Power hacksaw or cut-off grinder?

[brewdexta]

Although I have the room for a power hacksaw, and I have no neigbours to complain about the noise of a grinder, I'm still at a loss to which one to get.

I'll be using it for home projects, box section up to a max 100mm very occasionally, mainly smaller around 50mm. I can probably pick up an old huge power hacksaw for £50 to £100 or so and a large cut off grinder from a decent make for around £200.

Any opinions?

 

[ronan]

I'd go for the hacksaw, i hate grinding , dust everywhere and too much noise. You can set up a power hacksaw to cut away itself and do other work.

 

[Shox Dr]

Cut off saw: Dust, and lots of it. Noisy, Can't be left to get on cutting. Portable

Bandsaw/powersaw: No dust. Relatively quite. Can't be left to cut. Not so portable. Better cut as well

 

[Luke]

I'd say bandsaw over power saw, unless you can find a really nice old power saw.

I've got a cheap band saw, it's been absolutely great for the last 3 years. Cuts accurate enough for me (no detectable error with a square on a cut through 70mm box), is quiet and looks after itself.

 

[armalites]

I use a Dewalt DW872 TCT chop saw.

It certainly doesn't generate any dust? Sure there are metal chips which are easily picked up with one of these

http://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/... Swarf Collector 0849713000408 Cyclonecollect

The blade runs quite slow and you get very few sparks and the cut requires no more finishing than a hacksaw.

Yes it can't be left alone but it goes through box section in no time so that is hardly an issue.

Also useful for cutting loads of other stuff like plastic pipe etc.

In home use the blade will last forever as long as it's not abused.

 

[gavuk]

I'm with Luke cheap bandsaw for me ...

 

[brewdexta]

Thanks guys

The TCT chops saw sounds a good compromise, a bit more money but portable and accurate.

Cheers
Andy

 

[chunkolini]

I have the same chop saw as armalites and have used it for 6 years, nice piece of kit.
There is one on fleabay that he will take £225.00 instead of £300 odd new, looks a good buy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DeWalt-DW...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43b753c76a
Just dont be clever and try cutting three tubes one inside the other and wreck the blade.

 

[armalites]

I have the same chop saw as armalites and have used it for 6 years, nice piece of kit.
There is one on fleabay that he will take £225.00 instead of £300 odd new, looks a good buy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DeWalt-DW...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item43b753c76a
Just dont be clever and try cutting three tubes one inside the other and wreck the blade.

We should start a club.....

I cut a link on a piece of chain the first day I had mine, the chain broke free and smashed a load of teeth on the blade.So don't be clever and do that either

 

[brewdexta]

Sounds a good deal on the cut off saw, moved to the top of my list.

Just as a matter of interest, this one is way too expensive for an old power hacksaw however I've seen a few the same recently, looks like something like a rapidor with a safety cover - anybody any idea what they are? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Power-hacksaw-/271131509392?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item3f20b28290

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've a Clarke band saw and a Rage chop saw. The Rage is my weapon of choice most of the time. There again if i had a large power hacksaw then that would go top of the list. My list in order of preference -
Power hacksaw
Rage chop saw
Band saw.

Paul H

 

[garethp]

I've a Clarke band saw and a Rage chop saw.

Paul H

I've got both as well but I use the bandsaw for metal now and dont even consider using the chop saw. I used the last Rage I had on some steel and it was incredibly noisy with chips flying everywhere and wouldnt produce a decent finish on wood afterwards. The bandsaw is quiet and can be left to get on with the cut.

 

[ukracer]

I've a Clarke band saw and a Rage chop saw. The Rage is my weapon of choice most of the time. There again if i had a large power hacksaw then that would go top of the list. My list in order of preference -
Power hacksaw
Rage chop saw
Band saw.

Paul H

Why do people without Large power hacksaw say they would put it at top of the list, when those of us with power hacksaw would prefer a horizontal bandsaw.

I am seriously thinking of putting my single phase power hacksaw on ebay and getting a band saw. MY mates swear by the band saw they have.

 

[brightspark]

Why do people without Large power hacksaw say they would put it at top of the list, when those of us with power hacksaw would prefer a horizontal bandsaw.

I am seriously thinking of putting my single phase power hacksaw on ebay and getting a band saw. MY mates swear by the band saw they have.

it depends on how much metal u are cutting and if u need it fast . i pay a quid for the hss blades for the mechanical saw and last ages if your using a bandsaw your better off getting a good quality hss blade which is expensive for a lot of fast cutting

 

[ukracer]

it depends on how much metal u are cutting and if u need it fast . i pay a quid for the hss blades for the mechanical saw and last ages if your using a bandsaw your better off getting a good quality hss blade which is expensive for a lot of fast cutting

where do you get HSS blades for a quid mine are a fortune.

 

[brightspark]

where do you get HSS blades for a quid mine are a fortune.

from the autojumbles ruffoth near york i use 14 inch blades but u can get the 16 inch ones sometimes cheap . all i do is use a masonary drill and sharpen it to a regular twist drill ; spot heat the hss saw blade with oxy acet torch till red and use a pillar drill to drill it grind across the blade 2 inch shorter and snap it off

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Why do people without Large power hacksaw say they would put it at top of the list, when those of us with power hacksaw would prefer a horizontal bandsaw.

I am seriously thinking of putting my single phase power hacksaw on ebay and getting a band saw. MY mates swear by the band saw they have.

I used to have access to power hacksaw at the same time as my bandsaw & chop saw therefore have "hands on" experience. The power hacksaw was at a college and I'd take items there to be cut rather than doing it at home.

It'd be a very boring world if we all like the same thing

Paul

 

[zzr1200]

If you have the space and can find one a "Rapidor power hacksaw" would be my weapon of choice, I had one and have cut 100mm x 150mm x 8mm box with it, set it up and start cutting put the kettle on, something a chopsaw will never do.

I had to get rid of it due to my divorce (no place or space to keep it), loosing the hacksaw was heart wrenching, the ex-wife less so (definately...), now have a chopsaw, answer is simple, a powered hacksaw.

 

[brewdexta]

Thanks for all the info, at first there was too many options but I'm seeing a pattern appear now

I've got my eye on a couple of Rapidors and Qualter and Smith power hacksaws, if I can get these at the right moeny including delivery (nicest one is currently in Lowestoft and would require about 70 quid of palletline) then I'll go for that.

I do like the TCT cut-off saw too, especially the portability so if I don't see what I want on the power hacksaw front then this may be my next choice and I may eventually get one anyway if needs arise and one appears at the right money.

I've already got a big pack of power hacksaw blades from my dad, probably from Rufforth autojumble, he's always there looking for old bike bits. I'll check out the size to see if they fit what I'm looking at, although looks like there are ways of shortening them like Brightspark suggests. Not sure about stretching them though

The reason that I'm not that keen on bandsaws is that I have 2 for wood, one a large Startrite machine. Both can be a pig to set up and cut straight, especially after changing blades, can be done but can take a lot of time.

From what I remember from college days (over 30 years ago!), the key to keeping a straight cut on a power hacksaw is to have lots of tension on the blade and keep it cool so the blade doesn't expand and lose tension, so suds is a good thing for accuracy.

Cheers
Andy

 

[chevy2]

For anyone considering welding/fabricating long term you cant beat a cold saw,
For those not aware of them they're a slow rotating chop saw with a toothed blade that runs coolant on the blade, most fabrication shops run them,
Yes they're a bigger outlaw but they benefit from accurate cutting, zero dust, low noise and low cost blade resharpening, my last blade cost around £8.
Had my cold saw over 20 years.

This looks not bad on ebay...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10-Cold-M...832&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=160949506102&