powered cutoff wheel and uses significantly less energy. I also use flapper sanding discs and the ususal thick grinding wheels with it...once those $15 grinders go on sale for $10 again, I"ll probably pick up 2 more so I don't have to switch wheels all the time.
I use a 14" abrasive chopsaw to cut mostly all my straight cuts. My current one is a hitachi from Lowes...about harborfreight price but much better quality and I have yet to find a blade that cuts as nice or lasts as long as the hitachi blade that came with it.
Unless you buy a quality $$$$ industrial band saw, it's not worth the grief getting shitty cuts from a junk budget band saw. I have a budget vertical band saw and i only use it to cut firewood. Now those sizzer type horizontal ones...that'd be something I'd try. I can't see it being faster than a chop saw however.
I use an aluminum specific chopsaw wheel to cut aluminum without any drama whatsoever, but it looks and feels to be the same thing as a steel blade.
I use a harbor freight $10 4.5" angle grinder with "type 27" .045 cutoff wheels. Works sooo much better than my dad's air powered cutoff wheel and uses significantly less energy. I also use flapper sanding discs and the ususal thick grinding wheels with it...once those $15 grinders go on sale for $10 again, I"ll probably pick up 2 more so I don't have to switch wheels all the time.
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03-04-2010, 02:27 PM
#32
I use a harbor freight $10 4.5" angle grinder with "type 27" .045 cutoff wheels. Works sooo much better than my dad's air powered cutoff wheel and uses significantly less energy. I also use flapper sanding discs and the ususal thick grinding wheels with it...once those $15 grinders go on sale for $10 again, I"ll probably pick up 2 more so I don't have to switch wheels all the time.
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03-04-2010, 02:57 PM
#34
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Unless you buy a quality $$$$ industrial band saw, it's not worth the grief getting shitty cuts from a junk budget band saw. I have a budget vertical band saw and i only use it to cut firewood. Now those sizzer type horizontal ones...that'd be something I'd try. I can't see it being faster than a chop saw however.
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03-04-2010, 03:21 PM
#35
the scissor type bandsaws are the same thing as a horizontabl band saw. i've used these before. they are slow by design but you can clamp your peice in and drop the blade and let it go to town. it uses its own weight as you rest the blade on your material so you can do something else while it makes the cut.
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03-04-2010, 03:23 PM
#36
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I use it hard and it's lasted over a year, through 5 manifold builds and all the other misc things I cut and still feels like new. OOOHHH wait actually, when I first got it it locked up on me after using it once. I had to use the tightening/spanner wrench to break it free, but it has been perfect ever since. It's real loose so the gear head doesn't get hot. It's probably much louder than a good angle grinder but I always wear ear plugs.
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03-04-2010, 03:25 PM
#37
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the scissor type bandsaws are the same thing as a horizontabl band saw. i've used these before. they are slow by design but you can clamp your peice in and drop the blade and let it go to town. it uses its own weight as you rest the blade on your material so you can do something else while it makes the cut.
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