Recommendations for a Good Chop Saw?

[HeavyHauler]

Hey guys - I need a good chop saw that will cut up to 5" exhaust pipe. Right now I'm looking at a Dewalt DW871.



Any other good recommendations? I'm not so sure that I need a Dewalt, because a saw is only as good as its blade, so I was wondering if I could get away with something cheaper. It won't be used very much, but I want it to be there when I do need it, and it needs to be reliable.



What about Chicago Electric power tools from Harbor Freight? Should I stay away from these?



Thanks!

 

[Alphacowboy]

Check out Ridgids model, its only at Home Depot, but I have many Ridgid tools, and love everyone of them, cheaper than Dewalt, but not cheaply built by any means.

 

[RON'S RAM]

I believe you get what you pay for. A friend of mine has a few Chicago Electric tools. They do work, but lack the power of the name brands and probably will not last as long if used regularly. I have mostly Milwaukee and Porter Cable power tools and have been extremely happy with their power and quality. Rigid is coming out with a line of power tools with a lifetime warranty available online. Happy shopping.

 

[nickleinonen]

5" requires a pretty big chop saw to get through in one pass. my makita with a brand new disc can make a clean pass through 4" pipe, but once worn, it needs to be rotated...



maybe a bandsaw might be better suited for this... ? makes very clean cuts through all steel & aluminum [angle, tube, box, bar stock. . ] just can't cut hardened materals. . or a power hacksaw [not so good for thin tube, but good for all else]



hmm. . just did a search on that dw871 to find out what the price is on it, and it doesn't seem to have great reviews

 

[Hoefler]

Have you considered a bandsaw?? I have one, and use it all the time fabricating, including my own exhaust work.

 

[HeavyHauler]

The ones I've been looking at will cut through round 5" pipe and some one that dewalt has will cut through 5 3/16" pipe. A lot of band saws won't go that big.

 

[DBrickel]

That Dewalt is a good saw. So is the Rigid, Makita nd Milwaukee. I bought some Chicago Elec tool drill a few years back and all of them were junk in 6 months

 

[Grizzly]

I've had the best luck with my 14" Makita. DeWalt and Milwaulkee are good too.

 

[Hohn]

I'd go with the Ridgid or the Milwaukee for a 14" saw.



If course, a large freestanding bandsaw is the ultimate, but about $1000 more

 

[cap-n-cray]

How about a Milwaukee deep throat portable band saw. I have a portable band saw and use it all the time less heat and you can control the cut. I also have a Milwaukee chop saw. Works great but makes a lots of sparks, noise, and mess. I want to try a dry cut metal saw.



Cary

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

As long as you can roll the pipe you can cut alot bigger than the throat depth with the portable band saw. Personally that's what I would buy because of it's versatility, in fact it probably won't be long till I have one. I've got a Delta Chop saw but I'm not sure of the capacity because I haven't used it in a long time. It worked ok, and for exhaust pipe it'd probably do pretty good but I find them slow and messy for the heavier gauge materials.

 

[05mxdiesel]

I have a ryobi, cheaper brand, but it gets the job done. I haven't had any problems with it, just keep a new disc around for cutting pipe.

 

[BDeArmon]

I have a 14" Milwaukee chop saw that is an incredible POS. It won't cut strait, the damn disk deflects as much as 1/8" from top to bottom of a 2" cut. It seems like the axis of the motor/disc is not parallel to the pivot point, which creates side pressure on the disc, causing it to deflect.



I have tried every brand of disk that I can get my hands on, vaired feed rates, and everything else I can think of... the saw just sucks. I don't recommend them (BTW, their angle grinders have gone down hill in the last 10 years too... . ).

 

[KevinWatts]

I have a 14" Milwaukee chop saw that is an incredible POS. It won't cut strait, the damn disk deflects as much as 1/8" from top to bottom of a 2" cut. It seems like the axis of the motor/disc is not parallel to the pivot point, which creates side pressure on the disc, causing it to deflect.



I have tried every brand of disk that I can get my hands on, vaired feed rates, and everything else I can think of... the saw just sucks. I don't recommend them (BTW, their angle grinders have gone down hill in the last 10 years too... . ).

:-laf I had 3 dewalt 14" chops that all burned up with about 30 min of total usage. That was 4 years ago, I then got a Milwaukee and it's been working great ever since. Oo.



Kevin

 

[HeavyHauler]

Hey guys - thanks for all the responses. This tool forum is working out well!



Anyway, I think I may try a Milwaukee. I'm looking at the 6180-20. It can be had for around $200. I also love the idea of the "dry-cut" machine but it's over twice the price and I probably wouldn't be using it enough to justify the $420 price tag.



The 6180-20 can handle up to 5-3/8" OD pipe.



Check 'em out below:



Milwaukee Chop Saws

 

[trqmnstr]

I have had the Dewalt DW871 for about 2-3 years now. It's been great and never had any problems with it... except for when I forget to plug it in.

 

[Harley152]

Once you've used a "dry cutter" you'll never go back and you'll think of it as the best tool investment ever!!!!



Jerry

 

[ajphillips]

milwaukee tough

Hey guys I have 3 mil. not known for accuracy but boor leather tough, ran thru 2 DW871'S IN 2 WEEKS.

 

[Shell 96]

i have the rigid and its a quality piece of work absolutley no complaints at all.