Thread: Chop Saw Recommendations

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I've been looking around at chop saws recently, preferably a 14". Looking for a nice well built one for the home shop. I don't need or want an industrial strength mega $$$ unit, but I don't want to buy a cheap one that won't last, just something for occasional use out in the garage for cutting steel tubing. The Northern Tools web site has several from Milwaukee and DeWalt which are name brand units, what do you guys recommend?

Mike

i have the dewalt for the shop that works good with the right chop wheels

Yes, we also have a Dewalt 14" in our shop and it works great.

But as Pat said, you need to buy the right wheels, some cut well and last, while others don't. I have found the best priced and quality wheels at our two metal supply yards.

Originally Posted by John Palmer

Yes, we also have a Dewalt 14" in our shop and it works great.

But as Pat said, you need to buy the right wheels, some cut well and last, while others don't. I have found the best priced and quality wheels at our two metal supply yards.

yes the dewalts wheels are junk they seam to get glass hard i use the ones from the welding shop they are Sait work the best ones i have used they do not over work the saw and cut quick and brake down of the wheel is not bad. the hard wheels last longer but you push harder and over load the saw and have bad cut that are not square

I bought a new Ridgid this summer to replace my old Milwaukee. It was about $200 at Home Depot and the blades that come with it are the best I've found so far, and I've tried a lot of different blades.

Sean

The blades make the saw. Some wear and cut real good, others wear out fast and then some won't cut or wear out. Basically more money is better blade, generally.
I have used Dewalt and they are good. Lots of Ryobi tools rate very high and the price is good.

I have a 15 year old no-name 10" that works well for both wood and steel. If I were to buy one today for wood working it would be most likely a DeWalt with a slide motor/blade. I use a 12" version where I volunteer at a theater doing carpentry work and it is slick.

One question - do you really need the big one for steel or will a 10" work for most of your work - the price goes up substantially - and if you are cutting steel, an inexpensive saw with a cut off blade will save you grief as the entire saw takes a nasty beating from the very hot chips - and a damaged/destroyed $350+ saw vs a $75 Harbor Freight.............is more then comforting

I've got a DeWalt, had it for 10 years. It replaced a Makita that I used for about 20 years.... Fairly good return on investment for me.... Quality tools will usually pay for themselves over a period of time.....

Originally Posted by IC2

I have a 15 year old no-name 10" that works well for both wood and steel. If I were to buy one today for wood working it would be most likely a DeWalt with a slide motor/blade. I use a 12" version where I volunteer at a theater doing carpentry work and it is slick.

One question - do you really need the big one for steel or will a 10" work for most of your work - the price goes up substantially - and if you are cutting steel, an inexpensive saw with a cut off blade will save you grief as the entire saw takes a nasty beating from the very hot chips - and a damaged/destroyed $350+ saw vs a $75 Harbor Freight.............is more then comforting

you want the big 14 chop saw i have many chop wheels were they are down to 11 and well not cut because the body of the saw gets in the way then you need a new wheel . if you chop rect tube or a 9 inch housing or big inch tubbing you need the big wheel there is a backer plate that holds the wheel that can stop a full cut to were you need a bigger wheel i just could not under stand why the wheel just would not cut. i have had mine all of 10+ years it works good were it is not to good is if your choping solid steel like 3 inch solid round stock this is were the sait wheels work very good for cutting thick stuff . i used it every day making stand s for becool up till i found a 36 inch throat bandsaw

Thanks to all for your recommendations. It looks like the DeWalt is the favorite choice, is there a particular model number that's the best to get?

Pat, which Sait blade do you use for cutting metal and where do you find them?

Mike

Originally Posted by Mike52

Thanks to all for your recommendations. It looks like the DeWalt is the favorite choice, is there a particular model number that's the best to get?

Pat, which Sait blade do you use for cutting metal and where do you find them?

Mike

i will get the number off one when i go to the shop .i think they are iron/steel ones they are on line not sure it you can buy from sait. i buy then from linde gas if you have one of them ?

Originally Posted by Mike52

Thanks to all for your recommendations. It looks like the DeWalt is the favorite choice, is there a particular model number that's the best to get?

Pat, which Sait blade do you use for cutting metal and where do you find them?

Mike

i would buy the chop saw that has the biggest amp motor

But I like my bandsaw much better, would take it over a chopsaw anyday.

Originally Posted by willowbilly3

But I like my bandsaw much better, would take it over a chopsaw anyday.

well i like my sawzall over my torch i like my chop saw over the sawzall i like my band saw over it all there should be the hack saw in the mix some were to

I have the std duty HF chop saw, which I got on sale for $49 a few years ago. it's been really good, and it chopped all the pipes and angles for the tubing for my turbo setup..