Hi All,

I am planning on buying a saw for cutting Stainless and Mild Steel Exhaust tubing, bar stock and box section

I am considering a low cost band saw like this http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=060710025

A abrasive wheel chop saw like this
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=060110871

Or a TCT bladed chop saw like this
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=060110873

I would appreciate opinions on the pro's and cons of these saws

Steve

 

A chop saw is a fast way to cut thin-wall tubing. Thing wall being 1/4" and less.

I actually use a Porter Compound Miter saw with a metal cutting blade, with a shop vac attached to the exhaust port, with a few homemade "spark directors" I added to the saw housing. This way the hot metal sparts don't collect on the lasers and wiring inside the saw housing, and most of the sparks go out the exhaust port into the shop vac.

The reason why I prefered this solution over an official chop saw was simple - I've yet to find a chop saw that I can afford, that can do compound miters.

I also have a bandsaw, but I generally don't use it for cutting round tubing. Sometimes I'll feed it flat stock, bar stock, or square tubing, if the cuts are straight. Anything mitered I prefer to use the chop saw.

 

Abrasive chop saw pros:
+ inexpensive to buy
+ blades are cheap and widely available
+ fairly fast cutting
+ will cut up to about 1/4 inch steel (in any shape that will fit)
+ easy to set up


Abrasive chop saw cons:
- the blades wear down quickly
- the grindings make a mess
- extremely loud; throws metal and sparks
- always wear ear and eye protection
- possible fire hazards

Metal band saw pros:
+ Cuts heavier material than the others
+ relatively quiet
+ Less messy than chop saw
+ not as loud as chop saw
+ minimal sparks/fire hazard

Metal band saw cons
- Blades are more expensive
- More work to set up
- Needs cooling oil for good blade life
- relatively slow cutting

TCT Bladed chop saw pros
+ Easy to set up
+ Not as messy as abrasive saw
+ fairly fast cutting

TCT Bladed chop saw cons
- Saw is more expensive to buy
- Blades are much more expensive than the other two
- Blades harder to find

I personally have an abrasive chop saw. It works well, but it is one of those tools that I tend to hate to use, just because it is so loud and dirty, especially on thicker material. For stuff like thinwall tubing, the noise and mess isn't so bad, and it cuts almost as fast as the equivalent wood chop saw

A band saw augments a chop saw fairly nicely, as it is more suitable for thicker stock. This may be my next metal working tool purchase. I don't see why I would want a TCT saw; but that's my personal bias.

 

bandsaws leave less material inside the tubing which makes it easy to deburr. Chopsaws melt the material and fold it over into the ID of the tube, which means you need a die-grinder to clean it up. A bandsaw definitely needs a coolant option to keep the blade life longer lasting. bandsaws also take up more room. But to have both would be best. but I'd start with a bandsaw unless you plan on cutting hose and/or other flexible materials.

 

I would go with the bandsaw BUT not from Machine Mart. Have a look at the WARCO 3 1/2" bandsaw. http://www.metal-bandsaws.co.uk/

Andrew

 

Bandsaws also have a problem with crooked cuts from an imperfect blade. Sometimes it seems like all it takes is one messed up tooth to make the things wander!

Cheap hotsaws are flimsy, -look at the rigidity of the base!

 

I was thinking more of something like this..http://www.wellsaw.com/mh.html. (but look at their model 57) This is what I used to run at work. Cutting stainless requires a saw with atleast this size capacity. You'll need a carbide triple-set blade run at about 100fpm. smaller saws require smaller thinner blades which will walk too easily when cutting steel. To that end I guess a chopsaw is what you'll probably want.

 

I'm pretty certain that the bandsaw blade will be dulled by the stainless. The chopsaw or a plasma cutter is better for stainless. I'm quoting Richard Finch, welder extraordinaire, and others when I say the bandsaw blade will constantly be dulled by stainless. Seems odd because not all stainless is all that hard. But I've seen a number of citations that advise against the bandsaw thing.

 

Thanks for the replys, they are a great help

Space is a issue (small workshop), noise may be a issue in the future (new larger shop with closer neighbours) so the TCT chop saw looks like the best solution for now, may get a bandsaw in the future.

Thanks again

Steve

P.S
Andrew, I see you are in the UK, have you got a truck?, Whereabouts are you?
I have a 54 F100 and live in West London near Heathrow Airport

 

go with bandsaw I have had both cutoff never again to loud to dirty bought a bandsaw that you swivel the head to cut angles not the vice love it was only 299 well worth it as far as blade walking slow down how fast blade is dropping makes a big difference mike

 

Hi Steve

I'm in Beckenham Kent. I haven't got a truck yet . My wife is from Atlanta GA so i got the Ford Truck interest from my visits over there. I anticipate buying an F250 if and when we move over there

 

I agree with that about the bandsaw. If it isn't setup perfect and rechecked often, it won't cut very straight. Even when it is setup right it tends to wander. It gives a much cleaner cut than a chop saw, but the amount of work required after the cut makes a chop saw almost more worthwhile if you need good square ends. If ya got the money I'd get a coldsaw personally.....but not cheap at all, couple thousand bucks.