- Thread starter chunkytfg
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I must admit One of those would be nice but when I made an off hand comment about the randomness of seeing a plasma cutter in Lidl the other day to her she shot me down so fast I definitely decided it was probably not the best idea to go looking for a proper one! Especially that Rtech one thats in the for sale section!
Donkey saw was high on my list, but it needs room to work. The band saw I bought and modified to cut metal is heaven to use. Thin 4.5 inch discs are messy still, but I've used a lot of them. Vice and hacksaw when I was young and skint...
Something like a Donkey saw I agree would be awesome but operating out of a wide single garage that already houses a Cabinet saw, 5' x 3' work bench, Band saw, Mitre saw, Thickneser, Router table and a 4' x 4' CNC router I'm not exactly overrun with spare space. Hence looking for a handheld option.
MetalMonkey
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If you have a lot to do, a band saw or donkey saw or cut off saw is the way to go - depending on how much you want to spend, how quickly you need to make the cuts and how much noise you can tolerate.
If you only have a few to do, I prefer a hand held bandsaw over an angle grinder as it makes much more accurate cuts and a lot more civilised to use - no sparks, no noise. The downside is the cost.
I've not tried a metal cutting circ saw, but seen quite a few people using them with good effect.
If you only have a few to do, I prefer a hand held bandsaw over an angle grinder as it makes much more accurate cuts and a lot more civilised to use - no sparks, no noise. The downside is the cost.
I've not tried a metal cutting circ saw, but seen quite a few people using them with good effect.
Erie Fred
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Here are the blades, what is your saw rpm ?Just to add another option.
I already own this
Is there a blade that'll work in this for cutting steel, or does it spin too fast?
FWIW before I bought my metal cutting circular saw, I simply bought the blade,
and put it on a garage sale find cheap circular saw, worked fine.
Onoff
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Dr.Al
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I've got one of the DCS553Z metal-cutting circular saws and for me it sits there in the category of "one of the best tools I ever bought".
Yes, you can do the same thing with a slitting disc in the angle grinder, but it's dusty and relatively slow and it chews through discs (especially if you're doing relatively deep cuts where a reduced diameter disc doesn't help).
The Makita saw cuts amazingly quickly (I used it to cut some 6 mm steel bar recently and it went through it at the rate I'd expect a normal circular saw to go through a bit of hardwood) and catches most of the swarf its little hopper thing, making for a very easy clean-up. It's also really quick and easy (with a simple jig made from two bits of wood screwed together) to get precisely square (or mitred, with a similar jig) cuts in exactly the right place on box section or sheet.
Is it an essential tool? No, of course not. Would I ever sell it? Not a chance.
Yes, you can do the same thing with a slitting disc in the angle grinder, but it's dusty and relatively slow and it chews through discs (especially if you're doing relatively deep cuts where a reduced diameter disc doesn't help).
The Makita saw cuts amazingly quickly (I used it to cut some 6 mm steel bar recently and it went through it at the rate I'd expect a normal circular saw to go through a bit of hardwood) and catches most of the swarf its little hopper thing, making for a very easy clean-up. It's also really quick and easy (with a simple jig made from two bits of wood screwed together) to get precisely square (or mitred, with a similar jig) cuts in exactly the right place on box section or sheet.
Is it an essential tool? No, of course not. Would I ever sell it? Not a chance.
I've never tried it - but why would that be ? (I hate blunt hacksaws)
Pigeon_Droppings2
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+1 for the mini portable band saws...cutting with angle grinders gets old quick!
I have the Scheppach mbs1200...will eventually make a table for it too but that's for a future project.
I have the Scheppach mbs1200...will eventually make a table for it too but that's for a future project.
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Sorry to hijack the thread but tell me more! Might need that for my big 3 phase 60amp plasma when I finally finish off my CNC plasma cutter.
A lot easier to take the saw to the work - especially on long pieces!
Interesting thank you.
I must admit the videos I've found on YouTube doing reviews did seem to indicate it would be a good buy but until you actually try it you never really know.
The jig you've made and linked to I normally just use a framing square to do the same thing although the ability to clamp it in place and then make the cut would ensure it is in precisely the right place.
I wasnt knocking it for one minute. It was more an unexpected thing to find. Yes I'm used to seeing the Parkside stuff in there when I occasionally visit lidl but it wouldnt occur to me they would sell a plasma cutter! It just seemed a bit too specialist compared to the usual gardening tools and drills and saws etc.
I have a parkside Recip saw that is really good. I very rarely use it so it has never been upgraded to a 18v Makita variant, but every time I use it I'm impressed.
Dr.Al
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Yep, any sort of square does the job perfectly well. I just like the fact that the fence gets cut by the saw and hence it guarantees you'll always cut in the right place. Having a fairly big bit of plywood helps as well: I rarely bother to clamp it - there isn't a lot of lateral force when using the DCS553, so it's very easy to hold the fence in the right place.
Agroshield
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Just for completeness, to give the OP a round picture, should we say that this type of saw is not so great on thin sheet? I mention it as in the top post, he says he comes from a woodworking background, where a circular saw will cut anything from veneer to double its full depth.
