Chop Saw Or Band Saw ??????

[dabar39]

my preference

I like the band saw for doing multiple cuts, straightness of cut, and the ability to do other things when cutting, but out in the field I will take the chop saw for the portability. Portaband when it's convient or I'm too lazy to go to the other saws. It all depends on what the job is and size of the material, chop saw is definatly easier to transport and usally quicker, band saw gives a better cut but takes more time to cut, and port a band takes some skill and patients for a straight cut. Dave

[JnJSpdShop]

Another idea to toss at ya as well would be this in a regular chop saw....

http://www.bulletindustries.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/99_144/products_id/449

as far as "first cutting tool" do you have a grinder yet.....if not get one and some cut off wheels for it as well......I started with this and then moved to a jig saw......then added a saws all........I have a port band saw as well it is slow and is very easy to put too much pressure on it and away goes the squareness of the cut......I like my chop saw and am working on my O/A set up....just need tanks......
Good luck,
Mike

Wondering how these work in regular a chop saw designed for regular friction abrasive?? I am liking the price

[TomVeatch]

Wondering how these work in regular a chop saw designed for regular friction abrasive?? I am liking the price

I agree, that price is very attractive, and the video at that link seems to show it being used in a regular chop saw.

Hawk Saw Blades makes a metal cutting blade in various sizes. I've used their "Metal D*e*v*i*l" (can't believe word was censored!) in a regular circular saw to cut pieces out of a 3/8 plate.

(if you want to use the link, you'll have to manually enter the censored word replacing the asterisks in the link after your browser tells you it can't find the page)

[paulrbrown]

I would imagine the teeth would not last very long at the speeds an abrasive saw turns. 14 inch Abrasive saws turn at 3800 rpm compared to 1490 for Carbide tipped blades. These speeds are from the Hitachi Site, but other brands would have similar speeds. The heat would kill them fast....Paul

[MAC702]

I'm hoping those recommendations are for a carbide blade that is designed for the speeds of abrasive saws. I did hear that there is a recent line of these products. But if they aren't, I'd be more worried about other things than the teeth on the blade.

I had actually missed the OP about PORTABLE band saw v. chop saw. If these are the choices, the chop saw is better for most fabrication. Portabands are fairly specialized and more difficult to use accurately. Of course, there are many times when they are the perfect tool for the job; I'll take one over a sawzall anytime it will fit if I'm cutting vertically.

Just start buying saws; eventually you'll have one of every kind.

[paulrbrown]

Well, that carbide toothed blade is rated at 4400 rpm, so I guess it should workon a 3800 rpm machine, just make sure to wear full face protection for awhile, I would use a weld hood with clear lens...Paul

[84ZMike]

The bullet blade will work just fine in a reg. chop saw...they are back ordered until next week. I have the 7 1/4 in my circular saw now and have cut 1/2" strips with it ....the Morse metal d evil worked OK but for the price I could have gotten 4 of the bullet ind. ones. I have also used the flap disk and like them over the other cheap ones I have used.
Mike

[JnJSpdShop]

Called Bullet today and the blades are made in Hong Kong and they are designed for the full RPM of most abrasive chop saws ~4000 rpms. I guess for $40 I will give it a try. It has to be better than the abrasive wheels. I am primarily cutting 16 gauge exhaust tubing and DOM and CrMoly

[Bert]

I bought a 14" Steel Max (www.steelmax.com) last weekend and TOTALLY love it! got sick of my RIDGED abrasive saw cutting pipe crooked, no matter if I went slower or not. However, price for the abrasive: $200. Metal Carbide was $500 with and extra blade. Abrasive: 3800rpm (as posted earlier, and the steelmax is 'bout 1/2 that speed). Didn't get a bandsaw, 'cause I don't have the floor space in my storeroom. Will get one when I do.
bert

[weldingman251]

chop saw i have better more true cuts with a chop saw then a band saw just remember to if u r using metal tht is longer then chop saw base to have ur hand on it

[HMW]

The chop saw I have with abrasive blade wanders sometimes. The horizontal band saw does better for me. its stationary not a porta-band. I have one of those too and it works good on strange angles but doesnt always cut perfectly straight either. I may try one of those blades they look like they do good and would cut straighter.

[weldingman251]

wandering blades

The chop saw I have with abrasive blade wanders sometimes. The horizontal band saw does better for me. its stationary not a porta-band. I have one of those too and it works good on strange angles but doesnt always cut perfectly straight either. I may try one of those blades they look like they do good and would cut straighter.

u wont have blade wander unless u bog the blade down into the metal if u do it slow and steady then u will b fine and make sure ur metal is fastened down correctly.
Dwayne

[HMW]

I've used chop saws for probably 20+ yrs and had different brands. Mine is not so bad real slow in flat bar. But sometimes in angle or definately pipe it will go off, especially with a new blade, on the other hand the old stationary bandsaw makes a great cut. But I love the chop saw if i need something quick. still might try that blade

[dennisl]

What kind of bandsaw?

To take a slightly different direction in this discussion, does anyone have experience using a standard bandsaw (i.e., wood cutting type) for cutting metal? I used on in a welding class and found it very useful for more intricate cuts. The blade speed needs to be much slower than for wood, of course. Otherwise, any thoughts?

[HMW]

Yes we turned a wood cutting one into a metal cutting. It had 3 speeds and we put it at its slowest. Put on a metal cutting blade and does a good job on small pieces like 10 ga thick. Some good bandsaws may even have more speeds