What is the best all-around metal cutting tool? I have done a search but have came up with little info.

This would be for cutting rectangular tubing and flat stock, up to 1/4" thick. How does this look http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37151 ? Anyone use this machine? Any other suggestions? I am not looking to spend a whole lot of $. Thanks.

Jared

Looks decent enough, i would look into warantee for something that inexpensive, and also, look at it, physiacally, does it have parts that are made of plastic that should be metal?

Welcome newbie :flipoff2:

The search does work

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23036&highlight=Dewalt

Metal cutting bandsaws rock, but good quality sawzalls work well, too. That HFT saw isn't bad at all. I have sold a lot and haven't had any returns at my location. You can also purchase an extended warranty for it.
Make sure if you go with the bandsaw, you don't get one with a wimpy stant/footing. I've seen some collapse. Very bad if it happens when you're working with it:eek:

Originally posted by jdjanda
Welcome newbie :flipoff2:

The search does work

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23036&highlight=Dewalt

What member # are you again?

Oh, and I have read that post already:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Wheelr
What is the best all-around metal cutting tool? I have done a search but have came up with little info.
Jared

And whom said this? :flipoff2:

Oh, to give you a little info to go with all the sheet. I had one of those in my HS metal shop class. All I can say is slooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Joe

"came up with little info"

And thanks for the useful information. I have heard the bandsaws were slow, but I am sure it beats the heck out of me cutting bumper brackets out of 1/4" sheet with a grinder and cutting wheel.:rasta:

Jared

i got that saw. it's nothing special.... pretty slow but makes good clean cuts and hasn't had any real problems. for the $100 or so it costs it's totally worth it.

I guess it depends on what type of cut you make. For long straight cuts it would be nice, but whenever I want to make quick fast cuts I break out an angle grider with a cuttoff wheel or use a chop saw.

Hell in the pipe fitting field we use chop saws and if we need to fish mouth the for welding we just use a grinder.

i've used that saw for years without any problems /as far as slow goes/ it has an auto shut-off so clamp your piece in and go to the next thing until you hear it stop

Originally posted by Wheelr
What is the best all-around metal cutting tool? I have done a search but have came up with little info.

This would be for cutting rectangular tubing and flat stock, up to 1/4" thick.
Jared

I have an assortment at my disposal.

14" chinese cut-off saw - $80
Milwaukee Sawzall - $100 (next time, I'll get one with a trigger lock.. d'oh..)

Cut-off saw is the easiest if I can get the work piece in the saw.

The sawzall makes a nicer cut sometimes, but it's slower.

I also have a 7.25" circular saw ($!5, pawn shop) with abrasive blades - it's the portable chop-saw. :)

The 4" grinder gets used a bunch, too.

Bandsaw would be nice, but you could do the same job with the sawzall and have a more portable tool.

Or a sawzall and chop-saw..

<FONT COLOR="Red"> Abrasive wheels work great for chopping and straight cuts, but a torch (or plasma cutter if you can afford one) is the only way to go for curved patterens & shapes.. </FONT c>

<FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c>
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<FONT COLOR="White">__________________</FONT c>
<img src="http://www.lanset.com/ecvslick/wayslicker1.jpg" border="0" alt=""><FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c><FONT COLOR="Red">Slick</FONT c> - 83' bobbed & lockt posuer-mall rig & held together w/numerous <FONT COLOR="Red">Clamps...</FONT c><img src="http://www.lanset.com/ecvslick/slick.gif" border="0" alt="">

Originally posted by Slick
Abrasive wheels work great for chopping and straight cuts, but a torch (or plasma cutter if you can afford on) is the only way to go for curved patterens & shapes..

That reminds me.. my new toy. ArcAir / CarbonArc gouging torch for my stick welder. :D

Just need to sheetrock the new shop so I can run the conduit for the big 220 outlets..

For cheap, straight (relatively :flipoff2: ) cuts up to 6" or so its hard to beat a chop saw...for limited home use I have a HF 14" that I paid like $60 for. So far its used up almost that much in blades :D

For curved stuff oxy/act torch cleaned up with a grinder.

Originally posted by paniolo
For cheap, straight (relatively :flipoff2: ) cuts up to 6" or so its hard to beat a chop saw...for limited home use I have a HF 14" that I paid like $60 for. So far its used up almost that much in blades :D

For curved stuff oxy/act torch cleaned up with a grinder.


uhm I would rather have one of these!!http://www.hypertherm.com/manual/pmax600.htm

oh wait I got one on the way!!!!

:flipoff2:

you can do a LOT of cutting with a $16 craftsman 4" angle grinder with a cut-off disc stuck on it! Much better control (to me) than a saws-all and a little bit cheaper than a plasma cutter;) Here's my TJ which lost a bunch more sheet metal this weekend . Here's a pic from last summer in Moab...
http://www.cutter.rockcrawler.com/images/untitled-7.jpg

How about cutting at angles? I need something that can make relatively clean cuts at an accurate angle. I've seen some slick bandsaws that are adjustable to 45 degrees, but I can't tell from the pic if that one is. Care to enlighten me? I've sick of using the sawzall for cuts in square tube. I usually work with 2x2 .188 and the cuts tend to get a little bit off at times.

Originally posted by Josh 89XJ
How about cutting at angles? I need something that can make relatively clean cuts at an accurate angle. I've seen some slick bandsaws that are adjustable to 45 degrees, but I can't tell from the pic if that one is. Care to enlighten me? I've sick of using the sawzall for cuts in square tube. I usually work with 2x2 .188 and the cuts tend to get a little bit off at times.

<FONT COLOR="Red"> For your situation I'd be using a chop saw w/abrasive disk. You'll need to look at the higher end models ($$$) to get one that has angle adjustment built into the table clamp. My friend has one like this and I think? it's a Makita.. </FONT c>

<FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c>
<FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c>
<FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c>
<FONT COLOR="White">__________________</FONT c>
<img src="http://www.lanset.com/ecvslick/wayslicker1.jpg" border="0" alt=""><FONT COLOR="Black">.</FONT c><FONT COLOR="Red">Slick</FONT c> - 83' bobbed & lockt posuer-mall rig & held together w/numerous <FONT COLOR="Red">Clamps...</FONT c><img src="http://www.lanset.com/ecvslick/slick.gif" border="0" alt="">

For tubing and flat stock, the best bang for buck, and fastest is the chop saw. Doesn't really matter what one they all just about the same. Some are better in the warrenty and little things. For the most part they all are 14-16 amp motors.

Originally posted by tsm1mt


That reminds me.. my new toy. ArcAir / CarbonArc gouging torch for my stick welder. :D

Just need to sheetrock the new shop so I can run the conduit for the big 220 outlets..

Hey feed us some more info on your Arc/Air cutter, I've been wanting one, but haven't been able to find much info on them (ie welder type necessary, cost, how clean a cut, where to get them), I've search POR, and all over the web looking for info, but haven't found much. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

chad

I never see any mention of a saber saw, or jigsaw. Like a mini sawzall for sheet metal, worked great for bobbing my fenders. A lot less vibration than the sawzall. Very much like using an air body saw.

Right now I am using a chop saw, 4" cutoff wheel and 4 1/2 angle grinder for most of the fab work.

Originally posted by chadl


Hey feed us some more info on your Arc/Air cutter, I've been wanting one, but haven't been able to find much info on them (ie welder type necessary, cost, how clean a cut, where to get them), I've search POR, and all over the web looking for info, but haven't found much. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

chad

I haven't had a chance to fire it up yet.. but..

I just found this page with some info:

http://www.sweethaven.com/academic/lessons/021100/00/lessonmain.asp?lesNum=7&modNum=11

I plan to use my 230amp Century AC stick welder as the power source (I have it..) It may not cut the thickest metal, but it should be fine for my uses (I don't expect it to blow through 1/2" plate with ease..)

Previously I've used 1/4" "chamfer"/gouging rod with the welder. In this case, you just crank up the amps and purposefully "burn-through" the work piece.

It's quiet and pretty quick, tho' not that pretty. :D

When I need to cut something outside late at night, I use the chamfer rod.

The carbon-arc should be faster/cheaper/better. :D

I found the unit on Ebay for $60-ish? after getting much higher prices from local welding supply shops.

I'd kinda wanted one for a while.. and then a few friends (too far away to impose upon) had some fun turning their D44 knuckles last summer. Carbon-arc was the preferred method of blasting away the old welds.

Supposedly beats the heck out of a few hours with a grinder. :D

Hey thanks for helpin' out the newbie. Lots of good info there.

That's pretty much what I thought it was, kinda a poor man's plasma cutter.

I was wondering if it would give a clean enough cut to be used in place of a torch. Looking at the process it doesn't look like it would, but it might be good for doing rough cuts that could later be cleaned up with a grinder or chop saw. Also looks like it would be handy for taken things apart (like axle plug welds, or like you said knuckle welds). Make sure you keep us posted on how well your new toy works. BTW how much were the asking for this thing at local welding shops? Just curious.

Chad

If you plan to cut much square tube or plate (at an angle so you can't stand it on end) with a chop saw, you might want to look at the Makita. It has 2 pivot points, one with a big spring, that allows you to walk the blade back and forth a bit when cutting, to prevent overheating (and hardening) the metal, and also helps the blade life a lot. They've come down to around $170.

Pete

Originally posted by pcorssmit
If you plan to cut much square tube or plate (at an angle so you can't stand it on end) with a chop saw, you might want to look at the Makita. It has 2 pivot points, one with a big spring, that allows you to walk the blade back and forth a bit when cutting, to prevent overheating (and hardening) the metal, and also helps the blade life a lot. They've come down to around $170.

Pete

That would be what I spend most of my time cutting. Thanks for the tip, I'll look into those. At $170, that is pretty darn manageable for what you are getting. Walks back and forth, eh? What, are we talking redneck radial arm saw/chop saw combo? :flipoff2:

Originally posted by chadl
Hey thanks for helpin' out the newbie. Lots of good info there.

chop saw. Also looks like it would be handy for taken things apart (like axle plug welds, or like you said knuckle welds).



I used the cutting rod to cut up a Scout - a LOT easier (and quieter) than the 4" grinder, the circ saw, or the sawzall.

Plays hell with the power bill though. :D


Make sure you keep us posted on how well your new toy works. BTW how much were the asking for this thing at local welding shops? Just curious.
Chad

I think it was $150-$200.

and, FWIW, my $80 Chinese-tool-sale 14" cut-off saw will cut angles, too.

The vice is adjustable. No idea how accurate the vice is, but if you need to check it with a protractor, no big deal.