I've gotten to the point where I need to make cuts a lot faster. I have no desire to go back to the noise and dust of a chop saw for mass cuts and my band saw works fine but just cannot keep up.

If anyone has first hand experience on a specific cold saw below 2k, I'm interested.

Thx

You could look at a "dry cut" saw for 400$ I have this one and i love it, cuts fast, no dust, no smell, no coolant.

http://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_27_40028_-1_678586_192151_192137

Cheapest actual Cold-saw I've seen is this one from MSC

They run sales on it occasionally for less than $900

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT?PMPXNO=9361949&PMT4NO=0

Dry-cut saws from Milwaukee or Trick-Tools are a good option also.

When i was looking for a cold saw i saw that it was hard to find a cold saw that had bigger than a 10 inch blade for under 2k. I would think a 14 inch would be the only weigh to go and they get pretty pricey. I use me band saw now and like it but might try a milwaukee dry cut saw soon.

I know you said cold saw but a carbide bladed chop saw like Brad D posted will do the job fast too.......BUT ARE LOUDER IMHO than an abrasive

Before spending thousands on a cold saw, or hundreds on a multi cutter type saw, you could try what I'm trying. Since I'm a cheap bastard, I'm giving this blade a shot in my chopsaw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551143

If it works, then I'm happy, if it doesn't, then I'm out less than $50 for the blade plus delivery.

I'm going to do a full review as soon as it shows up and I can put it through its paces.

I know you said cold saw but a carbide bladed chop saw like Brad D posted will do the job fast too.......BUT ARE LOUDER IMHO than an abrasive

true but it only takes a few sec to cut a tube.

I have used a 7000$ cold saw lots at a buds shop.. its nice but slow and gets cooland in and around the tube (needs to be cleaned out before TIG welding) the only thing i like about it over me "dry cut" saw is the fact that it is super accurate on angle cuts, and its one solid bastard.

Get a used cold saw. I bought used Eisele cold saw thats made in the 70's for $250 and that included 6 blades. I had to buy some new bearings for the electric motor and one seal for the coolant pump, total $20. It's the same as the Behringer vms300 just with a older electric motor. http://www.behringersaws.com/ccs1a.htm
The cuts will be dead on every time. It's one solid peace of machinery for sure. We also have a Ridgid "dry cut" saw at the shop and they are in different leagues when it comes to making precision angle cuts and consuming blades.

man - I'm looking for used but that's a rare find around here.

true but it only takes a few sec to cut a tube.

I have used a 7000$ cold saw lots at a buds shop.. its nice but slow and gets cooland in and around the tube (needs to be cleaned out before TIG welding) the only thing i like about it over me "dry cut" saw is the fact that it is super accurate on angle cuts, and its one solid bastard.

Dont get me wrong. I will be buying one in the next few months because they cut through anything like butter. Ive used them and love them. Just thought I would give the guy all the info.

your buying a cold saw or the other?

Love my milwalkee, cut like butter..................:smokin:

Buying a dry cut saw when I have the extra money.

You could look at a "dry cut" saw for 400$ I have this one and i love it, cuts fast, no dust, no smell, no coolant.

http://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_27_40028_-1_678586_192151_192137

What thickness of steel will it cut? Description says "light gauge" steel. :)

What thickness of steel will it cut? Description says "light gauge" steel. :)


I cut 1.75" .120 thick DOM wall tube all the time with it.

Have cut some .250 wall box tube with it.. it did not mind it.

I cut 1.75" .120 thick DOM wall tube all the time with it.

Have cut some .250 wall box tube with it.. it did not mind it.

Thanks. :)

Thanks. :)

Cold saws kick ass, but they are still loud. Good used cold saws go for around $2K on ebay all the time, good brands, around 14". I got lucky and practically stole my scotchman 350 on ebay for $800, with the air vise, it's a $7K saw new. Most cold saws are 3 phase so keep that in mind. Most of the quality ones are european, and most of the american ones are rebranded euros. There are some asian import one for a good deal but I dont know about the quality. I almost bought one of these before I found a good used scotchman http://www.performancesaw.com/

What thickness of steel will it cut? Description says "light gauge" steel. :)

It all depends on the pitch of the blade. Use a finer pitch blade for thinner wall material and a coarser pitch blade for thicker wall material. I have both blades for both applications, you can cut solid on it all day with the right blade. It cuts through 2" .250 wall and 3" .375 wall DOM like butter with the right, sharp blade. Blades cost about $75 new and can be resharpened untill it's too small, they cost about $12 to resharpen.

Here is that Milwaukee on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/MILWAUKEE-NEW-14-METAL-DRY-CUTOFF-SAW-6190-20-BONUS_W0QQitemZ170079782790QQihZ007QQcategoryZ7970 6QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It all depends on the pitch of the blade. Use a finer pitch blade for thinner wall material and a coarser pitch blade for thicker wall material. I have both blades for both applications, you can cut solid on it all day with the right blade. It cuts through 2" .250 wall and 3" .375 wall DOM like butter with the right, sharp blade. Blades cost about $75 new and can be resharpened untill it's too small, they cost about $12 to resharpen.

Sorry, I was refering to a cold saw, I thought you were asking about a cold saw but went back and read everything through.

Before spending thousands on a cold saw, or hundreds on a multi cutter type saw, you could try what I'm trying. Since I'm a cheap bastard, I'm giving this blade a shot in my chopsaw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=551143

If it works, then I'm happy, if it doesn't, then I'm out less than $50 for the blade plus delivery.

I'm going to do a full review as soon as it shows up and I can put it through its paces.

I think you will be sorry... We have three Makita dry cut saws in my shop that we run most of the day. The Makita's run slower than a regular chop saw(2000rpm), and they have a blade stabilzer I believe to keep the blade from deflecting. We cut mostly .065 1" tube and we get thousands of cuts per blade. I could never go back to abasive blades.

I think you will be sorry... We have three Makita dry cut saws in my shop that we run most of the day. The Makita's run slower than a regular chop saw(2000rpm), and they have a blade stabilzer I believe to keep the blade from deflecting. We cut mostly .065 1" tube and we get thousands of cuts per blade. I could never go back to abasive blades.

how loud are those Makita's as compared to an abrasive chop saw?

I think you will be sorry... We have three Makita dry cut saws in my shop that we run most of the day. The Makita's run slower than a regular chop saw(2000rpm), and they have a blade stabilzer I believe to keep the blade from deflecting. We cut mostly .065 1" tube and we get thousands of cuts per blade. I could never go back to abasive blades.

If you had happened to open the link, you would have seen that it is not an abrasive blade, its a carbide tipped blade rated at a higher RPM for use in a standard chop saw. Have it sitting on the floor in the garage now awating time for me to do a review for the board.

This aint my first rodeo, I've spent way too much time using dry cut saws, thats why it pissed me off so bad having to go back to abrasive in my own shop.

As for blade stabalization in the dry cut saws, thats the first I've heard of it. Every one I've used has had some runout when you first start it. Start saw, let it get up to full RPM, and then give it a couple seconds to stabalize before beginning cut. For random hacking of bulk stock it doesn't matter that much, and the deflection isn't that bad, but it is there and if your trying to be as accurate as possible, it'll drive ya nuts.

how loud are those Makita's as compared to an abrasive chop saw?

I'd say the carbide blades are a bit louder, but its at a different pitch so its hard to tell without using a decible meter. They have more of a high pitched ring type of sound instead of the steady low grind of an abrasive saw.

I'd say the carbide blades are a bit louder, but its at a different pitch so its hard to tell without using a decible meter. They have more of a high pitched ring type of sound instead of the steady low grind of an abrasive saw.

appreciate the info. Puts me right back at the $$$ cold saw for the noise piece.

Bout your best bet if quiet is such a concern is a big bandsaw. While I havn't used a cold saw yet, Goat1 a few posts up says they are still pretty loud.

What, are ya fabbin in a liabrary?

No need for earpluggs with my cold saw and its an old one. The cold saw is one of the quietest tools in the shop.

Hardly a library, but I don't need to be pissing off the neighbors with screeching through cut after cut.

I need quicker cuts without the noise - thus looking at cold saw options. The more I look, the more I find myself in the 4k range (ouch) for new because of the miter cut size restrictions. Used around here are unfortunately hard to find.

My neighbors are about 10' away from the side of the garage. I just keep fab time between 10am and 5-6pm, havn't had a noise complaint yet. Save yourself the 4K and check out a better blade for your chop saw.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=555698

You could look at a "dry cut" saw for 400$ I have this one and i love it, cuts fast, no dust, no smell, no coolant.

http://www.milwaukeeconnect.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_27_40028_-1_678586_192151_192137

Thanks for recommendation, I was looking for a good alternative to a cold saw.

anyone know of a better price than this?

http://www.tools-plus.com/milwaukee-6190-20.html