Chop Saw

[Seano]

Looking for a chop saw for the new workshop / garage have been looking at Evolution's but can't make my mind up on Raptor or Rage 3 sliding mitre anyone got any views.....

 

[Drains]

I have a Rage 3. Great for wood and Ally. The best features are the easy angle change - much easier than the abrasive style (like the Raptor). I wouldn't use it for steel though as you'd get through blades like nobodies business.

 

[Seano]

I have a Rage 3. Great for wood and Ally. The best features are the easy angle change - much easier than the abrasive style (like the Raptor). I wouldn't use it for steel though as you'd get through blades like nobodies business.

I thought the Raptor had a TC blade...?

 

[breezer]

I use one of the Rage 3's on steel and it copes very well, as soon as it starts to cut badly whip it off, send it away & get it sharpened.

If you leave it too long the tips will break off and you can't get them replaced.

 

[Seano]

I use one of the Rage 3's on steel and it copes very well, as soon as it starts to cut badly whip it off, send it away & get it sharpened.

If you leave it too long the tips will break off and you can't get them replaced.

excellent....

 

[Drains]

The Raptor should last longer as it has a slower tip speed (1600 m/min) whereas the rage 3 is 2000 m/min.

However if Breezer says the Rage is good for steel, I'm not going to argue! My main reason for not using the Rage on steel is I can't be bothered to have either a spare blade, or take a blunt one in for sharpening. Also I have other means of cutting steel. I like the Rage though.

 

[breezer]

Yeah - I keep a spare blade & post the dulling one off to norwich saw services.

Oddly enough I think the most damage done to the blade was by using it to chop through a pile of pallets for the fire (having broken them up first AND avoiding nails)

 

[inchpincher]

And get some quality ear defenders, those rage saws are LOUD!

 

[breezer]

Yes and a face shield too, as they have a habit of flicking bits up in your face

 

[Robotstar5]

Yes and a face shield too, as they have a habit of flicking bits up in your face

They have a habit of flicking bits (lots of them) everywhere

 

[Windy Miller]

Gav the Welder has a chop saw for sale...

 

[paul_f]

How much does it cost to have the blade sharpened? I was going to buy another blade as mine is blunt (from cutting a lot of wood)

 

[breezer]

£17 When I last had mine done

 

[Mick Annick]

Pardon my ignorance of these matters, but can you sharpen TCT blades?

 

[breezer]

Yep, about £17 for one of the Rage 3 ones (the smaller of the two)

 

[bigtip]

how much metal (steel) can you actually cut before sharpening these blades?

 

[hotrodder]

On the off chance that no one has kept a cutting diary Evolution claim something like upto 750 cuts in steel for the Rage (cut off/chop saw type). They claim higher blade life for their proper 'steel' range (1000 cuts? but then the blades cost more...) but obviously those numbers don't mean much in the real world- light versus heavy wall, mitre cuts on square/rectangular tube are harder on the blade than 90* cuts on round tube etc

 

[bigtip]

ideally i would like a full scientific study with footnotes and references and stuff

the 750 cuts figure is a bit vague as you say. i usually would need it for 3 mm or 5mm angle which would be a hell of a lot different than cutting curtain poles...

what i really want is a power hacksaw but i can't find one cheap enough/near enough.