Whats a better saw?

[Gsd34me]

An abrasive chop saw or a Dry cut chopsaw?:D

[hankj]

Really depends on the application.

Quick cuts on small stock: Abrasive.

Clean cuts on plate: Dry cut.

Hank

[84ZMike]

If I could only have one it would be the dry cut....you are talking about a saw like this right? (pay no attention the the $$ as this one is over priced)
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW872-14-Inch-Multi-Cutter-Saw/dp/B0000302QS
If so then it would be the "dry cut" and some cut off wheels for the grinder for the bed frame and other mystery steel cutting :)

[dsculpin]

I would save my money and buy a good horizontal band saw. It is much more versitle. You can cut very thin sheet metal, or solids that are several inches thick. Also, it is much quieter and the blade will last significantly longer.

[miweldmi]

I have been using an abrasive blade on my miter saw (bad idea, I know). I was all set on the Dewalt Dry cut that 84ZMike linked. Heres a factory reconditioned one real cheap BTW http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/%5Cdewalt%5Cproducts%5CDW872R.asp.

Anyway, I have now been considering a plasma cutter (much more expensive I know). What is the best all around metal cutting tool though? Can a plasma cutter cut square and round tubing with a guide?

If you had to pick just one tool for cutting which would you pick to be able to cut large sheet, tubing, angle, bar, etc.

[RickSidebottom]

I have a small band saw, a 14" abrasive chop and a plasma cutting. They each have the areas where they preform best.

For any kind of cut in plate a plasma is head to beat. For precision, the band saw is tops and it cut solids, tube, and critical odd angles. For speed its the chop saw.

What do I use most? the band saw. less clean up, better fit up and quiet.

Just mt .02

You have to think about what you are wanting out of the saw, and what you will be cutting most.

[Hotfoot]

I have been using an abrasive blade on my miter saw (bad idea, I know). I was all set on the Dewalt Dry cut that 84ZMike linked. Heres a factory reconditioned one real cheap BTW http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/%5Cdewalt%5Cproducts%5CDW872R.asp.

Anyway, I have now been considering a plasma cutter (much more expensive I know). What is the best all around metal cutting tool though? Can a plasma cutter cut square and round tubing with a guide?

If you had to pick just one tool for cutting which would you pick to be able to cut large sheet, tubing, angle, bar, etc.

Well, by including "Large Sheet" you just eliminated the two (Dry Cut and Abrasive) saws that have been discussed. If its, say a 4 x 8' "sheet" vs. "plate", and abrasive blade in a 7" circular saw works very nice for straight lines, using a straight edge guide. A plasma will zip through that, and work on plate as well, with amperage needs increasing with thickness, and will cut any shape stock within its amperage capabilities. An oxy/act torch will cut, but requires the correct tip and technique to get clean cuts on thin metal. The circular saw is not used (generally) for angle iron, square stock, etc. I have cut auto body panels out with the circular saw/abrasive blade, and it performed beautifully (fast, too!).:)

[dda52]

There is no coverall saw. Some do better in some areas than the others, but fail in other areas. You just have to consider what you will be doing with it and how much you are willing to spend for the saw and can spend for blades. For example, the dry cut blades can range from 80-130 clams. They can last a good while, but one little slip and you just trashed a high dollar blade. Chopsaw blades can be under 10 bucks. Mess one of those up and it doesn't hurt so badly..economically anyway.:eek: Bandsaw blades are 13-15 clams for the HF size blades.

I have all three types of saws. There is no one coverall deal but the abrasive...which hardly ever gets used in my shop. 99% of my cuts are done by a DW Multicutter, Milwaukee 8" Metal Saw or bandsaw. The Multicutter is the absolute best for quick cuts, small or large. The Metal saw is perfect for plate, sheet or large flats. The bandsaw is good for thick, thick stuff and quiet cuts with no time constraints. Dry cutters are loud and throw lots of chips. The abrasive is almost as loud and throw lots of sparks and dust. The bandsaw is quiet and lots cleaner with no fire or chips, just some coarse metal dust.

The bandsaw is the cheapest with the dry cutters being expensive initially. With practice, the dry cut can be just about the cheapest per cut when you factor all aspects in. I can get between 1000 to 2000 cuts per blade as long as I don't screw up. Try that with an abrasive. The bandsaw is slower and can be less accurate with the HF type saw, but it will chew through heavy sections easily without breaking expensive blades..as long as you are patient. Once you go to the big boy bandsaws, they get lots better and faster,,,,, but you have to plunk down at least a grand, so that is a seriously higher outlay.

IMO, the best way to start is an abrasive or bandsaw. Add a dry chopsaw style saw after that and then add a circular saw style dry cutter. That will cover all your bases if you are serious about being versatile. If portability and versatility is a must, go with the abrasive.

[dda52]

Well, by including "Large Sheet" you just eliminated the two (Dry Cut and Abrasive) saws that have been discussed. If its, say a 4 x 8' "sheet" vs. "plate", and abrasive blade in a 7" circular saw works very nice for straight lines, using a straight edge guide. .:)

Evapfoot, the dry cut circular saw style saws will handle sheet the best. As easy as cutting plywood. Porter Cable, Evolution, Clarke, HF, Milwaukee and others have that style saw. I have cut sheet from 3/4" to 24 ga with my Milwaukee...using different blades....with zero issues. They also work great for channels, angles, sq and round bar and whatever else you have. I'll never use another 7" abrasive. I'll grab a grinder with a zip wheel first.

[miweldmi]

Great replies. Thanks everyone. I know there is rarely one tool that does it all. First of all I am just starting out welding and metalworking, but one of my biggest peeves in the world is not having the tools to do what I need. I buy tools constantly that I don't need because I one day I may need it and it will be there. If you rule out cutting sheet and plate then most of the other saws seem a good fit. I have no anticipation that I will be cutting lots or even some plate/sheet but if I ever need to I want to have the tools to do it. My thought yesterday was to get a plasma cutter. It can cut almost any shape I need including cutting out little pieces in the middle of a plate if needed. I figured if I wanted to cut say 1 or 2" tube or angle I would just make a guide out of the tube. Clamp it on and use it as a guide for the plasma torch, couple of zips on each side and it's cut. Speed is not really an issue for me since this is not my profession.

Having used on the abrasive blades I am now against them. While they work pretty well, they make a huge mess and tiny metal dust covers and ruins everything near it.

[Broccoli1]

First of all I am just starting out welding and metalworking, ..


and tiny metal dust covers and ruins everything near it.


Well metal working will involve metal dust:D

[tigster]

I have been using an abrasive blade on my miter saw (bad idea, I know). I was all set on the Dewalt Dry cut that 84ZMike linked. Heres a factory reconditioned one real cheap BTW http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/%5Cdewalt%5Cproducts%5CDW872R.asp.

Anyway, I have now been considering a plasma cutter (much more expensive I know). What is the best all around metal cutting tool though? Can a plasma cutter cut square and round tubing with a guide?

If you had to pick just one tool for cutting which would you pick to be able to cut large sheet, tubing, angle, bar, etc.

here is a video where they are using a guide to cut round tubing with plasma. looks like they're using a metal guide. i thought i read somewhere not to use a metal guide to plasma cut. the metal guide is conductive and may interfere with the the plasma stream, because the stream is attracted to the metal guide and won't go where it is being aimed. apparently the folks in this video are doing this with a certain degree of success. i have seen some people say they use a strip of wood as a guide. does anyone care to comment on whether or not a metal guide should be used? thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfn1uXjFThE

[miweldmi]

That was an excellent post. That was EXACTLY what I was wondering if it would work. I had planned the exact same thing with the jig, right down to the welded nut with the bolt to hold the jig in place. I hadn't even considered it for fishmouths though! I am absolutely sold and getting my plasma cutter ASAP.

I don't think the jig being metal would cause any interference because he was drag cutting it. If you were using a standoff then yeah I would think it would arc to the jig instead of down to the workpiece.

[dsculpin]

I don't believe a metal guide has any effect of the plasma arc. I have an ESAB PCM-875 and it comes with a metal guide that maintains the proper standoff. I have also used metal templates, especially ones made of thin sheet metal, and have never had any problems.

[whateg0]

...does anyone care to comment on whether or not a metal guide should be used?...

I would hazard a guess that it depends on the plasma cutter, especially the age of the cutter. I believe the older ones were a little more restrictive in how they were used. As an example, I don't think many of the earlier ones could pierce. The ability to drag cut could also be better with newer models.

Dave