If you have the space, horizontal band saw. The Makita is a very solid saw, but not ideal for heavier wall tubing and thicker material.

 

Keith I vote band saw. I think you can probably find a 7 inch saw that is comparable to the Grizzly for less money, if you look. Whether it be used or another brand name. But the band saw is more versatile, cuts more accurate, will cut larger stock than a dry cut saw, and is a heck of a lot quieter and cleaner. Plus if you want you can bundle up your stock and cut multiple pieces at once.

 

The makita has too small of blade. The Morse metal devil saw is awesome. The base is solid cast. With these saws, heavy is good. I will say they're loud as hell but the accuracy and speed makes it my go to for anything mitered.

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How long do bandsaws stay accurate until you have to change the blade? Also, is the Fein slugger a good chop saw if I was to go that route? How fast do bandsaws cut?

 

I have a horizontal bandsaw also but I like my Makita dry cut saw.

They both have their limitations as well as advantages.

Here’s the stand I built for the Makita.

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That's a cool stand. :drinkup:

 

I like my dewalt DW872 multicutter https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cut-Off-Ch...ter-DEWALT/123593025963?epid=28024812233&hash=item1cc6b7e9ab:g:rQIAAOSwaPpcO3Kj

If it had a base like the makita Lis2323 posted it would be the cat's meow I also have a 6x9 bandsaw and just don't use it much... if you do get a bandsaw spend the extra $$$ and use top notch blades otherwise you're just throwing money away with wasted time, bad cuts, and blades that break after 10 cuts... also make sure you follow the mfg. recommended procedure for properly breaking in a new blade.

 

This is a pretty good deal:

Add in the 15" blade for $99 and it should kick some butt.

Band saw is nice too, just have to get the initial adjustment right. But they can be very accurate once set-up properly.

▲ that cut was done with a Klutch 7 x 12 bandsaw ▲

 

So what you're saying is it's off by at least .05"....

 

Look closely. That's not a length measurement, it's a degree measurment. Re-calculate.

 

I know guess I should have said the angle was only off by <.05 degrees


bad habit of putting the inch " mark after numbers...

 

I have the 12" Makita and it's a nice saw. If I had to do it all over again and could only spend in one machine I would get the Bandsaw for accuracy. At least that is what I have read. Like Oscar mentioned the cuts are not going to be perfect with a chop saw but you can get them pretty darn close.

The 14" saws should gain you about an 1" in cut depth over the 12" Makita and the 15" should get you about another 1/2" cut depth over a 14" blade.

 

I have the 14" Dewalt as well. Actually I only own 2 Dewalt tools, the chop saw and my table saw... love them both. Other dewalt tools....eh. Burned up too many drills to have any respect for them.

As far as blades, don't skimp. Also go get yourself the Horrible Freight saw blade sharpener. Kinda sucks but you can make it work to keep those carbides tuned up.

 

I have the slugger and the makita... slugger hands down.

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Does anyone know about the G0561 bandsaw? The Jet equivalent looks like the same saw, just with a different color. I get the feeling it is just the same Chinesium with a different color paint
I found a lot of videos on the Grizzly of it making cuts and bandsaws look slow, but I like the idea of being able to multitask as it is running by its self.

 

Yup, pretty much. Same as my Klutch 7x12. Got it for $950 with a $50 coupon and picked it up at the NT store about 2 hrs away. Didn't want to pay freight, lol.

 

They can be real slow especially when cutting solid stock.... probably why I don't use mine much

 

Between the 14" dry cut saws, the Fein and Evo380, I don't know what would make the Fein worth $75 more. Looking at the saws side by side
(on Amazon) I don't see any major difference.

I don't own either, and haven't seen either except online, just asking the question...

 

I don't know. I can say I use my fein a bunch. It is much nicer then a abrasive. Straight cuts no messy dust or large amounts of flying sparks. Don't ever use my abrasive saw much other then for then tubing such as exhaust ( fein turns to slow and wants to grab) even then thin stuff I will use my industrial vertical band saw to cut much more then abrasive.

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Kevin do your self a favor and get a set of these if you go with a chop saw.

https://www.amazon.com/MK-Morse-CSP...838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=2T0C6571KEQ4VX9Y4C1A&psc=1&refRID=2T0C6571KEQ4VX9Y4C1A

 

5 years of light use on Evolution 14 inch. Mostly mild steel, occasional thin-wall stainless tubing, still on original blade. Use blade lube and go fairly slow.

 

I found a lot of videos on the Grizzly of it making cuts and bandsaws look slow, but I like the idea of being able to multitask as it is running by its self.

Do you really need a 7x12 inch saw? If I were you I would find a used horizonal bandsaw on Craig's List, or go get the Harbor Freight 4x6 saw. They can be had for around $220 with the correct coupon. I love mine. Yes its Harbor Freight, Yes its Chinesium, but honestly it works great. You will likely turn it into a project doing mods on it, but that's OK. It needs a better stand which lots of people fabricate. There are lots of other small mods you can do that make it a bit better. But I have been running mine just the way it came out of the box and it cuts nice. Takes about 45 seconds to cut a piece of 2 inch .125 wall square tube which is probably slower than a dry cut saw. But it is quiet, and I can do it at night when the family is sleeping, without disturbing anyone. It makes virtually no mess. and with a very small amount of blade guide adjustments, it cuts really square.

 

Check out Northern Tools 14 in. dry cut metal saw. $235. I like mine a lot. It's a little noisy but I wear ear plugs.

 

I second this. Original blade that comes with it is serviceable as well.

 

I say go with the dry cut saw. Noisy as hell with certain resonant tube or structural but way faster than bandsaw and takes up less space, way better than abrasive saw in all regards. When needed theres always the zip wheel on the grinder for abrasive cuts. Also if you're doing lots of aluminuma regular old miter saw with a high tooth count carbide blade works awesome. Just my $0.02 though.


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Ended up getting the Fein Slugger from all the good things I read about it. I wish I could have afforded a band saw... Thanks for all the advice. One of the first projects I'm going to make is a station with in and out feed support for stock.

 

IIRC they are German made. Good choice. Hope it holds up and provides many years of service.

Edit: Yes German made.

Fein (company) C. & E. Fein GmbH is a manufacturer of high-end power tools located in Stuttgart, Germany. Founded in 1867 by brothers Wilhelm and Carl Fein, the company invented the hand-held electric drill in 1895 and was responsible for many other innovations.

 

IIRC they are German made. Good choice. Hope it holds up and provides many years of service.

Edit: Yes German made.

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Every Fein tool I've ever used I was impressed with. Those Germans...good at making tools!

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If you can find an old 3phase chop saw buy it then VFD it and mount a slow cut metal cutting carbide blade. You will have one heavy duty slow cut saw and the ability to still run it as a hot saw when needed.

 

I just moved into the catagory of the drycut saw. I went with the Evolution Rage 2 from the Home Despot. It should be here Friday so I have absolutly nothing to say about it yet. I have used several true cold saws and think they are amazing, but couldn't find one in my price range (hobbiest). The only other dry cut saw I have used is the Dewalt that we have at work. I have been underwhelmed with several band saws. At work we have a Marvel and some new POS. The new POS takes a rocket surgon to run.