Chop Saw vs Band Saw

[Red Ibex]

I've just upgrade my hacksaw to a 14" abrasive chop saw :)

However with the novelty I toasted the motor on a eBay special in just a couple of days :mad3:

TBH the noise and the heat from the chop saw is pretty unpleasant in a home workshop.

I was using a bandsaw yesterday at a mates workshop yesterday, and it got me thinking, should I replace the chop saw with a small band saw ?

The kinda thing in my budget has a 4" vertical capacity
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/72/p1270772_x.jpg
I will also keep my eye open for a 2nd industrial unit.

So what are the pro's and con's of chop saw vs bandsaw ?
I am assuming the saw with be quieter and have less heat transferance
Anything else ?

[PTSchram]

Anything else?

How about essentially unattended operation?

I've had several of the cheap bandsaws, wearing them out after about five years of regular abuse. I've never been able to get them to cut real straight and have tried and finally given up as what I needed was a cut piece, not necessarily an accurately cut piece.

The little ones have many drawbacks, but for me, they are far better than a chop saw-at least for now.

Many folks here suggest using good, high $ (or in your case, high Pound :flipoff2: ) blades. I was recently very surprised that I could mail order good blades for marginally more than what I'm paying for cheap blades.

In addition to the one pictured, I also have a cheapie where the blade assembly turns for mitered cuts. Nice, but there is no downfeed control and I keep wiping teeth off the blades.

Peace,
PT

[KLF]

I've used abrasive shop saws, and I think they're really unsafe. We had a blade let go on one at my old work, it was ugly. Plus the noise and dust is just too much.

We have a really nice old Kalamazoo drop bandsaw at work, I don't know the specs, but I've cut TONS of stuff with that thing, it just keeps going:

http://www.yankeetoys.org/KLF/Taz/DiffCaps/CapCut1.jpg

Good Starrett blades and the coolant feed help a lot. It's amazing the cuts it'll make. Nice and quiet, and it shuts itself off when the cut is done. If I were you, I'd check the local ads for one from a place that is closing shop or upgrading.

[Rio_Grande]

I bought a royal Industrial type band saw and other than being half the size of my cj5, it kicks. I recently got the coolant system running and those 50.00 blades seem to last longer. No problems cutting close accurate cuts and it will hold alot of things that the chop saw would not. besides the neighbors don't call the cops on me for running the chop saw at 3am. Course they still are not used to the grinder.

[Red Ibex]

So the band saw is winning over the chop saw - cool.

So can I throw machine hacksaw into the equation ? I am assuming little difference except cheaper and easier blade changes ?

[ghettojeep]

I have both in my shop. This is how I figure it.

Band Saw: Slow, Quiet, Doesn't scare neighbor college chicks, no sparks to shoot at Born Loser.

Chop Saw: Fast, Loud, scares neighbor college chicks (Looks cool when your lighting up the night) throws lots of sparks at Born Loser.

I don't know about you guys but when I'm fabricating I hate waiting for the stupid band saw to chew through something when I can get it done fast.

[redrangie]

I have both in my shop. This is how I figure it.

Band Saw: Slow, Quiet, Doesn't scare neighbor college chicks, no sparks to shoot at Born Loser.

Chop Saw: Fast, Loud, scares neighbor college chicks (Looks cool when your lighting up the night) throws lots of sparks at Born Loser.

I don't know about you guys but when I'm fabricating I hate waiting for the stupid band saw to chew through something when I can get it done fast.

I was going to say something similar. I do production stuff, so the band saw is a requirment. I had to 6 pieces yesterday at EXACTLY the same length, band saw was the only way, (repetitive cut with stop) as on most peoples hot saws you are guessing at best.

My bandsaw was down earlier in the week (needed adjustment for vertical alignment) so I used the chop saw. I couldn't believe how much faster it was, but the uniformity sucked.

by both, or get the bandsaw, and a compound mitre with an abrasive blade.


j

[frankenfab]

Definately get a bandsaw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260984&highlight=bandsaw

[masonmachines]

i got a cheap import chop saw for $50 new. i will get a band saw as soon as i find one for a similar price. the chop saw has worked well.

[PTSchram]

I don't know about you guys but when I'm fabricating I hate waiting for the stupid band saw to chew through something when I can get it done fast.

It's called multi-tasking :flipoff2:

When the saw is running is when I go to the can, check on the dog, beat the kid (Shopboy), etc. Kinda gives me a chance to catch my breath. Yesteday, I was cutting 2-1/2" round stock. I got a good break waiting on that one :D

Peace,
PT

[Slowzuki]

I have a good Milwakee chop saw, have used bandsaws and power hacksaws lots too. If the metal is a thick section like shafting forget it on the chop saw, you'll be there all day.

I have had excellent luck getting nice square repeatable cuts on the chop saw when not horsing it. The band saw / hacksaws all seem to wander in the cut.

The blades are cheap in the chop saw and generally won't break if you clamp your work well, don't cut within a 1/4" of an edge and throw them away if they get a chunk out and vibrate.

[jdjanda]

I can't say enough about how much better a band saw is verse a chop saw. Ideal would be to have both, but the chop saw makes a mess, is noisy, and cuts like crap. The band saw does not waste as much material, you can cut across the face of material, and the less material clean-up (No Burrs) with the band saw. Good blades will last 6 months plus and run about $20, verse 10-15 for a chop saw blade that you can use up in a day of heavy cutting.

[Red Ibex]

There are some really good replies here - thanks guys.
I'll check out all the links in FrankenFab link if I end up with a HF style band saw - which is now looking quite likely.

[Kaiser5]

I've got both. The chop saw has a quarter inch of dust on it. Get the band saw and don't look back. :D

[bulletproof]

I've just upgrade my hacksaw to a 14" abrasive chop saw :)

However with the novelty I toasted the motor on a eBay special in just a couple of days :mad3:

TBH the noise and the heat from the chop saw is pretty unpleasant in a home workshop.

I was using a bandsaw yesterday at a mates workshop yesterday, and it got me thinking, should I replace the chop saw with a small band saw ?

The kinda thing in my budget has a 4" vertical capacity
http://www.screwfix.com/sfd/i/cat/72/p1270772_x.jpg
I will also keep my eye open for a 2nd industrial unit.

So what are the pro's and con's of chop saw vs bandsaw ?
I am assuming the saw with be quieter and have less heat transferance
Anything else ?



DO NOT BUY THE ONE IN THAT PIC!!


i picked one up like that on sale at harbor freight a few weeks ago and i am NOT impressed. the blade falls off all the time and cuts REALLY slow. i tried using it to cut the front output casting off of an aluminum tcase and it just wasn't big enough.


if you really want one bite the bullet and get a good one. you won't regret it!

[bulletproof]

i would go with a port a band before i got another one like mine. i will however cut through some solid 4x4 stock but i never have to cut anything like that anyways.


a GOOD bandsaw definately has it's place in the shop just not that one. :D

[PTSchram]

DO NOT BUY THE ONE IN THAT PIC!!


i picked one up like that on sale at harbor freight a few weeks ago and i am NOT impressed. the blade falls off all the time and cuts REALLY slow. i tried using it to cut the front output casting off of an aluminum tcase and it just wasn't big enough.


if you really want one bite the bullet and get a good one. you won't regret it!

If the blade is tensioned correctly and aligned, the blade will stop falling off and you will be more pleased with your purchase. Get it about as tight as you can. Also, check the pulley alignment, there are several adjustments that can be carried out to improve the operation. Search around as when I posted a question about improving the operation of just such saws, folks came out of the woodwork with links, etc.

They definitely have their limitations, but it beats the hell out using a sawz-all or hacksaw :flipoff2:

[Pavemen]

whats the typcial time to cut a say a 2x0.25 DOM tube with a band saw?

how much are a decent miter cold saw with a 14" blade or so? i know they are much faster than a band saw but just as accurate, if not more so?

[DUG]

whats the typcial time to cut a say a 2x0.25 DOM tube with a band saw?



Really it depends on the power of the saw and the blade. Hard to sday becaus EI never time mine, I just go do soemthign else... a couple ofminutes.. notl iek you are waiting all day for it.

[kwrangln]

I've got a decently set up shop, lots of cutting tools at my disposal including the Delta bandsaw,
http://www.the-jersey-devil.com/photopost/data/500/101Picture_012-med.jpg but dont use it much unless I'm cutting something big, its just too slow for small stuff. Most of the time I use a porta band, scribe a line and practice and you'll end up with nice strait cuts. If I get a little off, I'll square things up on the belt sander. The abrasive chop saw hasnt seen the light of day in over a year, too noisy, messy, and not accurate enough. Just got a Dewalt multi cutter and love it so far, speed of a chop saw, with the accuracy of the bandsaw. I may even lay down my porta band.

[Rio_Grande]

Dewalt multi Cutter?

If money was no object i would go with a cold saw, but at 2000.00$ for a entry level model, I think I will keep my Bandsaw.

[kwrangln]

Dewalt multi Cutter?

If money was no object i would go with a cold saw, but at 2000.00$ for a entry level model, I think I will keep my Bandsaw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259185

[m016324]

I definately agree with the bandsaw for several reasons. First repeatability, always a plus when fabricating. Second accuracy once a saw is set up well with square faces and vice they will cut very accurately. Third laziness factor you don't have to sit there holding down the handle until you finally cut the piece you just set it up and do something else. I would also recommend against the HF or similar version unless you are willing to upgrade it some. There are lots of little upgrades that will make it into a decent machine but sometimes it's easier and cheaper in the long run to buy a producton machine (kalamazoo, jet, used a wilton once that wasn't bad) that already has the features that need to be added on (coolant, hydraulic feed, hydraulic vices are nice, more adjustable speeds, adjustable feed pressure, larger work piece size, ect.) But I would definatel get a band saw over a chop saw.

-ben

[Mr. Mindless]

As long as this got dredged up, I'll throw in my two cents too. Abrasive chop saws can lick my balls. I hate them. They're loud, hot, dirty and make a messy, messy cut. They eat blades and their clamps generally suck. They're pretty slow for the noise they make, too.

I'm forced into using one at the moment since I've got a bad bearing on the chinamade 4-1/2" bandsaw (a Clarke from Tractor Supply) I've got here, and I can't wait to get that bandsaw fixed. It's 4" capacity sucks a little, but it's hardly worse than the chop saw. Cuts are reasonably straight even on this cheapie with an un-abused blade. I love the set-it-and-forget-it when it's working right. I'd love if it had adjustable pressure in addition to variable speed, that would help a lot on the munched-teeth front.

With that said, I think the best saw setup I've used is a DeWalt multicutter (http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=159). All the noise and sparks of an abrasive wheel but the cuts are just as accurate as what you'd get out of a wood chopsaw. If you use good blades, don't rush, and keep it oiled, they last pretty well too.

When I set up my own shop, I'm going to be going with a cheapie bandsaw first, and if I'm in a position where I don't care about noise, it'll get augmented by a multicutter when funds are available. I have no use whatsoever for an abrasive chopsaw.

[frankenfab]

Here is a picture of my saw. I got it from HF. I have replaced the blade with a 14 tpi bi-metal and adjusted it (not today either, about 9 months ago).

[frankenfab]

Here is a piece of 1" x 1/8" angle iron cut square. It is shown against a machinist's precision square, not a carpenter's square. The picture doesn't begin to show the precision of the cut. It is perfect to the naked eye. Note the piece I cut off, laying on the back corner of the square. It is less than 1/32 of an inch thick. Try that with an abrasive chop saw.

[Greatlakeoffroad]

Dewalt multicut saw kicks A** for around $250 you can't go wrong. 1 blade for the Dewalt will last up to 50 abrasive blades and its alot more accurate plus the fact that you don't have to worry about the sparks and fiberglas dust which can give guys with asthma a death hack. The cuts are better than an abrasive as the blades do not walk as much either. If I need consistent accurate cuts we use our bandsaw. But my thought has always been get it close and use the welder to fill it in. Good luck hope this helps. By the way a good bandsaw and operator can hold + - .005 so it is alot more accurate. Shawn