Chopping metal for multiple jobs. - Mitre saw VS Abrasive Chop saws ?

[tedmagnum]

What are the benefits of the two ?? Running costs , ability ??

I'm kitting out a semi-professional workshop for a business venture. I don't have a large budget but I don't want to be upgrading in a few months time.

Obviously the difference is in the blade type...

VS something like this

All inputs gratefully received. This forum is great

 

[hotrodder]

1st pic is a wood cutting saw. Trying to cut steel with it won't end well!

TCT bladed metal cutting saws (aka dry cut chop/cut off saws) exist but run at less half the rpm of wood saws- circa 1300rpm for a 12 - 14" blade. The blades are different in both tooth style/count and arbor size (1" bore versus 30mm for wood saws).
Abrasive chop saws run at around 3800rpm so don't try and fit a TCT blade in one of those either.

Search the forum for 'evolution' and you'll find a bunch of threads on the subject. They do a wood style metal cutting mitre saw but not in their 'professional' metal cutting line, it's more of an allrounder aimed at DIY/multitrades

 

[octo0072000]

try this web site

http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/uk/

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I prefer my Rage TCT saw to the abrasive chop saw it replaced.

Paul H

 

[flash of light]

i have used the tct makita chop saw, they last if you ar gentle going in to the metal and give the blade a once over with a diamond stone now and again . but any apes using this type of saw will find they break teeth.

 

[Drains]

Abrasive chop saws... I've had one for years, great on site, never fails, but rough as old boots, stinks, loud, fills the air and floor with crap, leaves a great load of sharp swarf and to be honest If I never used it again it'd be too soon.
Evo saws are good but horizontal bandsaws are better.

And dont even think about aluminium on an abrasive saw.

 

[astro_al]

Agreed, I think a bandsaw is better for commercial use.

It all depends on the required duty cycle, materials, angles, who is using it etc etc. you've not given enough info for a definitive answer (if such a thing exists!)

Al

 

[tedmagnum]

Thanks guys...

Done said HOURS of research and reading off this forum.

I've settled on a Evolution Rage 2 355 chop saw (so I can cut other stuff too) and also going to get a band saw.

Anyone got any experience of Chester Machines ??

http://www.chestermachinetools.com/products/detail/47

 

[breezer]

With the evolutions you need to make sure the blade is sharp or it will jump around and give you a bad cut.

I have two blades and send one away for sharpening as soon as it starts to get blunt. Works out a little bit cheaper than a new blade each time.

 

[flash of light]

how about taking blade off machine, put in vice and square off the teeth with a DMT Dia-Sharp Extra Coarse stone, only take half and hour and a little elbow grease.

 

[breezer]

Could do i suppose - i was under the impression they all needed to be a certain angle which might be difficut to do by hand / eye but if you knew what you were doing

 

[flash of light]

i suppose it depends on what value you put on your own time. its nice to see i blade you have sharpened cut like new again, a magnifying glass with a stand can help a lot, or tape the glass on one of those bendy office lamps.

 

[hotrodder]

Dunno about the Rage stuff but metal specific blades often combine two different tooth designs on one blade- one flat topped alternated with a triple chip (double bevel) which are set at different heights to control chip size. I wouldn't fancy stoning one by hand, that's 180 facets with a 90 tooth blade