Which dry cut saw to buy?

[kioti]

!

What's everyone recommend for spare blades?

Less than half the cost of makita blades.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/fer...un-sbf-120060/

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/fer...un-sbf-120100/

[derekpfeiffer]

Thanks for the link on the blades! What applications should the 100T vs. the 60T be used?

Thanks!

[AKmud]

Thanks for the link on the blades! What applications should the 100T vs. the 60T be used?

Thanks!

It all depends on what the majority of your material will be. From my experience, if you cut thicker material mainly (>3/16"), go with the 60T (44T if you can find it). If the material is thinner, then go with the higher tooth count. Look for blades with good tooth support and a straighter rake. Don't use blades with the teeth extending off the blade very far or that have a steep rake. The problems begin when you lose a couple of the carbide teeth. Having good support for the teeth and a gentle rake seems to keep them in place longer.

[kioti]

What applications should the 100T vs. the 60T be used?

The saw will come with a 60 tooth blade which is good for general purpose work on thicker materials.

I use a 72 or 100 on thin walled tubing .049-.058 4130.

[derekpfeiffer]

The saw will come with a 60 tooth blade which is good for general purpose work on thicker materials.

I use a 72 or 100 on thin walled tubing .049-.058 4130.

Ok. Thanks! I'll order one of each. Also going to order an aluminum one. Which would be the best all around aluminum one? 80 or 120? I'd mostly be using it on probably 1/8 wall al tubing. I shear all my flat.

[kioti]

I'd use the saw for a while before buying a bunch of different blades.

I keep a 60, 72 and 100 for spares.

Here's a piece of 1" x 1" x 1/8" Aluminum angle I just cut to show the finish it leaves, cut was with 60 tooth Makita blade that has over 500 cuts on 1" x .250 wall dom steel tube.

[derekpfeiffer]

Very nice cut!

I was just going to order 2 spares but then thought maybe about buying one aluminum blade and the 2 steel blades they offer (60 & 100) this way I get over the $150 for free shipping.

Thanks for the help Kioti!

[AKmud]

For aluminum I use my old Ridgid chop saw with a normal wood blade. The higher RPM keeps the blade clean. The slower RPM of the dry cut saw tends to load up with aluminum between the teeth and makes a rough cut with a low tooth count blade. My dry cut is only used for steel, I don't like changing blades.

[derekpfeiffer]

I would rather change a blade than go to my other shop and dig out my miter saw. It'd be much quicker and simpler to just swap a blade quick.

[Sharon Needles]

We've had a Steelmax S14 saw at work for the two years I've been there and a couple before that. It's a Chinese saw, but very solidly built with a heavy iron base and fence. This saw has been used to cut through 1"X4" stainless flatbar, large ⅜" to ½" wall square tube and tons of other stuff. It was the only saw in the shop until we got a horizontal bandsaw about a year ago, now it's pretty much relegated to cutting .065 to .125 square and round tube. Even though all of these saws are supposed to be "dry" saws, I've found having a spray bottle with water based coolant to spray on the blade while making a cut greatly improves cut quality and blade life.

[rschreck]

I went through this dilemma about 2 months ago and I'm not going to lie, I wish I had bought an abrasive chop saw instead of the Evolution Rage that I bought. Even with their steel blades, I have to clean up the cut a small bit. The miter fence is "iffy" at best. And it's a lot easier to use a shop vac to pick up abrasive saw dust than those annoying *** metal chips that get thrown EVERYWHERE with the Evolution. And the dust doesn't get stuck in the soles of your shoes like those chips do. And lastly, blades are easier to get for the abrasive saws. At least here in Dallas they are. Mess up a dry cut blade on a Saturday after 11:00 am? No more cutting until Monday.

[derekpfeiffer]

I have a abrasive saw and absolutely hate it. Leaves such a nasty burr and is not accurate. It ONLY gets used for cutting rebar.

I'm not concerned about the blade availability. I will always stock extras and worst case scenario I use my Johnson band saw, one of my portabands, iron worker, or a cut off wheel. It's not like I'm down and out, just may be more inconvenient is all.

[Ayersironworks]

I have been curious myself about the Evolution compound miter saw (it was in the $400 range I believe) I could see where it would be very useful. However other than that one a horizontal band saw is (IMO) the way to go. I have an Ellis bandsaw and love it and it cuts straight. My Milwaukee dry cut saw works excellent also but has been collecting a lot of dust since the Ellis arrived. Just my two cents.

[Baloo2327]

I have the little Evolution Rage compound miter saw, and have found it to be extremely useful, and my go to saw. I had to learn the hard way though about how to clamp things down in it, and not baby the blade too much. There is a sweet spot on pressure for getting the most life out of the blade. Can't say I'm impressed with the blade life though, and am installing a new brand of blade tomorrow that the LWS says will last 2-4 times longer. We'll see.

[ManoKai]

Rage2 owner/operator since 2013. Inexpensive, but mobile and strong enough to cleanly server the HSS, solids, and channel we mainly use. It's ok. Until we can allocate enough shop space for an Ellis 1600, a stop-gap measure we are exploring for cutting is to source the Italian made Femi ABS-NG120XL. $1.34k on eVilBay. Inspected the unit at FABTECH'15 and she was nice.

tbone550 runs a Femi saw and has shared his experiences with the unit. Hope'n to connect with him in the near-future and rip some steel.

[soutthpaw]

I have the little Evolution Rage compound miter saw, and have found it to be extremely useful, and my go to saw. I had to learn the hard way though about how to clamp things down in it, and not baby the blade too much. There is a sweet spot on pressure for getting the most life out of the blade. Can't say I'm impressed with the blade life though, and am installing a new brand of blade tomorrow that the LWS says will last 2-4 times longer. We'll see.

Which brand of blade?

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[N2 Welding]

I just placed an order for the Makita LC1230 today based on this thread. Tell me I won't regret it...

[Baloo2327]

Which brand of blade?

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The Blades that I got were by Tenryu. Hope they are good. Their expensive enough.

[soutthpaw]

The Blades that I got were by Tenryu. Hope they are good. Their expensive enough.

Made in Japan right? Have heard good things about the brand. Let us know what I think of them.

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[N2 Welding]

Just in case any one ever wants to sharpen their own blades here is one way to do it.





Here is another guy that does it with out a jig.





Here is a fancier way of sharpening the blades.

[Jimmy_pop]

The Blades that I got were by Tenryu. Hope they are good. Their expensive enough.

I ran that brand blade before. It worked just fine just like the Dewalt and Milwaukee blades I ran in rotation, keeping them professionally sharpened and teeth replaced.

[ManoKai]

Talked with a fabricator/welder who works in heavy industry. Steel and stainless steel tubing and W beams. He's operated his Femi HEM ABS120XL saw hard over the past ~ two years to make 1,200 to 1,300 cuts. Shop and field work. Over 80% of the cuts were on grade 304/316 SS tubing. To date, he's replaced the blade 7 times. Additionally, he's achieved wafer-thin cuts -consistently- to cut washer pieces.

Ordered the ABS120XL last night from TrickTools (Pella, IA).

We may sell our Rager2 locally for 35 to 40 cents on the dollar.

[Gustav129]

I personally prefer a wet band saw. I am surprised to hear the bad rep about Jet. I have no experience with them, but they seemed to be a quality product.

[SaskWelder]

I have (and really love) the Evolution "EVOSAW380" dry cut saw.

Its not fair to compare it to a band saw, they are suited for totally different tasks.


Since most of my work is mobile or in other fella's shops I need it to be portable. A decent band saw will replace it for most cutting once I get a shop set up but until then my dry cut saw is used a lot.


Love the precision of the cuts, the low heat input and the fact that the blade is always 14" in size.

Don't like the cost of blades or the metal chips scattered about.

But I rarely use my abrasive saw anymore, save it for cutting drill stem pipe and metal who's origin I am suspicious of.

[Bonzoo]

I just placed an order for the Makita LC1230 today based on this thread. Tell me I won't regret it...

Well ? Ya want $200 for it or what ?
Bad MOFO aint it ;-)