hey fellas, i search for both and did some research but couldnt find the answer i was looking for on these questions, and i am planning on purchasing both this week.. 1. besides obvious cost and the mess they make, what is the difference between a band saw and a chop saw, meaning can they basically cut the same stuff with the same accuracy.. i like the idea of a band saw but am fairly short on space in the garage and it seems like a chop saw might be the way to go, opinions appreciated 2. i looked on a previous thread about dimple die sets and noticed most guys make their own, but i dont have access to a lathe and hate to shell out 500-600 bucks for a set of dies,, one fella noted that he bought a hydraulic hole punch from harbor freight and i saw them online for under 100 bucks, question is does this kit make the dimple die type hole or just press a hole in metal much liike a hole saw would, anyone that has ever used one i would appreciate the feedback josh
Buy a carbide tipped steel chop saw. Dont get a bandsaw for common metal cutting in a garage unless you get a port band.
Your chop saw is going to be good for fast cuts on light gauge material. It will go heavy but its Not the best.put it where ever you want it. Leaveas a burr. Accurate as you are setting it up and checking. A band saw that goes vertical plus the normal cutting will be more versified in any shop. The hole punch works like a dream on light stuff. Way better than a holesaw if the die comes on the hole size you need . Dimple dies I can't comment on but I've seen techs on them and one is from PVC fittings off the shelf.
If you have the dough, try to score a cold saw, even the Wilton bench top model or one from Grizzly. Kicks a chop saw straight in the ***. The chop is only as accurate as the set up and check AND the rate of feed, go too fast the blade will bend and the cut will be off. The make a hella mess are fire hazards and loud *** hell. Try the carbide metal chop saw as an alt. They work well but are scary. Between the chop and band, I'd pick the band saw.
cold saws are not ideal for a home garage. Carbide saws will walk circles around both except over 3/8" material, yes even up to 3x6 tubing for under $400.00. Where not talking about making hundred of the same cuts, on the same material to justify a coldsaw. The only downfall is the metal debris with chop saws, abraisive or not. I guess if you work at the speed of snaill a bandsaw is fine. Go google a power hacksaw, thats the dream!
4x6 bandsaw and a chop saw. For under $500 you can cut alot of metal. I'd prefer a bandsaw over my chop. Less sparks, mess, noise. Chop is good for fast cuts on tubing. I despise cutting up any solid stock over 2" with it. As far ad dimple dies, there a ton of vendors on that auction site selling their homemade versions Stay away from 1018 or 1045 versions and get 4140/4130 stuff. You can get alot of dimpling done with 3-4 sizes. No need for a complete ****nal for the home builder. I made myself 3 sizes and I'm happy
By chop saw I ***ume you mean abrasive saw? Abrasive saws will cut harder material than a cold saw or band saw. On heavy/thick material abrasive saws the cutting wheel tends to get hot, load up, and not cut well. That is especially so if you don't have the best cutting wheel for the job. Be careful about starting a fire with the sparks from an abrasive saw. I made a good sized sheet metal spark shield for mine. On bandsaw blades; unless you are doing something you know will likely kink or ruin the blade, don't bother with "regular" carbon steel blades. High quality bi-metal chrome-moly blades with a tool steel edge are more expensive, but they are harder to break, and outlast plain carbon blades many time more than they cost.
I am currently attending a Machinist trade school and we use an industrial horizontal bandsaw with running coolant for the cuts and it cuts solid steel with ease. I am now ruined for my Dewalt chop saw at home. lol
Milwaukee had their version of a cold saw, designed like the chop saw. I think its dry. 489.95 and blades are 180.00 each.
plasma cutter and portaband are your friends chop saws are aweful noisy, toss lots of sparks and make a ****load of dust and mess, there are cleaner methods to cut metal by far.
I wish I would have asked this question as you have on the Hamb. I bought a chop saw to cut exhaust pipes as I like to make my own with mandrel bends. Cutting pieces out of a J bend or U bend is impossible to clamp down so cutting long straight pieces is all I can use it for, like other guys said, going to fast and the blade walks all over the place. A good vertical band saw is great but the cost is so high. So far I like the chain cutter I bought off ebay, really sharp and cuts a pretty straight cut so tig welding the pipe up is much easier. I hope this helps.
I bought a chop saw for exhaust work a few years ago,and then a horizontal bandsaw to build my frame. The bandsaw is slower but is cleaner and quieter and did everything I wanted to do so I traded the chop saw off. I've had a vertical wood bandsaw converted to cut steel for quite a while, and it is the best for cutting exhaust mandrel bends.
there really is no one cutting tool that will do it all! closest thing, and most universal, is the appropriately named sawzall.
One thing that I liked when I had access to a bandsaw was set it up, start the cut, walk away and do something else until it finishes. Quieter, cleaner, straighter cuts.
spend a little search time and locate a Racine power hacksaw. These things will cut anything, and cut it dead nuts straight. I've cut 8" round stock in 1/4" slices. Very impressive.
The HF hydraulic setup only punches the holes, it doesn't have the dimpling dies. It also punches pipe size holes so a 2" punch puts a 2 3/8" hole in the metal. It is a clearance hole for a pipe and pipes are measured by their ID not OD. I made my dimple dies so they will work with the HF unit. I think there is someone selling dimple dies for the pipe size holes - might try Google.
4 x 6 horizontal is a good choice and a bi metal blade nice easy cuts no fuss no muss,more accurate blades are cheap and they last ok for home shop. Tig
I bought a USED Cold Saw for 3 or 4 hundred bucks. Blades can be resharpened - I bought a STACK of them cheap at the industrial surplus place - before that - I'd get them off EBAY - patience was required there, but they'd show up sooner or later. Haven't even touched my chop saw since then - noisey, messy, smelly - nope the cold saw is for me - it's the TIG WELDER of saws - quite, neat, clean. A Vertical Bandsaw is STILL a MUST IMHO - and if I had more room I'd have a big fat daddy horizontal band saw for those big jobs - now I have to borrow my buddies (at his place) - if only I had more room!!! YMMV
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