Harbor Freight Chop Saw

[davejurek]

I've seen it mentioned and I am seriously thinking of buying it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44829

Does anyone here have the HF chop saw? How do you like it? Is it a good tool for the money? My catalog is listing is for $59 so just wondering if I should hold out for a better saw???

Dave

[super vw]

one of my friends from school just got one a while ago and he said its decent for the money, but i dont know for myself. to me it looks alright, but i would want to use onw before i buy one.

BTW they go for $49.99 here

[morpheus]

I have that saw, it's ok for the $59 I paid for it. to me it depends on how much you're going to use it if you should save and buy a more expensive one (a good one starts at about $150). if you're only going to use it occasionally, yeah, it works great. if I you're planning on using it ALOT then I'd get something better. compared to the more $$$ units it just doesn't have enough amps and the clamping mechanism isn't the best.

good luck.

- jack

[Mark Whiddon]

I agree with Morph, I have one too. A bigger motor would be nice to have. One thing I found that makes it cut MUCH better is using thinner blades .Get the 3/32 " blades, they are a little harder to find, but work better. They will flex a bit more than 1/8" blades so you will have to have a lighter hand when you start the cut, but once you are into the metal they do pretty decent. Just understand that the (any) chop saw is NOT a precision cutting instrument. A band saw will cut more precisely.

[davejurek]

Really. I've got a lot of 3/4 x 3/4 square tubing to cut with a number of 45 degree angles.

The price tag is attractive. If you add the 5 pack of blades, its $79, still relatively cheap.

Dave

[morpheus]

in my experience those cheap blades do not last long at all and are not worth their cost. buy a decent deWalt or other name brand abrasive disk.

- jack

[John Stuckey]

I have purchased two - an old 12" model and a newer (10+ years ago) 14" saw from HF. I am a hobby welder and use them for cutting square steel tubing for projects including work benches for general use, nursery potting benches, carts, various equipment stands, etc. I don't know if the units would hold up under constant daily use but I have cut a lot of tubing for a hobby guy and the saws are still going strong. BTW, DeWalt is (or was recently) offering their chop saws for free if you bought a lot of discs from them - it looked like a good program if you use hundreds of discs each year. You might want to check back with HF as they have just introduced a warrenty program on selected equipment. I bought a 16 speed benchtop drill press yesterday for $129 (sale price) and was offered a warrenty program. I declined as my old (and smaller) HF drill press is still running perfectly 15+ years later. One last note on HF - they send you discount coupons via email if you sign up for them. The drill press yesterday ended up costing me $117 (10% coupon) for their list price of $179 on sale for $129.
John

[PigTurd]

I have the yellow version that HF sells. Its normally 119, and it was on sale for 59 I believe. It works very well for what I need. I dont use it in a production environment, so its just fine for me.

Also, on those cheapo disks from HF.. They suck! Don't even bother with them. There are some things that cheap just doesnt work out. The saw is definately a good deal tho IMO.



Chris

[outraged]

Re: Harbor Freight Chop Saw

Originally posted by davejurek
I've seen it mentioned and I am seriously thinking of buying it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44829

Does anyone here have the HF chop saw? How do you like it? Is it a good tool for the money? My catalog is listing is for $59 so just wondering if I should hold out for a better saw???

Dave

________

davejurek

i might have a small electrical problem in my shop, but lets just assume for a minute that i do not...
DONT BUY THIS CHOP SAW.
i went through 3 of them in about a month. twice, the motor burnt out and would shock me when i really didnt want to be shocked. the other time, i never even plugged it in. i put on a dewalt blade [dont trust those chineese blades] and the arm unit was way off center, it would hit the base not allowing the blade to spin freely.

so to make a long story short, i went out and bought a RIGID chop saw [after getting my money back for HF]. yeah not the top of the line, but 100% better than the HF models.

just my opinion. the RIGID was 179.00 at home depot. one thig i like about the RIGID, the backstop lets you cut a 45 degrees left and right. some dewalt and makita models have the tick marks for 45 degrees left and right, but really dont let you go both ways, theres something in the way, like a bolt or a something...

hope this helps.

-Outraged

[dysfunction]

You should be happy with the rigid, like you said aint top o the line, but its nice. I just killed one, course it's done umpteen cages, axles, wristed radius arms, bumpers, frames, etc, etc, etc.

[Tackweld]

Chop Saw

First post at this site..Thanks goes to Hobart for the space and maintainence of this Message Board
I also have the Ridgid 14" from HD and use it quite a bit for hobby and side jobs, it's going on 3 yrs. now and no problems. Welded up a decent enough mobile stand with a wing support 20" off to the left and a removeable sliding stock stop on the right, the wing is long enough front to back to catch 45 deg. set-up and the s/s has a ~~ 30" capacity. I usually appreciate a reasonably accurate mitre, so I used a protractor against the disc and at 45 L/R and 90 Deg. drilled/ reamed for a #7 tapered pin through the back clamp and bed. I use the Dewalt 0.105" discs with very good results, If I'm cutting numerous torched drops from work, I'll switch to the cheap 1/8" discs.
On other BB's I've seen lots of folks arguing over chop vs. bandsaw... I'm about 85% done building the 7 x 12 V/H bandsaw in a LARGE part made w/ the chopsaw. J.A. Swann N.E. Ohio

[outraged]

Hey tackweld,

think you could get some pictures of your portable chop saw stand?? interested how you set everything up.

-Outraged

[Sundown]

HF Chopsaw

I purchased one of the HF (#44821) saws about two months ago, I am a hobbyist also so it won't see much action (although I just retired last month so it might see more). I have used it so far to cut up 3/4 stock for a roof rack on my pickup and also made a log holder for firewood. For limited use it works ok, assuming you use a better blade (De Walt is what I use, and set up angles with a protractor). If I had to use it everyday I would purchase a Rigid or better one, but for my use its just fine. It's on sale at the local store here for $49.95 most all the time. Anyway that's my 2 cents.

Cheers, George

[Sundown]

HF Chop Saw Correction

Sorry guys my finger slipped, that HF Number should be #44829 not #44821

[Tackweld]

ChopSaw Stand Pics for Outraged

Sure I'll post a few after.....finding the digital camera (kids had it), spruce up the shop-arage a bit then fiddle around with the photo software & upload---could easily take days...ok probably by tonite.
JA Swann