Cold, Dry, Band

[RussZHC]

So, having to finish through cuts of larger diameter bar (2" to 3"...its large for me ) by hand hacksaw gets old real quick...looked in past threads such as http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...light=dry+saws but a bit tough, that 3 letter word search dealy...
anyway, el-cheapo horizontal band, cold cut, or dry cut saw?

Thoughts?

Dry = 14" "chop" style saw but way slower (most under 1800 rpm), thinking Freud Diablo Steel Demon

Cold = similar yet different saw style, slower yet (many around 60 rpm), coolant

Horizontal band = "old" but functional technology, larger capacity, ability to start cutting and leave, possibly coolant, bi-metal blades relatively cheap, known functionality fixes

Got abrasive style chop saw and recip saw, not all that efficient IMO, really struggles with diameters mentioned above anyway...do use smaller grinder size cut-off blades for smaller diameters...

Also considering power hack saw but HSM size of those tend to be flimsy, though making one is certainly under consideration

[sch]

4x5 or 5x6 power band saw is hard to beat for price and convenience
turn it on, walk away, it cuts and then shuts itself off. Not noisy, blades inexpensive and most seem to be good for decades. Yahoo group on same with lots of mods. Flimsy stands need to be beefed up. Chop saw, you have to
stand there with screaming saw blade spitting out sparks applying down
pressure til cut is done. Ditto most but not all cold saws. Cold saws
are formidable piece of kit compared to chopsaw. Much quieter as blade
speed is 60 to 90 rpm. Blades expensive, coldsaws start at 4-500# and
go up from there. No doubt there are automatic cold saws but these will
be even bigger and more expensive than the manual variety. They cut
reasonable fast, about like band saw but you have to stand there and
apply pressure. 3" round close to the limit for a 10" cold saw blade.

Can't imagine hack sawing through a 3" round, you the man!

[Sleazey]

"Cold, dry, band" would be a great name for a band...

A bandsaw is the only way to go, unless you need to cut exotic materials. The other saws are much noisier, put a lot more crap in the air and on any surfaces nearby, and I dislike flying sparks.

[Toolguy]

I've used 'em all. I thought a cold saw would be the ideal thing until I hung off the end of the handle for a few hours. Hot saw - don't like them, maybe OK for cutting rebar outdoors. Power hacksaw - works good but very slow. Give me a bandsaw any day. The bandsaw has the most plusses and the least minuses of the bunch.

[adatesman]

If you're not looking for a great deal of precision (although it's possible to get if you take your time), it's hard to beat the convenience of a hand held bandsaw. Got mine at HF and it's a bit loud, but for under $100 it's quite handy.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...saw-47840.html

[danlb]

I have the 4x6 horizontal bandsaw and the HF portable mentioned above. I've used both to great effect.

With the handheld you will count on needing to clean up the ends. I've cut 3 inch aluminum AND 3 inch steel with mine.

A coldsaw, I've heard, will give you an end that does not need facing as well as being an accurate length.

Dan

[HWooldridge]

I've used a 14" chop saw for 30 years to cut all sorts of bar stock and it works just fine - BUT - it doesn't work well on anything other than steel. If I had to pick only one cut-off tool, it would be a horizontal band saw.

[Oldbrock]

Ditto on horizontal band saw, chop saw will leave ends of hi carbon or alloy steel with a cutter killing hard face and not to be used on non ferrous metal. Peter

[macona]

Manual cold saw is best for small batches and structural shapes. If you put on a coarse blade it will do better for solids.

Dont walk away from a cheap 4x6 bandsaw. The motor WILL die. Not maybe, the blade will catch and the motor will go up, sometimes in flames. Mine did and many others have had it happen. I now have a GE motor on it.

[914Wilhelm]

For years I used an abrasive chop saw and lived with ear plugs, goggles, sparks, and a mask. Also you get a stink on your skin from the process that takes days to wash off. I finally got a horizontal bandsaw and think I've gone to heaven. I've done hundreds of dry cuts on the same original Harbor Freight blade and its still going strong.