I have an abrasive chop saw. I hate it quite a bit.
I have a busted Grizzly horizontal band saw. I look forward to hating it a lot less when it's working, assuming it gets there. Right now I'm just being thankful the shop's had it for many months just so I don't have to move it into and out of storage.
But it seems like blade technology has taken some leaps in the last few years, and I keep hearing terms like Cold Saw, and Dry Cut Saw, and then TVR Scott was showing off his new metal-slicer here, and now I want to know what the options are at this point in time.
What are the types of consumer-available metal-division devices, and what are their pros, cons, and limitations? Will a given type deal with both steel and aluminum? Thin-wall to solid stock? Can they be left to work on a slow cut, or do they cut everything so fast it's irrelevant? (TVR Scott's solid rod cut example was pretty staggering)
Well, Hive, what do you know?
About 15 years ago while at the PRI show I spotted a vendor demonstrating a small horizontal bandsaw. I went over to watch and was amazed as he sliced a 1" solid bar into "wafer thin" pieces. I was intrigued and asked if I could give it a shot. He obliged and I ordered one on the spot. It wasn't cheap, around $1100, but it is an incredible piece of shop equipment. It's a FEMI 120 and was sold through Hem Saw. I just looked it up and they still have it in their line up.
I use it daily for rollbar tubing, plate steel, angle iron, exhaust tubing, conduit, threaded rod, strut, etc.
Everyone that uses it is blown away at how well it works. It's worth taking a look at if you can deal with the price.
I just got one of the diablo 7 1/4" steel cut saw blades at the recommendation of fred from freeEMS and plan to put it in my little baby miter saw. I'll check back in after i make some cuts
I looked at replacing the abrasive cutoff wheel in my Rigid chop saw with one of the toothed saw blades that are in vogue, but the speeds didn't match up. My saw runs at 3900 or so and the saw blades all were 1600-1800, so I stopped looking. That was a couple of years ago and things may have changed since then.
That Evolution chop saw looks like it cuts like crazy! I need one!
I've had the Evolution Rage 2 for a four years. I've cut anything from wood to steel to 4" round aluminum with it. If you're cutting aluminum thicker than 1" you will need the aluminum specific blade. The multipurpose blade will load up. I have a side business making machined parts and it's the only saw I use for stock prep.
My only complaint is that it throws chips everywhere. It seems like at least half of them come out of the front of the blade guard. I only use mine on the floor though. If it was mounted on a bench it might be better.
I added a fence so can set a stop for cutting multiple pieces to the same length.
Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:
I just got one of the diablo 7 1/4" steel cut saw blades at the recommendation of fred from freeEMS and plan to put it in my little baby miter saw. I'll check back in after i make some cuts
Just yesterday I put one of the diablo blades on my 4.5" angle grinder. First cut I made I was very impressed. Then cutting slowed way down. I want to put the abrasive wheel back on to compare, but my gut says the diablo is a good bit slower now.
I will second the rage cold cut saw. It did most of the cuts for my locost build. I do need to get one of the portaband stands for the more intricate cuts. I do agree the rage saw does throw chips everywhere. I always wore safety glasses AND face shield. The big plus on the rage saw is it also filled the need for a compound miter saw for wood work. It isnt as good as a high end compound miter saw a carpenter would use but for my purposes it is great.
