Poll: Band saw or Chop saw?

[SkZuk]

I think I'm going to go buy a chop saw soon, but I'm just wondering if a horizontal band saw would be better for me.

I have all the basic tools:
Reciprocating saw
angle grinder
mig welder
drill press

I know the chop saw is louder and makes a bigger mess, but its also faster and cheaper.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=245627&d=1147926134
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=245628&d=1147926134

[Jeffh555]

i voted chop saw

my buddy has a horizontal band saw and when i'm using his shop i bring up my chop saw and it gets used more.

also, the horizontal band saw is gonna be more accurate, i use one at work and with a stop i can repeat cuts to +-.010. but that wont help alot for building a rig.

[trkklr77]

you can always by a porta-ban and then the chop saw base to go with it, hoizontal chop and hand held band saw pimp in 2 worlds.

[n8damack]

I lean toward the bandsaw, for both less racket & less mess, and better accuracy/ less part cleanup (no slag chunks.)

Most horizontals can also be run vertical for doing different operations. You can run it freehand so long as there's a table top of sorts - not the case with a chop box.

Your grinder is a poor man's chop saw, your recip is a poor man's band saw. The band saw won't eat blades like the recip, the chop saw won't eat blades as fast as a grinder, but remember the cost of consumables determines operating cost of the tool.

My two pennies.

-Nate

[Rock Ape]

Save your $$$ and buy a cold saw!!!replaces both of those tools and cuts cleaner with NO heat!!!

[Nordic1]

Having a bandsaw is cool (cooler, quieter, etc) and all (but dulling blades would drive me up the wall) but my vote is with the chopper (changing disks is easy... Cuts pretty good)

That and this tech is bling:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=456800&highlight=chop

[eblick]

If you do go with the chop saw get a metal bladed one. The cuts are way more accurate.

[Nordic1]

If you do go with the chop saw get a metal bladed one. The cuts are way more accurate.


I'm willing to try a metal blade instead of an abrasive one... anybody have a source for a decent one?

[WA-HCRC]

I'm willing to try a metal blade instead of an abrasive one... anybody have a source for a decent one?


x2, never seen one in action on steel.

[Urban Wheeler]

Buddy of mine uses one to cut tube, loud as hell, but you don't get all that metal/abrasive dust on everything, just little metal chips, plus no sparks with a sharp blade. And it is cool to the touch right after cutting.

[TLCObsession]

I voted bandsaw. Unless you have a torch or plasma, it is so much more usefull than a chop saw. Use one with a good blade (mine is 2 years old and still cuts like butter). I can cut brackets, miter angle iron and it all comes out accurately. No noise, no mess and when working alone, I never have to wait, so its not slow.

If you haven't used one vertically, you are missing out on half the options!

[andyr354]

Both would be my vote.

Get the better HF BS (red one) with adjustable guides or goto a local TSC and get a Clarke. I got my TSC to match HFs sale price, no shipping was nice.

BS is very nice for accurate cuts and cutting larger material that doesn't fit well in a CS. Get a good blade for it as well, I picked up a Morse bi-metal from Enco.

The CS is nice for small quick cuts where accuracy is not crucial. Also use it for cutting hardened steel or old rusty steel that has crusties all over it.

I have a nice old packard brand CS that has a cast base and is fairly accurate, but the deflection in an abrasive blade is always there.

[mr.tech]

I have both a band saw and chop saw. my chop saw doesn't even get used any more. the band saw is so quite I can still here the TV with it running and the best part about the band saw is you can set it to cut and go do other things till its done. like if you are making a cross bar and start cutting one you can go measure and mark your next tube, by the time your done its ready to be cut.

I vote band saw

[ironpig70]

:D chop saw cause i'm a cheap(brok bastard)

[Dazz]

I have both and my chop saw now is now collecting dust ever since I got the bandsaw with some mods done to it!

[AthlonAJ]

My vote would definitely go towards the bandsaw. I've got both and rarely use the chop saw anymore. I had a DeWalt multicutter saw (metal bladed chopsaw) and sold it, too loud, hot chips and wasn't that impressed with it overall. If you look into bandsaws, don't get into the thinking that you have to buy name brand to get good quality, simply not true. I bought a horizontal/vertical bandsaw 6x10 from Northern Tool about 3-4 years ago, cost around $500. It has never given me a single problem and I use it for my business daily. I did build a base that sat up higher and allowed me to add on stops for repetitive cutting. Also the way they have the setup for the table to cut vertical required you to remove two screws, then screw the table on. It was really simple to make a table for vertical cutting that you just clamped into the vice and away you went. Using Lenox blades I usually go 4-6 months before having to get a new one.

Having the vertical capability is really nice. Eventhough I have a plasma cutter I use the bandsaw a lot for smaller pieces just because it leaves a nice clean edge with no kerf.

[SkZuk]

Really tempting to get a bandsaw!

Forgot to mention that I have oxy acet too, its just a matter of going to pick up tanks. Can't wait to play around acetlyene welding again :D


Thanks for all the input! The reason I really want to get one (right now) is to get consistent angled cuts in tube. For instance, I want to tilt my nerf bars up like www.shrockworks.com does, and I am having a hell of a time duplicating angles, at the same distance.

[Nowhere]

BOTH!

Chop saw for FAST THIN cuts in exhaust pipe, simple 90* cuts in angle or flat.

SUPER FAST, messy, and loud though..

If you do get a bandsaw, get GOOOOOOOOOOOOD BIMETAL BLADES!! Blades either make or break a cheap or expensive bandsaw. Cheap blades blow ass!!

I've got the 50 dollar HF chop with abrasive discs & the HF bandsaw with nice 25 dollar 14 & 18 tpi wavy blades.

:D

They both have their places...

[half-cab]

If you are not doing a large amount of fabrication a hand-held jig saw with a metal cutting blade works just fine for cutting out tabs, gussets etc.
It also take up a lot less room in your shop.

[half-cab]

If you are not doing a large amount of fabrication a hand-held jig saw with a metal cutting blade works just fine for cutting out tabs, gussets etc.
It also takes up a lot less room in your shop than a band saw.

[section525]

I have both and I honestly use my chop saw more. I would love to use the band saw all the time but the speed kills it. I will use it for cutting DOM and various other things, but when I have to make a lot of cuts that don't require great accuracy.. it's chop saw all the way.

After I get a tube bender... I'm wanting to pick up the DeWalt cold saw people are talking about. My buddy has one and loves it. I'm hoping it will be the best of both worlds.

[Pook]

depends on the work, large tubing, rectanglur etc...big solid pieces of flatbar round stock etc...the band saw kicks ass. for quick tube work the chop saw works great. I also use it to cut tool steel, spring steel etc for making tools with. (blacksmithing tools chisels punches etc)

[jmhinescj]

If youv'e got the room go with a bandsaw...I really don't but have one anyway (along with a chopsaw). They are much more accurate, leave a lot better edge, and don't throw chips everywhere. My favorite thing about them is that they are quiet...if your like me and work out of your garage in a neighborhood this is inportant. I can work late at night without risking getting run out of the neighborhood.

[JohnC]

I've got both, along with oxy too. Go with the bandsaw. Quiet, clean, more accurate, can cut super thick material, the vise clamp is better, etc, ect.

[frankenfab]

Another vote for bandsaw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=415069&highlight=bandsaw+chop

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=335374&highlight=bandsaw+chop

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282132&highlight=bandsaw+chop

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276123&highlight=bandsaw+chop






.

[Nordic1]

I would like to recall my vote... I was cutting some 4x4" box tubing and I really could have used a bandsaw today :laughing:

[BRAD D]

If you do go with the chop saw get a metal bladed one. The cuts are way more accurate.


Any links to this blade?

I use my band saw more than my chop saw, I dont like the dust, smell or sound of the chop saw. I also hate the burr that you have to grind off on the chop saw.

[NiteKrawler]

I would vote for the Bandsaw, less noise, better cuts, blades last longer than disks, and you can cut precise angles...

[SkZuk]

Well I might as well let the cat out of the bag, I picked up a 14" chop saw for $90 from Princess Auto, which is the Canadian Harbor Freight as far as I can tell.

Whats the big difference between a 4.5" band saw and a 5"? The price difference at Pauto was about double..

I still want a band saw, I'll wait a little while though.


Still need some pointers to being able to duplicate angled cuts in tube in the right plane. Especially if I'm only trying to shave off half an inch, as there is nothing to clamp to in this case. I'll toss up some pics or start a new thread if you think I need to..

[Ztec]

I voted bandsaw but they both have there place. I like the chop because its quick and portable. I still like my bandsaw better(better cuts,less noise and mess, you can start a cut than go grind something or scratch ur ass or chug a beer). If you dont have good power bandsaws are better (itleast mine is) my chopsaw is supose to run on a 15 amp circuit but trips the breaker alot. Ive never compared cost per cut between the 2 but they say the cost per cut is less on one of the metal blade chop saws.

[SkZuk]

I tripped the breaker once when I was really give'n er, cutting a piece of C-channel the flat way instead of the easy tall way.
For what it's worth, my Lincoln SP135T will trip the breaker once in a while as well, when cranked (most always) on long passes.

[vanguard_anon]

I only have a chop saw. I come from a woodworking background and I'm sort of amazed how inaccurate it is. I'm used to getting within 1/64" of my target length and when I want 45 degrees I don't mean 44 or 46. Also, deflection in woodworking is hardly measureable but the chopsaw blade can deflect 1/4" if you're trying to trim a piece.

Maybe it's just me but I'd love to have something more accurate. I don't know if a bandsaw is the answer but a chopsaw has its flaws.

[Al Kaholick]

i say chop saw, but only because its cheap and leaves more money for other stuff

[SSGTWC]

Chop saw....but

If I had the space and money, I would want both.