Harbor Freight Chop Saw

[davejurek]

I've seen it mentioned and I am seriously thinking of buying it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44829

Does anyone here have the HF chop saw? How do you like it? Is it a good tool for the money? My catalog is listing is for $59 so just wondering if I should hold out for a better saw???

Dave

[super vw]

one of my friends from school just got one a while ago and he said its decent for the money, but i dont know for myself. to me it looks alright, but i would want to use onw before i buy one.

BTW they go for $49.99 here :D

[morpheus]

I have that saw, it's ok for the $59 I paid for it. to me it depends on how much you're going to use it if you should save and buy a more expensive one (a good one starts at about $150). if you're only going to use it occasionally, yeah, it works great. if I you're planning on using it ALOT then I'd get something better. compared to the more $$$ units it just doesn't have enough amps and the clamping mechanism isn't the best.

good luck.

- jack

[Mark Whiddon]

I agree with Morph, I have one too. A bigger motor would be nice to have. One thing I found that makes it cut MUCH better is using thinner blades .Get the 3/32 " blades, they are a little harder to find, but work better. They will flex a bit more than 1/8" blades so you will have to have a lighter hand when you start the cut, but once you are into the metal they do pretty decent. Just understand that the (any) chop saw is NOT a precision cutting instrument. A band saw will cut more precisely.

[davejurek]

Really. I've got a lot of 3/4 x 3/4 square tubing to cut with a number of 45 degree angles.

The price tag is attractive. If you add the 5 pack of blades, its $79, still relatively cheap.

Dave

[morpheus]

in my experience those cheap blades do not last long at all and are not worth their cost. buy a decent deWalt or other name brand abrasive disk.

- jack

[John Stuckey]

I have purchased two - an old 12" model and a newer (10+ years ago) 14" saw from HF. I am a hobby welder and use them for cutting square steel tubing for projects including work benches for general use, nursery potting benches, carts, various equipment stands, etc. I don't know if the units would hold up under constant daily use but I have cut a lot of tubing for a hobby guy and the saws are still going strong. BTW, DeWalt is (or was recently) offering their chop saws for free if you bought a lot of discs from them - it looked like a good program if you use hundreds of discs each year. You might want to check back with HF as they have just introduced a warrenty program on selected equipment. I bought a 16 speed benchtop drill press yesterday for $129 (sale price) and was offered a warrenty program. I declined as my old (and smaller) HF drill press is still running perfectly 15+ years later. One last note on HF - they send you discount coupons via email if you sign up for them. The drill press yesterday ended up costing me $117 (10% coupon) for their list price of $179 on sale for $129.
John

[PigTurd]

I have the yellow version that HF sells. Its normally 119, and it was on sale for 59 I believe. It works very well for what I need. I dont use it in a production environment, so its just fine for me.

Also, on those cheapo disks from HF.. They suck! Don't even bother with them. There are some things that cheap just doesnt work out. The saw is definately a good deal tho IMO.



Chris

[outraged]

Originally posted by davejurek
I've seen it mentioned and I am seriously thinking of buying it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44829

Does anyone here have the HF chop saw? How do you like it? Is it a good tool for the money? My catalog is listing is for $59 so just wondering if I should hold out for a better saw???

Dave
________

davejurek

i might have a small electrical problem in my shop, but lets just assume for a minute that i do not...
DONT BUY THIS CHOP SAW.
i went through 3 of them in about a month. twice, the motor burnt out and would shock me when i really didnt want to be shocked. the other time, i never even plugged it in. i put on a dewalt blade [dont trust those chineese blades] and the arm unit was way off center, it would hit the base not allowing the blade to spin freely.

so to make a long story short, i went out and bought a RIGID chop saw [after getting my money back for HF]. yeah not the top of the line, but 100% better than the HF models.

just my opinion. the RIGID was 179.00 at home depot. one thig i like about the RIGID, the backstop lets you cut a 45 degrees left and right. some dewalt and makita models have the tick marks for 45 degrees left and right, but really dont let you go both ways, theres something in the way, like a bolt or a something...

hope this helps.

-Outraged

[dysfunction]

You should be happy with the rigid, like you said aint top o the line, but its nice. I just killed one, course it's done umpteen cages, axles, wristed radius arms, bumpers, frames, etc, etc, etc.

[Tackweld]

First post at this site..Thanks goes to Hobart for the space and maintainence of this Message Board
I also have the Ridgid 14" from HD and use it quite a bit for hobby and side jobs, it's going on 3 yrs. now and no problems. Welded up a decent enough mobile stand with a wing support 20" off to the left and a removeable sliding stock stop on the right, the wing is long enough front to back to catch 45 deg. set-up and the s/s has a ~~ 30" capacity. I usually appreciate a reasonably accurate mitre, so I used a protractor against the disc and at 45 L/R and 90 Deg. drilled/ reamed for a #7 tapered pin through the back clamp and bed. I use the Dewalt 0.105" discs with very good results, If I'm cutting numerous torched drops from work, I'll switch to the cheap 1/8" discs.
On other BB's I've seen lots of folks arguing over chop vs. bandsaw... I'm about 85% done building the 7 x 12 V/H bandsaw in a LARGE part made w/ the chopsaw. J.A. Swann N.E. Ohio

[outraged]

Hey tackweld,

think you could get some pictures of your portable chop saw stand?? interested how you set everything up.

-Outraged

[Sundown]

I purchased one of the HF (#44821) saws about two months ago, I am a hobbyist also so it won't see much action (although I just retired last month so it might see more). I have used it so far to cut up 3/4 stock for a roof rack on my pickup and also made a log holder for firewood. For limited use it works ok, assuming you use a better blade (De Walt is what I use, and set up angles with a protractor). If I had to use it everyday I would purchase a Rigid or better one, but for my use its just fine. It's on sale at the local store here for $49.95 most all the time. Anyway that's my 2 cents.

Cheers, George

[Sundown]

Sorry guys my finger slipped, that HF Number should be #44829 not #44821

[Tackweld]

Sure I'll post a few after.....finding the digital camera (kids had it), spruce up the shop-arage a bit then fiddle around with the photo software & upload---could easily take days...ok probably by tonite.
JA Swann

[Tackweld]

I shot some pics of the chopsaw stand, and slid in a couple extra shots for fun...comment if you'd like. JA Swann

[Tackweld]

This is the stock stop, put together from odds and ends but works real well...

[Tackweld]

Tapered pin for the 45 L/R and 90 Degree stops, with a good quality disc and reasonable cutting pressure, accuracy is very good

[Tackweld]

The next couple- in no particular order- will show the V/H 7 x 12 metal bandsaw under construction, the corner of the shop where most of the electrodes are burned, and the mobile 12 ton hydraulic shop press completed recently.
I'd like to add I'm not a professional welder by any means, actually an Industrial Electrician by trade, but I sure enjoy cutting up the steel and welding all kinds of projects around here (Gantry Crane outside, all the accesories for my Honda Rubicon, Lathe stand, you know what I mean...) Anyways, Thanks for looking.
JA Swann

[Tackweld]

Shop-arage

[Tackweld]

Hydraulic Press

[cope]

Tackweld, that shop is too clean. You are supposed to show pics of works in progress. Very nice!

[Mowjunk]

I have to agree with you, Cope.

I wish you guys would stop posting pictures of clean shops. I think I read some where that a clean shop was an unproductive shop.:p

Now my wife sees this and wants to know why mine isn't like this one and that one. I'm running out of excuses.

Tackweld, you have some nice projects. It looks like you have been pretty busy. Good job and welcome to the forum.

And you do have a nice shop.........

[cope]

My son-in-law and I will be cleaning mine up after the 1st of the year. Then I will post some pictures. I took my MIG outside for a picture I posted; shop is too dirty and cluttered.

[Will]

Tackweld,
I like the bandsaw project. Do you have sketches or drawings with dimensions? If not maybe some close up pictures?

Thanks!

[Tackweld]

Will,
The bandsaw is 90% based on Dave & Vince Gingery's Book that you can get from www.Lindsaybks.com for around ~~ $10.
Do not bid for it on ebay under "metal bandsaw" catagory, just a re-seller. The book has quite a few mistakes, drilled hole diameters and dimensions, stock sizes specified, no allowances were made for angle iron inner corner radius fit-ups, etc. At this stage, I know for a fact that if the author was to try to build the saw >>to the book<< progress would come to a fast halt, nothing major, mostly holes not lining up -but to print -time & time again.. Better proof-reading would have helped here. I learned to "pre-engineer" the next part to the last of an assembly before the lay-out and build to be sure it would fit 1st time.
After all that..I can recommend this saw so far as I've built it, just pre-check all dim's and holes for fit-up. If you'd like any more details or more pics, let me know off-board and you got it..
JA Swann NE Ohio

[davejurek]

Very nice Tackleweld! Yes, your shop is very clean too!!

I appreciate the advice on the chop saw from HF. I am thinking i should buy a miter saw and use a metal cuttingblade in it when I need to cut metal. I also do assorted wood projects so it'd be nice to have one tool do both. Thoughts?

Dave

[Mowjunk]

Dave, if you use an abrasive blade, it will work. However, if you plan on using one of the carbide toothed blade, the saw will spin too fast. At least, this is what the DeWalt people told me. Maybe others here will have first hand experience with it. Hope this helps you....

[Tackweld]

Just a heads-up if anyone is interested--I have some Ridgid bolt dies to list later on Ebay so was checking out the competition, and "saw" this...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3100646657 No relation at all to seller or promoting Ridgid chopsaws in any way.
I'm not a coldsaw expert, but at work we coldsaw steel bars up to 7 5/8" dia. into billets for forging with carbide tip saws and those blades (usually around 30" dia) don't turn more than 150 rpm. 'Course all has to do with bar dia., steel grade, blade dia. and tooth count/style-no coolant is used except for S/S specials. And Wa-hoo, can these saws spit out the chips!

[Tim135]

I too looked at the HF saws and at discount tool stores in my area. Like somebody said, you have to spend about $150 to get a fairly good one. I ended up getting a Milwaukee 14" chop saw on sale for $152. I also found the 3/32" blades work best on this saw. That's what came with it originally although I had to look for that size until I found it at Home Depot under the Hilti brand for $6. Most places sell the 1/8" blades which are harder on the saw and make a bigger than necessary kerf. I looked into using a miter saw for cutting both metal and wood but I got the same advice which was don't do it. I don't think the miter saw has the hp or the rpm to do the job on metal. The Milwaukee has a nice heavy cast base and a 3.2 hp motor and I have had no touble with it cutting some fairly heavy stock. I also bought a brand name so I could get parts like brushes and service for it if I eventually need them. Hope this helps someone, Tim.