recommendations for small chopsaw or bandsaw?

[gasket999]

Hi folks.

I'm looking to buy a small chopsaw or a bandsaw - the grinder is just too much work and makes too much mess. This would be to cut steel bar, angle and box section as well as some aluminium strip/extrusion (happy to have two blades).

Its for a domestic garage, but physical size is essential as I have very little space available to store it.

The Rage4 saw looks utterly perfect - small, inexpensive and they have different blades available for different materials (even though evolution support have told me that they're not intended to be used on the Rage4, they seem to physically fit)... but the reviews of the blades seem to say that they don't last long and they're an odd size (185mm) so limited suppliers of generic discs.

An abrasive chop saw will do the job great, but they tend to be much bigger and the mess is too much.

Was considering a small porta-band type bandsaw with a table attachment, but I'd love to be able to cut consistent sizes without having to guide the workpiece.

I guess that a power hacksaw would be the best thing, but I just don't have the space for one.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[julianf]

The large (12" ish) blades for my rage2 are way more expensive than they used to be.

I only use it for wood, but people say they don't last so long with metal. Fine if it's earning money, but may be a consideration otherwise.

It's way larger than you want, and won't do angles, but my rapidor power hacksaw is a dream to use. I should get rid of it as it does take up too much room for how often I use it, but it is just so good at what it does.

I mention it in case you can find a smaller one? I mean I know they make tiny ones but I don't know if they're any good or not.

 

[striker]

I went from a 6x4 Chinese bandsaw to a top of the range evolution. Big mistake, noisy as hell, makes a huge mess, sending chips everywhere and the blades are really expensive.
Shame as I'd fettled the bandsaw to be really good. So when I sold in the evolution to buy another Chinese 6x4 bandsaw, I had to modify and improve it all over again..
Don't make the mistake I did!!!

 

[highseas]

i used to have a abrasive drop saw, but sold it for a little warco 6x4 bandsaw and its epic, my go to metal cutting method, i can set it upa nd just leave it doing its thing, while ime welding the last bit. highly recomended for box,tube ect

 

[cheb]

Would a Kennedy power hacksaw be suitable, they come up on Ebay from time to time. They use a halved hand hacksaw blade.

 

[cheb]

I had a Stayer circular hacksaw that was good, it had to be used with coolant so was quite messy.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Small portable bandsaw is the way to go...forget the rage saw with the multi purpose blades....they're bloomin awful.

 

[cheb]

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/stayer-tf84-cold-cut-saw.106440/

I have a vague memory of the fella who bought trying to sell it again on here.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Scheppach is the one I have...they sell them in tool station.

 

[Tom O]

i used to have a abrasive drop saw, but sold it for a little warco 6x4 bandsaw and its epic, my go to metal cutting method, i can set it upa nd just leave it doing its thing, while ime welding the last bit. highly recomended for box,tube ect

That’s like buying a hammer and complaining about the noise.

 

[Robbie260]

I have a rage 4 it’s an alright saw if I had the time to tweak it a bit it wouldn’t be difficult to improve it. Did manage to find a new blade for it more suited to metal cutting, yet to give it a go as haven’t worn out the old one yet.

TCT Circular Blade 185mm x 60T Metal Cutting | Saxton Blades

TCT Circular Blade 185mm x 60T Metal

www.saxtonblades.co.uk

Like my evolution mag drill and steel circular saw they do the job considering what you pay for them.

 

[AlexBrown_1]

I got a cheap second hand Clarke bandsaw and got a good blade from tuffsaws and I love it. Cuts some very thick steel round. Cost me £60 I think but I was looking for a while

 

[AlexBrown_1]

I got a cheap second hand Clarke bandsaw and got a good blade from tuffsaws and I love it. Cuts some very thick steel round. Cost me £60 I think but I was looking for a while

Tell a lie - it's draper. Six of one though I guess

 

[AVI_8]

I have a rage 4 it’s an alright saw if I had the time to tweak it a bit it wouldn’t be difficult to improve it. Did manage to find a new blade for it more suited to metal cutting, yet to give it a go as haven’t worn out the old one yet.

TCT Circular Blade 185mm x 60T Metal Cutting | Saxton Blades

TCT Circular Blade 185mm x 60T Metal

www.saxtonblades.co.uk

Like my evolution mag drill and steel circular saw they do the job considering what you pay for them.

I’ve been looking for one as well, think I’m going to go for the an evolution sliding chop saw, one of the reasons is having the metal blade which should make a lot less dusty mess and they say makes a cleaner cut.

 

[bricol]

I have a big Rage chop saw - cuts well. But noisy, and chucks chips everywhere. And can rip tips off through box section.

Bought a cheapo Aldi bandsaw . . . so good I bought another for when I wear it out - which doesn't seem to be happening. Had to improve the vice - but there are others out there that seem pretty much the same saw ith better vices.

 

[gasket999]

Right so the consensus seems to be a bandsaw.

Plenty around that are really made for wood, so need to chose one that can cut decent thickness box section. Is there such a thing as a metal cutting blade or is it just a case of getting a powerful one?

In terms of size I would only have a very small footprint to keep it on a benchtop. So it either needs to be a physically small (but powerful) one… or in the US the portaband units with an aftermarket table seem to be quite popular.

 

[tom2207]

Right so the consensus seems to be a bandsaw.

Plenty around that are really made for wood, so need to chose one that can cut decent thickness box section. Is there such a thing as a metal cutting blade or is it just a case of getting a powerful one?

In terms of size I would only have a very small footprint to keep it on a benchtop. So it either needs to be a physically small (but powerful) one… or in the US the portaband units with an aftermarket table seem to be quite popular.

start with a horizontal , not a vertical , way easier to find second hand

 

[gasket999]

Thank you. Quick look points to these Italian made ones at Stakesys: https://stakesys.co.uk/metal-cuttin...-head-portable-metal-cutting-bandsaw-230-volt

That takes care of the chop saw element. There is a fractionally cheaper one, but you need to buy the base separately and it only does straight cuts without moving the workpiece.

Stakesys also sell a table attachment for these Femi ones https://stakesys.co.uk/metal-cutting-bandsaws/femi-vertical-table-for-782xl_fvt2 . But it’s an extra £90. So that’d be nearly £500 for the lot.

So - if I could get a Chinese equivalent that folds down in a similar way then I think I’d be sorted. I think I have just enough wall space to put one on a dedicated shelf provided it folded down like in the photo.

 

[fractured]

I have one of these and I think it's a good tool. It can screech a bit, but it's far better to use than an abrasive chop saw. There is hot swarf produced but nothing like the fan of sparks created with an abrasive unit.

LC1230N - TCT CUT-OFF SAW

Product

makitauk.com

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

A few people on here have converted the portable band saw version and added a cutting table.