What is the best kind of powered metal saw?

strantor

strantor

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At the last place I worked, we had a kalamazoo bandsaw, and as long as it was adjusted properly, it would make nice clean square cuts. I want to make nice clean square cuts at home. I have all the goodies to make a homebrew powered hacksaw, but I don't know if its worth the time. Can (proper) powered hacksaws cut as pretty as a bandsaw? What about a circular chop saw? I've seen plenty of those on CL for cheap, but seems to me like not a very accurate machine.
Keep in mind, like most hobbyists (but probably to a greater degree), I have a very limited (almost nonexistent) budget. So I would like to take the cheapest route possible, However if this is something worth saving up for for a whole year to get acceptable cuts, it's worth it.
So what say you?
 
One thing to consider with a powered hack saw is that it has 50% less efficiency compared to a bandsaw. A chop saw can make accurate cuts, but they really lack when it comes to cutting heavy or solid items, however for light materials, tubing, etc. not much is a better bang for the buck.

I have both a chopsaw and a horizontal bandsaw and both have their place. Personally I would not consider a power hacksaw simply because the little 4 x 6 bandsaws can be obtained so cheaply and with a little tuning they turn out to be an amazing value.

Good Luck!
 
I agree on the little 4x6 band saw...

For the home shop that one little tool is probably THE best bargain and also has to rank as one of the most useful there is out there. And yes, they can often take some 'tweaking' but still..... I think I'd fight a bear if somebody wanted to take mine away.

Power hacksaw? well they work pretty well - as long as you like to sit on the stool waiting or go have lunch or....
 
The powered hack saws just seem so painfully slow. As Bill mentioned, you could go for lunch waiting on those things. The chop saw will cut steel reasonable well, but you need a quality chop saw blade, and you have to live with all the hot sparks it throws around, really could be a fire hazard if your not carefull. I would go with the bandsaw.
 
+1 on the bandsaw.

I like the powered hacksaws - they are cool to watch... for a minute of two, but not if I would have to rely on it to cut stock materials (especially thick solid stock).

I waited a long time (due to budget) to get a small 4x6 bandsaw, and really should not have waited that long, the speed and ease it makes the cuts (square and good looking) are a great benefit
 
I say HF 4x6 bandsaw with a variable pitch bi-metal blade that has been tuned and trued in accordance with the procedure published in their Yahoo group. You can then get consistent .040 thickness cuts that are almost perfectly straight. The stand they come on is feeble, but they do have a plan to install it on the top of a 2 drawer file cabinet that is pretty slick and really makes it sturdy. You can use the top drawer to house the flood coolant resevoir and pump too. Bottom drawer need substantial weight like a cinder block or some bricks to provide a good counter ballance, but spares like blades and tools could go in their too. Just sayin'
Bob
 
I see there are a lot of HF 4X6 bandsaw loyalists about. I believe that I recently read a thread around here saying that HF discontinued that saw, but I found it on their website. Maybe your pleas were heard? 250$ is not bad, and I guess as long as I accept the "kit" analogy, I can buy it with minimal remorse. just need to save up for a while. maybe next year. In the mean time, I might give the homebrew hacksaw a shot, so long as I don't have to shell out for any parts. http://www.harborfreight.com/horizontal-vertical-metal-cutting-bandsaw-93762.html
 
strantor said:
I see there are a lot of HF 4X6 bandsaw loyalists about. I believe that I recently read a thread around here saying that HF discontinued that saw, but I found it on their website. Maybe your pleas were heard? 250$ is not bad, and I guess as long as I accept the "kit" analogy, I can buy it with minimal remorse. just need to save up for a while. maybe next year. In the mean time, I might give the homebrew hacksaw a shot, so long as I don't have to shell out for any parts. http://www.harborfreight.com/horizontal-vertical-metal-cutting-bandsaw-93762.html
Click to expand...


it might have been my post - I don't think HF discontinued the saw itself, but apparently have stopped stocking replacement parts for it. Also, it looks like the saw price is rising, but you should always calculate the 20% off with the coupon into the final price making it still a much more affordable option than the same saw painted differently.
 
well I might (fingers crossed) be picking up a powered hack saw (project) and a bandsaw (project) for free, per another thread on this forum.
 
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