Chop Saw Or Band Saw ??????

[jamlit]

A bandsaw is the only way to go. A chopsaw does have it place but only for very few things. Since getting a bandsaw the chop saw only gets used when I have easy quick cuts on the job site. Those who like a chopsaw better are people who havn't used a good band saw.

One thing to keep in mind is that you do get what you pay for. I good chopsaw can be had for the same price or at least very close to a cheap bandsaw. Saying this don't exspect the same quality in the same price range. You will never regret getting a decent bandsaw. Also the money you will same in consumables will quickly pay for a good bandsaw. This is one point that I see frequently forgotten. I saved over 500.00 in one year which made the bandsaw almost a saving in that same year. Another point is the safety issue. Bandsaws are allot safer. It might surprise you the amount of reported accidents that are reported due to chopsaws vs bandsaws.

[monte55]

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

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.......WHAT!!!

[weldingman251]

not near the blade no no no no no u hold it off the base off the saw this way if ur cutting round stock or tubing it doesnt spin. but then again the band saw at school is horrible so i trust a chopsaw better its wht my father has trained me on tht and a cutting wheel

[84ZMike]

Here are a couple of "mods" if you will that will help make a chop saw more productive and help give truer cuts.
Mike

[weldingman251]

those were nice i especially liked the jig for the square tubing

[Jason280]

Those chop saw mods look similar to something I am working on now. I use a lot of 1/8" angle, and I have never been satisfied with 45* cuts. Of course, I am using a HF saw and I haven't actually put a square on the table to see if the degrees are even accurate. My plan is to make a base that is much larger, which will effectively make the saw stationary. However, if I do need to move it, I can simply reattach it to its standard base.

I'll post pics when I get finished...

[Gil]

saw

If money is a problem then I would say a chop saw would be best you can cut the different angles as well as a strait cut. A porta saw you can get to different places that you can't with a porta saw. I just do my own thing I have a chop saw. I would start with a chop saw and later if you think you need it then you can think of a porta band saw. I hope this makes sence. Gil

[jamlit]

Here are a couple of "mods" if you will that will help make a chop saw more productive and help give truer cuts.
Mike

A good bandsaw doesn't require any mods. just set it and let it cut.

[weldingman251]

im guessing ur talking bout a horizontal badnsaw then yea but im talking bout a vertical one

[84ZMike]

A good bandsaw doesn't require any mods. just set it and let it cut.

True but....good chop saw $200 ish mods came from my scrap pile so cost was time

Good band saw $800 and up......
For a home hobbiest I'll stick with my chop saw.........yes a band saw would be nice,but I can't justify the $$..........use the holders I built for my chop saw in your band saw and see how much faster it will cut and how much longer your blades last.......
Mike

[jamlit]

im guessing ur talking bout a horizontal badnsaw then yea but im talking bout a vertical one

My bandsaw can be used as a vertical one as well. just stand the blade up attach a work table, which came with the bandsaw and start cutting. The oil pump has its own switch so it can be turned off for this type of work.

[jamlit]

True but....good chop saw $200 ish mods came from my scrap pile so cost was time

Good band saw $800 and up......
For a home hobbiest I'll stick with my chop saw.........yes a band saw would be nice,but I can't justify the $$..........use the holders I built for my chop saw in your band saw and see how much faster it will cut and how much longer your blades last.......
Mike

Your holders most likely would prolong the blade life and may be of some help. They are great ideas and should help out others allot. The one point that allot of people miss which I mentioned above, is the cost of the disks and blades. the bandsaw I have cost 699.00 from harbor freight if you are in the US and 899.99 from princess Auto if you are in Canada. When talking to several chopsaw users which some were just hobbyest. It supriased them the amount of cutting I was doing at the cost I was doing it at. I guy that just played in his garage could have saved a couple hundred in a year. So after two years he spent 400.00 plus the 250.00 he paided for the chopsaw. thats getting very close if not the full price of a decent bandsaw. Watch for the sales and you can save a little more. Allot of people don't realize the cost of running a chopsaw and bandsaw and after the money is spent, its hard to change .

Chopsaws are good tools but when you think of the whole picture, a decent band saw is allot closer than one thinks.

This is just my take on this and feel everyone should know all the facts before spending their hard earned money.

[84ZMike]

I see what you are saying......good point....
Mike

[jamlit]

I see what you are saying......good point....
Mike

Thanks Mike.

its nice dealing with poeple like you who measure each point and keep their cool while having a discussion like this. Their is always some good in everyone posts for people to learn from.

Take care and have fun with your projects

[HMW]

I agree with you jamlit. Its always interesting to hear everyones opinions and what they use. In my replies, I was referring to a "horizontal" band saw as a prefrence over the chop saw. I actually have all. Chop saw, horizontal band saw, vertical band saw, and a porta band. The "horizontal" saw by far is cheapest to use especially if you have one that has coolant pump on it. Blades last a long time. But...Sometimes the chop saw works to. Just buy em all over time