Cutoff Saws

[Spiffy1]

After reading Skurka's thread about the HF saws, you'd think I'd know the best options, but still confused.

I looked at about a dozen today (really like to have it tomorrow, so EBay isn't an option)......

The TSC $99.00 Chinese thing I'd bet is the same as the HF one minus the 50% discount (no HF here anyway). About 5 others fit the same discription with different stickers.

3 different Dewalt units varying between [I think] $150 and $250; still imports; I think Dargo [or someone here] had good results with one though, but I hate buying Chinese; and don't trust import tools at that.

There was a 7" Makita angle grinder, still well over $100 (memory getting foggy) that would do this weekend's tasks and maybe be more versitile than a cutoff (even though I have a 4" and a Milwakee Sawzall)

For $220 there was a Milwakee; which would impress me, considering how the Sawzall has treated me, but I think that thing was "Made in Taiwan" - so is it any better than the Dewalts????



This $25 project is already getting out of hand, but I figured $100 for a decent cutoff would be well spent for future uses. However, the only thing [OK, probably many things ] I hate worse than paying too much, is a tool that doesn't work when or how it is supposed to.

What do you guys think is the best option.

Bob, any updates on the HF saw? How did you come out on the drill press and the air compressor? I just had a heavy drilling project for the Craftsman drillpress; I thought it still had a little too much flex despite being much more rigid than "similar sized" ones I saw at TSC recently or several years ago when I bought it; for wood or smaller steel bits it's always been fine though.

 

[JimR]

This sounds like a very seldom used tool for you. The cheapo would do just fine. If it smokes up right away, just bring it back.

 

[Spiffy1]

This sounds like a very seldom used tool for you. The cheapo would do just fine. If it smokes up right away, just bring it back.

You're right that I wouldn't use it much, but if it follows most of my tools, it seems those times tend to be demanding use.

Even at that, perhaps the Menards (seems to have the best return policy around here) "tool shop" does make sense. I figure a round trip to town worth $10; $100 buys me 10 returns then. Is my time worth anything? Probably not ; not getting sidetracked right in the middle of a project does add some intangible value to quality tools; $100 though?

 

[Melensdad]

Bob, any updates on the HF saw? How did you come out on the drill press and the air compressor? I just had a heavy drilling project for the Craftsman drillpress; I thought it still had a little too much flex despite being much more rigid than "similar sized" ones I saw at TSC recently or several years ago when I bought it; for wood or smaller steel bits it's always been fine though.

The HF saw has only been lightly used, it does not impress me, but it has managed to do what I've asked of it.

I took the 10" drill press back and traded it for the 12" Ryobi and am very happy I did it. I put quite a few large holes in metal and it never strained, it seems very solid and repeatable patterned holes were not a problem.

We finally took delivery of the compressor this week after a long delay, its not hooked up yet, but as it is our back up, it may be some time before it is actually put to a real test.

 

[Spiffy1]

The HF saw has only been lightly used, it does not impress me, but it has managed to do what I've asked of it.

Thanks Bob; I was afraid of that, I think I'll have to look at the yellow options, though maybe the welding shop will dicker a little price on some welding supplies if I buy the red one; the blue 7" is sounding pretty good too. Thanks to you too Jim, you are probably right; but cutting tools that don't treat hot rolled like warm butter just frustrate me (its first project will be cutting some welds, can be a pretty grueling task for grinders).

I took the 10" drill press back and traded it for the 12" Ryobi and am very happy I did it. I put quite a few large holes in metal and it never strained, it seems very solid and repeatable patterned holes were not a problem.

We finally took delivery of the compressor this week after a long delay, its not hooked up yet, but as it is our back up, it may be some time before it is actually put to a real test.

Thanks for the updates, Bob! I remembered you traded up; didn't remember if it was 10" or 12", but thought I recalled your second one had a 250RPM setting which I was quite envious of when running that 3/4" bit at 400RPM; really had to put some elbow to it to keep chips instead of particles, didn't hurt anything (except a little extra bit wear on a $20bit)but I could see the table flex a little with it.

Let us know how that compressor works out; I'll have to do a little back reading, don't remember which one you chose.

 

[Spiffy1]

Just called the welding shop with Milwakees, and their cut off is the same one as all over the internet for $125; I'd thought they carry the high HP one, they can keep it! For $200 delivered I can get the high HP one on some internet sites. For that price, a cold cut is actually tempting, but I wouldn't want that for this or similar projects.

Well, off to town. Maybe the 7" angle grinder option is looking better and better. What's the smilie for me pulling my hair out?

 

[Dargo]

Oh, oh, oh! I know of a guy on another site who claims that he regularly cuts 4' X 8' sheets of 1/2" thick steel in half with a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Apparently you need to go to a really high dollar plasma cutter (you know, the couple hundred dollar type) to be able to do more than what a 4 1/2" grinder will do. I believe this same guy has used the same one from HF for something like a hundred years or so and not only has he not worn out a single grinder, but he is on the original wheel. They often run this magic tool for around $10 or so on sale.

 

[Dargo]

...Thanks Bob... I think I'll have to look at the yellow options, though maybe the welding shop will dicker a little.

You know in the car business there is this rumor that goes something like this; an fella couldn't come to an agreement on the price of a car, and he constantly said that he wanted to make sure that he didn't upset his new bride. To this problem, the rather new car salesman said something like "well, bring her in and we can all dicker together". The customer promptly broke the car salesman's nose and never returned.

 

[johnday]

Oh, oh, oh! I know of a guy on another site who claims that he regularly cuts 4' X 8' sheets of 1/2" thick steel in half with a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Apparently you need to go to a really high dollar plasma cutter (you know, the couple hundred dollar type) to be able to do more than what a 4 1/2" grinder will do. I believe this same guy has used the same one from HF for something like a hundred years or so and not only has he not worn out a single grinder, but he is on the original wheel. They often run this magic tool for around $10 or so on sale.

Brent, I cut steel with my grinders too, just takes a few seconds longer, and it's a little more trouble getting a square cut, but it does fine.

If this guy regularly cuts 1/2" steel with his grinder, and still on the original disc, I WANT a disc like he's got!!

 

[Dargo]

I'm actually intrugued by these Evolution circular saws that cut sheet metal like most saws cut wood. Why don't you buy one of those and give us a full report?! I think the concept sounds really simple yet effective. Let me know how one works.

 

[Melensdad]

Is the Evolution saw the one that has dual blades with each blade spinning the the opposite direction?

I saw a saw like that last year, but didn't get a chance to play with it and am not even sure what it was designed for cutting. Interesting design. Similar to a circular saw but with dual counter rotating blades.

 

[GaryE]

For $200 delivered I can get the high HP one on some internet sites. For that price, a cold cut is actually tempting, but I wouldn't want that for this or similar projects.

I was just at Sears and walked by a 14" cut off saw on sale for $189. I was tempted but I just spent aver a grand last weeks on tools. It looked like a solid saw.

Gary

 

[Spiffy1]

I didn't see that one at Sears; many of my tools are Craftsman, and I still buy some, though I'm not sure their quality is what it once was.

As I left for town this morning, my wife said "Don't buy something that will frustrate you." Thanks Honey!(I think she was looking out for herself though, as I get cranky if a tool doesn't work).

A local hardware store had the 3.2HP Milwaukee (same as the $210 at the welding shop) for that price. Was pretty tempted as the Milwaukee did look better built than any other option, but I still couldn't justify it when I knew almost the same price would get me the 5HP model with ergonomic grip and tool-less clamps.

Soooo, the verdict: I got the 6086-20 Milwaukee 9" angle grinder. Still $200 (welding shop was the only place that had a quality 9"), but I figured much more versatile, if less acurate, than a cut-off. It also has a bigger motor (both literally and HP) than most of the cut-off saws I was looking at. Finally it is a true Milwaukee tool, I think out of the same plant as my Sawzall; I expect many happy years of use and still have plenty of power for future generations to hurt themselves with it!

 

[Spiffy1]

You know in the car business there is this rumor that goes something like this; an fella couldn't come to an agreement on the price of a car, and he constantly said that he wanted to make sure that he didn't upset his new bride. To this problem, the rather new car salesman said something like "well, bring her in and we can all dicker together". The customer promptly broke the car salesman's nose and never returned.

So were you the customer or the salesman?

 

[Spiffy1]

Is the Evolution saw the one that has dual blades with each blade spinning the the opposite direction?

I saw a saw like that last year, but didn't get a chance to play with it and am not even sure what it was designed for cutting. Interesting design. Similar to a circular saw but with dual counter rotating blades.

I've seen the dual spinning ones too, but not sure if that's Evolution or they make both types; I'm thinking of the high torque skill saw type.

Either way, I avoid sheetmetal if possible. Guess Dargo will need to buy that one and report back.

 

[Spiffy1]

That thing did not disappoint me!

It did slightly frustrate me on two instances, but only tributes to the tool not shortcomings:

1. That thing questions your manhood everytime you pull the triger; plenty eronomic, but enought power, you think it could jump right out of you hand anyway.

2. Looks, weighs and feels like close enough to the ones I used in a bridgeshop one summer in the college days, that many gruelling hours came to memory; of course, it also removes material like those did!

That said, the little 4" Makita still came in to bat "clean up". After the 9" it felt like a precision instrument.

 

[johnday]

Spiffy; I've found that Milwaukee has very high quality tools. I've got their Supersawzall, 1/2" Holehawg right angle drill, a little 3/8" VS hammerdrill, and their Drywall ScrewShooter, I think it's called. I've also got their heatgun, made in china I think. It's alright, but not the quality of the real stuff.
I've also found Metabo to make high quality tools, especially their grinders.
Enjoy that Milwaukee grinder, it's gonna last you a while.

 

[JimR]

Spiffy, I have a 14 inch Ryobi that I picke dup for free. It needed a motor. I replaced the mootr on it. I would never buy a Ryobi cut off saw again. They are a POS in my opinion. I was cutting 1" square bar stock on an angle the other day. This unit had all it could do to cut the steel. It was hot rolled steel. I was constantly blowing my 20 amp breaker. I had no problem cutting the steel at a 90 degree angle. I swapped out the 14" wheel for a 10" B&D thinner wheel and was able to do the angle cuts with no problem. In my honest opinion, I have to say go witht he highest HP you can find if you plan on doing any heavy metal. Or have some narrow wheels around for the heavy steel.