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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

If you had a choice

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old

03-27-2007 13:16:49




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Which would you buy?? A chop saw or a metal cutting band saw?? Been thinking about buying a band saw, I have a chop saw already so I guess I would like to know if the band saw is better??
Thanks




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Easy1

03-28-2007 08:26:57




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
This might not be relevant, but a good vertical bandsaw is worth it's wqeight in gold. But I have only experience on Do-All and StartRite saws - 3 wheel, metalcutting types. I have cut out sections where we drilled a hole in the center of a part, inserted some blade stock, and welded up the blade in place. A good toolmaker can fab up almost anything.



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JDB

03-28-2007 07:32:22




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Good question Old. I have been pondering this one too. Thanks for asking



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old

03-28-2007 07:59:04




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to JDB, 03-28-2007 07:32:22  
Years ago I worked at a place that had both and I know a lot of times they would cut stuff with one or the other but never did figure out why. As I said I have a chop saw right now but since I sold a tractor thinking about getting a couple more tools to help around the place and figure a band saw might be nice to have at times. Or maybe I should say I think I sold it, guy gave me a bad check but said he would make it right, I still have the tractor, said he would come to pick it up and have cash with him so I'm still waiting but not holding my breath. LOL

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RickL

03-28-2007 05:51:07




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Old; been ther edone that went thru lots of chop saws and those blades (who knows how many of those). got tired of the smaoke and noise of basically just burning the metal into. Bought metalbandsaw and would never go back to chop saw now. It is dry cutting unit and you can cut angles just like a miter saw unit does,simply love it. I use it on metal projects and wood projects Ellis brand. Blades I can get at least two years use out of them and they run around $42.00. Blades are the problem thou when comes to band saws,get the right one and good ones. It took me little to get the right blade,the company was right in this case they do have the good blades. I run a varitooth they call it 1" wide unit. Say it again I love this saw . One of the best things in the shop

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No leaks

03-28-2007 04:47:06




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Repair the roof before spending on the saw. That would be my choice.



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old

03-28-2007 07:33:57




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to No leaks, 03-28-2007 04:47:06  
House roof is done, or very close.



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Rich Va

03-28-2007 03:54:02




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Well since you already have a chop saw go for the band saw. Chop saw much better at cutting angles. But some jobs band saw will be better. My band saw uses a 60" blade. I don't have a chop saw,so when I have to cut angles I use my torch. If I had a lot of metal working to do I would go get me a chop saw. Looked at a Dewalt at Lowes last night,$219 plus tax. When you get your band saw don't get some off the wall elcheapo. Buy something with a good reputation and you know you can depend on for blades and parts.

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Oldmax

03-27-2007 20:04:07




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
I have a 4X6 band saw made in china I think & also a homelite 14" cut off saw so I realy haven't used ate electric cut off very much . have had band saw about 25 years replaced motor about two years ago Had 3/4 HP put 1 HP after old one expired . that is all I have done to it in all those years .



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JoeK(WI)

03-27-2007 19:57:21




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Gotta agree with others on the cheap import band saws.Bought mine at leasy 10yrs ago from Homier road sale.Did take a bit of fussin to get everything dialed in but just a matter of adjustments,nothin major.Blade are commonly available size,cheapies or quality.Did drill swinging vise jaw&frame for lock peg at 90/45 as it had tendency to creep but no other mods repairs.Best $120 I ever spent on a power tool.Have had a large chopsaw,found it useful but noisy,dirty,didn't like the sparks,chips,expense for home shop use on light materials,although I'm lookin at one of those little mini 4" jobbies.

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Tim B from MA

03-27-2007 18:34:37




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Old, if you go for the band saw, search on cragslist tool ads, just set up in you favorites folder links to the ads for your area. At least in my area there is a new listing every two or three days, many look like great deals - in the $200 to $600 range, many older heavy looking machines.



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mph

03-27-2007 16:49:09




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Just get both, I did and Iam not sorry one bit.



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Butch(OH)

03-27-2007 15:04:21




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
There are good uses for both, chop saw will cut small shapes faster and cut things like rebar or other hardened metal. I think of a chop saw as a welding shop tool? A band saw will cut unattended, cut more presicely and much less $ per cut than a chop saw. More of a machine shop type of tool I think. Worst part about chop saws is if you have anything in your shop that you need to keep clean the dont run a chop saw in it. Downfall of bandsaws is blade damage, They either cut and cut a long time or junk out more or less instantly. People who run saws soon learn to watch for and eliminate rust, weld spatter, weld slag, and check for hardend metal before the drop the saw frame on the stock or the saw is soon sitting a corner labled as "junk" because they cant keep a good blade on it.

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Randy in Pa

03-27-2007 14:55:05




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
Coming from half a lifetime of making my living from metal fabrication, I would take the band saw any day of the week. But, If you are cutting hard metal you will screw the band blade in a hurry. Then the only choice is abrasion. The band saw also will do some limited vertical cutting which is real handy. We have had one of them Chinese 4x6 for 20 years. We have cut a solid block of 4x6 metal. It took a while but it did it. We keep the blade speed down and use common sense and the blade will last a long time.

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Don L C

03-27-2007 14:52:24




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
We had them at work....you can set them up and go do something else..... I dont have one in my shop, but would be nice for cutting heavey stock....cut off saw better for light stock.....



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Stumpalump

03-27-2007 14:24:51




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
I bought a cheap metal cutting band saw from Homier travaling tools show. It was cheap and made in Tiawan but works great! Blades are cheap and last very long.No smoke and dust to breath and perfect cuts. You can stand them up and bolt on a small table/platform and use them like a wood band saw. It has a vise in it that also gets used to hold stuff I'm working on if I need it. Old,go buy one and you will love it for years.

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TimV

03-27-2007 13:43:41




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
I have one of the Chinese 4" x 6" horizontal/vertical bandsaws, and it's one of the most-used tools in my shop. At around $200, it's not exactly cheap, but it has vastly expanded my capabilities, and has paid for itself many times over in time savings and by allowing me to cut things that would have been difficut to do well with any of my alternative methods, such as a Sawzall, hand hacksaw, cut-off wheel on a grinder, etc. While I don't quite have enough confidence in the saw to start it running and leave the area, even the ability to let it cut while (for instance) grinding or fitting the last piece cut means I can significantly reduce the total time it takes to complete a project. The ability to cut angles and also cut multiple pieces of the same length with the built-in cutoff guide are also big time-savers.

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Midwest redneck

03-27-2007 13:34:25




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
It depends on what type of each is available. If it was a Horizontal band saw that will cut stock over 9" in Diam. then get the band saw. A chop saw is not really a machine shop tool, in my opinion. An upright metal band saw is nice too if it is a durable machine.



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ray_woods

03-27-2007 13:30:39




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:16:49  
I don't see how they compare in price. A decent bandsaw is going to set you back quite a bit compared to a chop saw. In my mind it depends on what you are doing? Are we talking a horziontal/cutoff band saw? Or a verticle? I like the walk away and do some thing else option of the horizontal bandsaw but it takes a while for it to pay for itself.



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old

03-27-2007 13:42:26




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to ray_woods, 03-27-2007 13:30:39  
I'm talking about a horziontal type. Theres a tool store not far from me that sells them for around $150 or so. Ya I know its a cheap one but for my type of shop work it should do ok. I like the fact I can set it up and work away from it so I can be doing others thnigs at the same time



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bil b va

03-27-2007 15:35:59




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to old, 03-27-2007 13:42:26  

buy that chineese horizonal/vertical band saw and you will never be sorry . dust will probably collect on the chop saw . i bought one 23 years ago after using the one at work . i paid $129 at the time . there are some on here that complain they won't cut straight or the blades keep coming off . its all a matter of adjustments . once set they will hold the adjustments a long time . there is a web site that tells how to modify it to make it even more useful . one thing i have found is to use a drill press vice ( the kind you can lay on its side ) to do a lot more than just the equiped vice . you put the drill press vice in the regular vice . i also like the auto cut off feature when the cut is comlpete .....i only use good american made blades ..bill

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Ron in Nebr

03-27-2007 23:36:59




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to bil b va, 03-27-2007 15:35:59  
I have a 4x6 bandsaw and, while I've never cussed 'em online, I just CAN'T seem to get the blade to stay on the darned thing. Tried every obvious adjustment and made up a few of my own, but every time I start the motor it runs for a few seconds then throws the blade.....so...what ARE the adjustments needed to keep the blade on these things? (I've looked on the site devoted to these saws and didnt find an answer there either). Thanks!

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bil b va

03-28-2007 03:37:46




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to Ron in Nebr, 03-27-2007 23:36:59  

have you used the adjustment to tilt the driven wheel so the blade is moved inward while running ? it helps to remove the ball bearing guides while this adjustment is made . get the blade running true first . not too much tilt or the blade will ride against the inside rim .



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T.R.K.

03-27-2007 18:26:46




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 Re: If you had a choice in reply to bil b va, 03-27-2007 15:35:59  
I bought a 4 x 6 taiwan dry cut bandsaw in about 1985. It took me until this spring to finally kill the motor. I think I got my money's worth. (I am looking for a cheap motor.)

Like the other guys say, keep welds, rust and hard stuff away and you will get reasonable blade life. What I like most when cutting stock for welding, is that most times the cut requires no further preparation, Whereas when I cut metal with a torch it needs to be ground to fit.

Another thing my machine shop instructor told me about blade life-If you want them to last a long time, stop the cut just before it breaks through. The bur on the piece clamped in the vise will cause that side of the blade to wear first because the blade can't get away from it. Eventually it will start leading away from the vise because the teeth will be sharper on that side of the blade.

Funny thing. I think I paid about $190 for mine about 22 years ago, and they are selling for about that much now.

I've used the abrasive cut-off saw to cut pipe. It made a good square cut, but was very smoky and not all that much faster than the bandsaw on 3" pipe.

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