This is probably the best saw that I have personally seen used in that price range. And I have seen most of the ones out there. having said that I would recommend save another $200 and step up to a better product class.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-Amp-14-in-Abrasive-Cut-Off-Machine-R41421/202201510

 

I've got the HF bandsaw and I love it. I've made thousands of cuts with it and if it hasn't blown up yet I don't think it's going to die any time soon. Just clean out it's gear box of sand and metal shavings after the first 100 cuts and it will be fine. If you really want a chop saw I've got this one http://t.harborfreight.com/power-tools/cut-off-saws/14-in-3-12-hp-heavy-duty-cut-off-saw-61481.html and like it as much as any Makita chopsaw I've used. An abrasive saw is never my first choice of cutting tool because it's loud and makes a huge bur on the back of the cut but it works and I can carry it in one hand.

 

I had one of those better HF abrasives and it cut so crooked I couldn't use it. I'm talking almost 1/4" off on a 1.5" tube. I finally took it apart and ground off the welds holding it to the base and re welded it and got it closer. However my Chinese assembly skills are a little off and I didn't get the motor put back together right and it's now pretty much junk.

I bought a Rage2 from Amazon for $189 and I love it. It cut perfectly straight right out of the box, is quicker and does better cuts. I think it's well worth the money.

 

Abrasive chop saws and band saws are two completely different tools with different strong and weak points.

Bandsaws tend to cut more accurately, will cut metals other than steel, are relatively quite, and can often cut miters repeatably. However they take up a lot of room and are slow. Abrasive chop saws are messy, noisy and often tend to wander when cutting, especially angles. Also not all will cut miters and those that do, it takes a bit often to adjust them. However they are inexpensive, fast, and will cut hardened stock like rebar.

 

I would much rather have a band saw for any kind of cuts, we have an Ellis 1800 at work. Only problem is a saw like that is about $3500 out of my price range at the moment and the only way of cutting metal I have at home is a grinder with a cut off wheel or o/a torch, just looking for something fairly cheap that I wouldn't have to worry about not cutting square or not having a very long lifespan.

I know that they are far from a clean cut, but just for light duty hobby work at home, I wouldn't care to take the extra few minutes to clean up a cut. I just can't justify spending anything more than $250 on a saw that may only be used once ever couple of months.

Has anyone ever had any experience with this dewalt saw? As far as local stores it is the only one that they carry

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr.../tsc/product/dewalt-14-in-chop-saw-with-quik-change-keyless-blade-change-system


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I've used that exact Dewalt chop saw quite a bit in the past and thought it was a pretty decent little unit

 

It looks very similar to my older Dewalt, but I don't have a keyless blade change. I like the D style handle on my Dewalt a lot better than the straight handle on my Milwaukee abrasive saw. However the clamp and miter system on my Milwaukee is better than the Dewalt one. I've also got an old B&D one that we used just to cut rebar with.

I got the Dewalt for $50, the B&D one I was given for free. I couldn't pass up the Dewalt when I was offered it and it was nice to be able to leave one saw set up for 45's and the other for straight cuts, or have both set up for opposing miters.

 

in my shop the chop saw is the last resort for cutting metal. i have a black and decker and use it for stainless and cast iron to save the bandsaw blade. it also comes out in the field and i've cut a lot of 1/4" wall tubing with it over the years. i have no idea which model it is but i just now saw a b&d advertised for $120. at zorro.

 

Buy the horizontal/ vertical bandsaw. I have 2 - an old Wilton (looks identical to the Horrible Freight model your interested in) and a Northern tool 6 X 9. I run a 14-18 tooth in the little one, and 10-12 tooth for the bigger one. They are slow, but are safe and quiet. I have mine dialed in and it cuts very straight, but, they are a pain to set up for angles - trade off there. I didn't like the fiber blade chop saw, actually I hated it - super loud, cut wild and crooked, and dangerous - find the you tube of the guy in the ER with a chunk of blade going up his jaw and coming out his cheek. I never tried the Evolution metal blade saw - they use them every day at our local steel yard in Mpls. though. Way bigger bucks too. If you get the bandsaw, you will want to toss the kiddy wheels that come with it and make a nice angle iron base with 2" or 3" casters so you can roll it around.

 

I've had a Hitachi chop saw almost 10 years and my only complaint is common among almost all of them; blade wandering especially in a mitered cut.


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Thanks for all the feedback, kinda making me lean more towards getting the band saw


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I have the black and decker 14 inch chop saw saw from amazon.was under 100 shipped on prime Had the hf one kept burning them up

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