chop saws

[Mark Whiddon]

Hey guys,
I am in need of a new chop saw. I have it narrowed down to two. The dewalt 871 I believe, it is a 5.3 hp chop saw. The other is the Makita 2414 I think is the model number. Best I can tell the Makita is a 4hp model. Already have a band saw and a cheap HB frieght chop saw (underpowered). Please give your likes/dislikes of either/both, I would really appreciate it. Oh by the way there is about $30 difference in the two-Dewalt being higher. I have heard possible problems with the tooless vise on the Dewalt model (loosening up) so I am in need of your experience. Thanks Mark

[Arc Burn]

I have a multicutter Dewalt(carbide blade)and have the same vise and have never had any issues with it,i use this daily and couldn't think of living without it!Well,maybe i would live.....but i wouldn't like it

[CPB]

Mark, I have owned a Makita 2414NB for about 2 years and I have had no troubles other than a couple of stripped screws on the adjustable clamp. That was my fault because I let metal dust get between the threads. I should have taken the screws out and cleaned them off every once in a while. Other than that I have had no problems with the chopsaw.
CPB

[bluesman2a]

I'll second the reply about the multi-cutter Dewalt... It's a VERY handy piece of equipment when you're working with metal. Much cleaner than an abrasive chop-saw.

[Srubrn]

What kind of blde are ya'll using on these chop saws? Abrasive or metal cutting blade?

[jimic]

chop saw

I Also own the makita chop saw have for about a year with alot of use and have never had a problem with it

[cope]

chop saw

I have used a cheap Jepson, Milwaukee, Ryobi, DeWalt and Makita. Out of them all I like the Makita the best and I have two of them. They seem to be more durable.

[Arc Burn]

While we are on the subject,before i bought my Dewalt,i picked up a cheapo chinese unit at some traveling tool auction,the instructions and everything were actually written in chinese!i think i paid $75 for it and i'll be ****ed if it didn't lastjust over 4 years with zero problems,i can't begin to remeber all the projects that thing had built,the day i tossed her she owed me nothing,i'll never get over that thing!

[theshop]

i have a black and decker industrial.. i am told it is the same as the dewalt.. i have had it (8 or 9 years now may be more) since new and no problems with it.. it cuts very well and the cuts are right on.
no problems with 3 X 5 channel or 3x3 1/4 angle or 3 inch pipe.

[JohnV]

I have the Dewalt 871 and I love it....its a powerful beast...one thing that I will point out about the dewalt is the way the return spring on the saw is setup...in a vertical fashion which gives the Dewalt have a much better feel than other brands when moving the saw up and down......you will see what I mean if you try a few at the store....good luck!!

[Guest]

I have a DeWalt 871 at the shop and a Makita at home. I have yet to get a straight cut on the Dewalt....the problem lies in the design. The bed is sheet metal and bends when you pull the saw down, causing the blade to walk outward. The motor is fine, and the handle being horizontal puts the force too far away from the blade causing it to walk out, too. Where the hinge connects to the bed, the connect points are too close together, making it weak. Also the vise would give because it is made of too thin a material...I added gussets to mine, and got rid of that lame tooless business.
... On my Makita, the connect points are out to the corners of the bed and that saw being 10 years old still gives me perfect cuts.
Bottom line: go with the Makita

[jeffm]

Makita 2414B/N

Does the 'twin-pivot cutting head' make the 2414B a lot more preferable then the 2414BN? They both have the same cut capacity, 4.5"...

No local place seems to have these, the BN is available on the web for about $160 but the shipping must be murder. Do you guys ever bother shipping tools?

[JohnV]

Rocky D...you sure its a Dewalt 871 not 870?...I have a 871 that I recently purchased and it does not have a sheetmetal base....I think maybe its a cast piece(Saws at home and I am at work)...if you look at the pic below you can see that its not a sheetmetal base like the 870 unit...maybe they updated the design?


870


871

[cope]

Makita

My old one is a 2414 and the newer one a 2414B. Both are stamped steel bases. I like the cast base types better, but the base doesn't make a poor motor any better. Shipping on portable tools such as these isn't too bad.

[R. Nelson]

chopsaw

Originally posted by Arc Burn
While we are on the subject,before i bought my Dewalt,i picked up a cheapo chinese unit at some traveling tool auction,the instructions and everything were actually written in chinese!i think i paid $75 for it and i'll be ****ed if it didn't lastjust over 4 years with zero problems,i can't begin to remeber all the projects that thing had built,the day i tossed her she owed me nothing,i'll never get over that thing!

I bought a HB chop saw 3 years ago on sale, paid 69 bucks, came with an extra set of brushes,.....have used the **** out of it, and still have the extra brushes.