Anyone Smart On Cold Saws?

[ARAMP1]

I've got a chop saw and always wished that the cut was a little more accurate, so I think I'm in the market for a cold saw. Problem is I don't know where to even start. I just gave a quick look on evilbay and there were a few there that were EXPENSIVE. For the price of $2K, I'll probably be buying a plasma cutter first. Anyway, any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Muddytazz]

My opinion.....a cold saw is no more accurate than a chop saw. You are still using a big ass radiac wheel to cut the steel that will flex just as much with either machine.

 

[kyser_soze]

I just bought a Dewalt DW872 Multi-Cutter saw with steel blade refurbished for 389.00. 14 inch blade and I like the quick adjustment for the clamp down. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[rdn2blazer]

My opinion.....a cold saw is no more accurate than a chop saw. You are still using a big ass radiac wheel to cut the steel that will flex just as much with either machine.

I would think a cold saw would be way more accurate then an abrasive saw by far. Never used one but just the fact it's got teeth "cutting" through material vs an abrasive friction grinding it's way through makes ALOT of difference. Especially being carbide toothed cutting cleanly into and through stuff. No heat or very very little in the material, if it's a coolent feed saw no heat at all. No sparks to deal with. No crazy razor sharp bur at the bottom of the cut. Like a good band saw blade cuts a piece of all thread that you can screw a nut directly on to without having to debut it, where an abrasive saw you never can.

 

[ktmoutfront]

Love my cold saw. Less noise. No metal spray. No deflection. No grinding when you are done. Keep the blade sharp and you will love it.

This is the one I have. Can not do big stuff. But cuts everything I've needed it too. Got a floor model for $600 shipped with 2 new blades. Also use a good coolant. Tried the cheap stuff and it kept separating from the water.

http://www.vansantent.com/willy_cold_saw.htm

 

[ARAMP1]

Love my cold saw. Less noise. No metal spray. No deflection. No grinding when you are done. Keep the blade sharp and you will love it.

This is the one I have. Can not do big stuff. But cuts everything I've needed it too. Got a floor model for $600 shipped with 2 new blades. Also use a good coolant. Tried the cheap stuff and it kept separating from the water.

http://www.vansantent.com/willy_cold_saw.htm

Damn, $600! That's half price. What's a good coolant?

 

[ktmoutfront]

I bought a bottle from them. Don't remember what it was. They recommended it. Bought some at a local store here, and it didn't work well.

 

[rdn2blazer]

A cold saw has been on my big wish list for years. One day.....one day.

 

[sixb]

I bought my Scotchman cold saw used back in 1994 for around 2500.00 with an auto vice. It has been a great saw and we use to hold .005 with it but no longer need to with the new machine tools. I just don't see having one for home use being all that affordable At home I use a Milwaukee carbide tipped chop saw which works very well. My cold saw isn't carbide tipped and only has like 22/44 rpms. My band saw would work great for home use and is probably the most affordable way to cut steel but it does take up some floor space. I put mine on bigger swivel casters.

 

[folkenheath]

I don't have a cold saw(fluid cooled), but I do have one of the new milwaukee dry cut saws, ordered it to my door for under $400 and I love it. It works so well you can cut thin slivers and make washers with DOM tubing. It doesn't leave burrs melted metal on the finished cut, and no big dusty mess either. Plus you can cut aluminum with it if you want, I've tried it without issue.

It is more expensive than the abrasive, but blades last a lot longer. Also, the piece if usually cool enough you can pick it up immediately after you cut it(as long as it isn't a tiny piece), and you spend much less time deburring, etc. I do not want to go back to a chopsaw.

However, the piece to be cut needs to be clamped down firmly, so if you tend to make a lot of funny cuts while holding the piece of metal (dangerous anyway) you cannot do that with this machine at all.

With this dry cut machine you can shave a half a blade width off the end of a piece of steel, no way you can do that with a regular abrasive chopsaw. Also, it cuts at least twice as fast (some say 3-5x as fast) as a chopsaw.

One thing to mention, with many tools Milwaukee and dewalt are comparible, but not this. The milwaukee has a solid cast aluminum base and feels very sturdy, the dewalt unit has a stamped steel base that doesn't even compare.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/...toff-machines/14-inch-dry-cut-machine/6190-20

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6190-20-14-Inch-Cutoff-Machine/dp/B00023S336?tag=533633849-20

 

[sixb]

I don't have a cold saw(fluid cooled), but I do have one of the new milwaukee dry cut saws, ordered it to my door for under $400 and I love it. It works so well you can cut thin slivers and make washers with DOM tubing. It doesn't leave burrs melted metal on the finished cut, and no big dusty mess either. Plus you can cut aluminum with it if you want, I've tried it without issue.

It is more expensive than the abrasive, but blades last a lot longer. Also, the piece if usually cool enough you can pick it up immediately after you cut it(as long as it isn't a tiny piece), and you spend much less time deburring, etc. I do not want to go back to a chopsaw.

However, the piece to be cut needs to be clamped down firmly, so if you tend to make a lot of funny cuts while holding the piece of metal (dangerous anyway) you cannot do that with this machine at all.

With this dry cut machine you can shave a half a blade width off the end of a piece of steel, no way you can do that with a regular abrasive chopsaw. Also, it cuts at least twice as fast (some say 3-5x as fast) as a chopsaw.

One thing to mention, with many tools Milwaukee and dewalt are comparible, but not this. The milwaukee has a solid cast aluminum base and feels very sturdy, the dewalt unit has a stamped steel base that doesn't even compare.

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/...toff-machines/14-inch-dry-cut-machine/6190-20

http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6190-20-14-Inch-Cutoff-Machine/dp/B00023S336

That's the same saw I have at home and I to love it.

 

[Captainfab]

I've had my DeWalt DW872 for about 3 years and really don't have any complaints. Before I bought, I did do some research, and was going back and forth between the Dewalt and the Milwaukee. At the time it seems like the Milwaukee was about $80.00 more. Then I found a deal on the Dewalt. It was on sale, and included a free 28402 grinder, so I went with it. I'm not crazy about the stamped steel base, but I haven't had any problems with it. Of course when I bought it, I had plans of converting it to a real cold saw, so the base didn't matter much to me. But that hasn't happened yet.

 

[rdn2blazer]

About 6 or 7 years ago I bought a Dewalt abrasive chop saw since I had a gift certificate for $100 bucks from Sears. I just paid the difference. Now I had had one years before.....Before I had a horizontal/vertical band saw. I though maybe I still "needed" one. I used it ONE time only in the four or so years I had it. I used my cheap band saw for everything.

I ended up selling it to a CK5 member about two years ago for a great deal. Only time since selling it I could have used it was cutting all the rebar for pouring my concrete in my back yard I did since buying my house. But my friend who did the concrete had a circular saw with an abrasive blade on it and it was alot faster then using the chop saw would have been anyways. Cut three bars at a time without having the clamp anything.

 

[Vetteracerx]

I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-1410-14-Inch-Cutoff-Machine/dp/B0000222X3
and a Dewalt 14" abrasive chop box. The cold saw is way better.

 

[ryoken]

I run the he!! out of my 14" abrasive chopsaw.... next purchase is a horizontal bandsaw...