What kind of Chop Saws?

[mountain eagle]

I'm borrowing a HF from a friend at the moment....... it's does okay though it's a tad loud.

I've been trolling the local auctions hoping to get something for cheap to reasonable.... what should I be on the look out for? What to avoid?

[samsberr]

There all loud...kinda depends on what your going to be cutting, but the more HP the better up to a point...
Are you looking at portability, 110v, 220v
The bigger HP will need 220 and they can be heavy...
Might look at a dry saw, carbide points. Sure are a lot less dusty but ther still loud.

[KHK]

I have a Dewalt chop saw. I got tired of the cutting wheel waring out so I put a carbide blade on it. The saw is a 14 in saw and the carbide blade is a 120T 10 in. Either blade is quite loud, but the carbide rhrows off about 90% less sparks.

[Tritium]

I have a Ryobi C357 14" refurb from one of those Cummins roving tool sales events. It is LOUD!

Thurmond

[SICFabrications]

in my honest opinion, the ridgid abrasive chop saw from home depot is THE BEST BANG for yer buck. it out performs the dewalt hands down and has a better fence and clamping system than the milwuake and the dewalt, not to mention about 50 to 100 bucks less. i have both abrasive and multi-cutters in my arsenal. the carbide cutters are on the saw tables next to the big band saws, but all the trucks have ridgid abrasive saws on them. when in the field, you might cut some plain steel one day, but then a hour later, might have to cut some stainless or heavy round or even rebar... so, instead of trying to carry 5 different blades and keeping them dry and clean, i put abrasive saws in the trucks...

i had a dewalt abrasive saw and it lasted about 2 years, the first one i bought was ridgid 7 years ago and was using it earlier today to cut SS flatbar... i would really recomend you getting the ridgid, it's lasted me very well (not to mention that they have lasted through several stoopid ex-employees)

[tigqk]

I bought a superior chop saw from the local co-op for $69.00 dollar I don't know if their was a mistake on pricing or what but have seen the same package offered by others for exactly $100 more, never cheaper, a chop saw with 4.5 inch grinder and the grinder is my favourite, changed brushes once.The biggest difference between the $300 dollar chop saw and the cheaper versions is the base of the unit, they are stamped steel, name brand domestics are usually cast and milled down where needed and in itself isn't a big difference in supporting steel to be cut.The difference in these units is the pivot point of the saw, over the life of saw.If you are not watching and not slowly feeding the abrasive down forcing the cut, the cut will not be perpendiclar to the base putting your cuts out of square and your miter cuts out a few degrees, with tubing it can make jointing the peices difficult obtaining level peices, you have to assemble on a jig or something level, welding table.As with all import tools and equipment when you buy them you assume a certain amount of labor getting them to where they perform the way they work best for you, this pivot can always be shimmed and bolted.I used a safe shim kit to correct mine.
I have mde a gingery hacksaw with excellant results when I had more time, so it is not unheard ot to make your own cut off saw or cold cut saw and taking your time you should not be able to tell the difference between one you make and a commercially sold unit, get a 1 to 2 horse surplus motor, mandrel, belt, pulleys, cutting wheel, for cold cut you can use a pulley to cut rpms to 50% for cold cut.
See plans enclo. I found online awhile back.The plans are ok and all that may be needed is stand and perhaps something to catch abrasive.
dlh

[WookieWelding]

cold saw with coolant all the way for in shop for portability and the best bang for the buck the chop saw sic suggested
i use a reg old 12" compound mitre dewalt with a metal abrasive blade and run a screen on the motor to keep debri out when i cut alum i use a reg ole carbide blade

[rustycase]

I use this Milwaukee abrasive saw when a razor disk in the grinder is not up to the task.
Don't really like it much, and I gotta fix it because it don't cut square... always something to fix around here. rc

[mountain eagle]

Thanks Guys! What I really meant was that it's Slow and Loud. I figure they're all loud, and the HF does okay as long as you take it slow. Unless I can get more powerful unit for not much more than an HF would run I'll go that way....... I'd love to have the room for a cold cut band saw but that's not in the picture right now.

[Tritium]

The Ryobi is not too fast either. It tends to bog down easily on C-Purlin.

Thurmond