help with cutting tools

[crazystuff]

hi
I have been cutting a lot of 3 mm thick flat bar and a selection of round bar up to about 8 mm recently and as the good old hack saw is slow and tiring when cutting repeated lengths and an angle grinder aint much better leaving a nice burr that then takes up more time to remove have been looking at getting a guillotine/shear

have been wondering if this Clarke (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cps200-metal-shears) one is worth the money and if it would do decent job also seen a sealey on ebay ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3S-6R-SEA...438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item337c12edee) claims to cut thicker material for not much more money so opinions on these two bits of kit please

also this has confused me more as an option for if i need to cut box section or angle iron etc (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/fury-3-mitre-saw?da=1&TC=RV-060119908) so can some one point me in the right direction

 

[wotwot]

I just googled slow cut saw and came up with a few on fleebay this is just one of many its a 110v. but there are 240v as well.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfra-14-...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item19d5ad18f3

 

[cumbriasteve]

How much cutting do you actually do and how fast do you need it done.

Shears are obviously fast but you don't get a perfect cut if thats important.

I favour a bandsaw, nice clean cuts, very little mess, no sparks or hot bits flying around and they can be cutting while you get on with something else.

For speed though a circular disc/blade machine is better.

 

[astro_al]

8mm is nothing. I have various saws and guillotines, personally I'd use the hacksaw for that.

You get faster at it.

Al

 

[crazystuff]

dont do an awful lot of cutting but would like something fast ish as only do this as a hobby so its in my spare time so want to make the most of of the time i have and precision isnt of the essence

a band saw is a bit out of my price range the tools i have lised are about top money i can pay and for my usual flat bar and small round band saw seems over kill to me

 

[crazystuff]

i know 8 mm is nothing just gets boring stood at he vise for ages making multiple cuts

 

[500e]

http://www.comeq.com/geka/mcrops.htm
Most second hand machine sales people will have at least one older model
Lot of second hand stuff out there. 3 mm trip 8mmbar would think short life on those cutters.
How much do you have to cut? is there an on going need to cut this type of material if so the Gekas will last for most of your life ours is 40 yeas old & still punches 1. 1/2Inch holes in 1/4 plate with no problem cuts bar flat strip, <, no problem

 

[crazystuff]

dont think i need or will ever need a Hydraulic iron worker for my little hobby

 

[astro_al]

Just buy a cheap abrasive chop saw if you want to save some elbow grease, its all you need and all I had for years with no problems.

Honestly though, you can over-rate expensive tools. It takes me longer to set up and cut an 8mm bar on the bandsaw than it does to cut by hand. The time argument doesn't work for stock of this size.

Cheers, Al

 

[MattF]

If he's cutting lots of short lengths though, the time for cutting, tidying up the ends etc. will be quite time consuming, and tiring after a while. I'd think the simplest option would be a little mechanical hacksaw. Put a length stop on it for quick measurement, then a quick flick of the vice handle, slide the metal along and leave it to it.

 

[gavuk]

My hacksaw is all but replaced by a 1mm cutting disc in a 4 1/2" grinder

 

[astro_al]

I'd think the simplest option would be a little mechanical hacksaw. Put a length stop on it for quick measurement, then a quick flick of the vice handle, slide the metal along and leave it to it.

Well thats even slower than a bandsaw! Plus it doesnt help with deburring. Also, the concept of semi automatic sawing with 8mm round or 3mm flat is completely useless. By the time you walk away from the saw, it has finished. I bet I could do it in half the time by hand, for say, 10 or 20 cuts.

I agree that if it's a LOT of cuts, then manual cutting gets boring & slows down, but 8mm is tiny, really.

I think an abrasive chop saw or what gavuk said is probably the sensible hobby-budget approach.

Crazystuff, your original idea of a cropper could be a goer. I can't comment on those modern ones I'm afraid. Perhaps someone who has used one of those models will read this, but they are quick, especially if you can devise a length-stop setup for one.

Al

 

[MattF]

Also, the concept of semi automatic sawing with 8mm round or 3mm flat is completely useless. By the time you walk away from the saw, it has finished.

That's a fair point.

 

[inchpincher]

My hacksaw is all but replaced by a 1mm cutting disc in a 4 1/2" grinder

^ +1. can't remember a day when I didn't use a cutting disc for something, shred through 8mm bar rod and 3mm flat like the prevebial hot knife. I use a bit of RSJ to elevate it off the ground and my boot to clamp it

 

[""kb]

Band saw ,, 8m bar 3 seconds or less a cut.

 

[chunkolini]

I had a set of the Sealey shears, crap is the best word to describe them.
For chopping bar I use a set of humungous bolt cutter mounted in a vice, very quick and accurate, cuts 10mm easily and just about manages 13mm.
For strip a set of decent bench shears is the quickest way to go.

 

[astro_al]

Yes, but that's not a fair reflection of the complete cycle time on a repeat basis. You couldn't cut 10 in 30 seconds, for example. Open vice, align stock, close clamp, lower blade, switch on, set feed rate, cut, catch off-cut, stack, repeat.

Al

PS, addressing ""kb's post

 

[wombar]

If you did decide to go for something like an Evolution to cut box section, Screwfix are having a sale on those at the moment. I bought the 255mm version last week for £220 and saw it had dropped to £165 a couple days ago. They were nice enough to refund the difference which I was pretty happy about.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/evolution-rage-3-255mm-compound-sliding-mitre-saw-230v/65730

I've only used it a few times, but it does a good job from what I can tell. Not super quiet, but better than an angle grinder

 

[""kb]

Yes, but that's not a fair reflection of the complete cycle time on a repeat basis. You couldn't cut 10 in 30 seconds, for example. Open vice, align stock, close clamp, lower blade, switch on, set feed rate, cut, catch off-cut, stack, repeat.

Al

PS, addressing ""kb's post

Same could be said for any set up, I was just stating actual cut time , I regally cut 200/400 8m bar but I made a jig to do 10 at a time, the cut time would be less than 30 seconds and reset for next cut about 10 seconds, got it off to a fine art.