Frame rail cutting - Lateral-g Forums

bdahlg68 · #1 10-05-2012, 08:08 PM

Do the abrasive saws really cut cleanly? It's been a while since I used one, but I never remember straight cuts and I remember lots of cleanup after the cut.

Greg - I think you missed a few key tools. Sawzall, cut-off wheel, metal file, and teeth. Those are the ones I currently have!

Roberts68 · #2 10-05-2012, 09:06 PM

Crappy cutoff or chop saws produce crappy cuts, but a good one does a nice job in the right hands. An impatient or careless operator can produce terrible cuts with a great chop saw and even damage the saw permanently.

I work in Public Works so I have seen a guy destroy a near new Porter Cable 14" saw in just a few sessions. Leaning on it through some fencepost so bad it distorted the blade enough that it cut into it's own table. It must have wandered 1/2 or 9/16 of an inch. No surprise the same guy busted the handle off a replacement a couple years later.

I think with good setup and a little patience chop saws do a good job. Cleanup is what it is, both on the part and the work area.

**GregWeld** · #3 10-05-2012, 09:36 PM

Yeah -- Abrasive cut off wheels will produce a good clean cut.... But you have to let the saw work! It's an abrasive wheel -- you can't power through the metal.

Same reason dumbazzez ruin perfectly sharpened drill bits... they try to push the bit through the material...

It's the only saw in my arsenal that will trim the end of an axle! But you have to let it do the work...

**GregWeld** · #4 10-05-2012, 09:38 PM

Sawzalls should only be used to remove old exhaust... and Fred Flintstone floors... because you can't cut ANYTHING straight with one!

**Sieg** · #5 10-05-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

Do the abrasive saws really cut cleanly? It's been a while since I used one, but I never remember straight cuts and I remember lots of cleanup after the cut.

Greg - I think you missed a few key tools. Sawzall, cut-off wheel, metal file, and teeth. Those are the ones I currently have!

I have a cheap Harbor Freight 14" abrasive cutoff saw.......a ten year old with a sawzall could produce similar results. The chassis flexes bad so even with light handle pressure it can't produce a square cut.

I imagine this Milwaukee might produce reasonably square cuts: http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/m...achine/6180-20

**GregWeld** · #6 10-05-2012, 10:15 PM

I have a DeWalt --- 14" --- it's about 200 bucks at Lowe's or Home Depot. Works great - I just don't use it much because it's slow and messy...

But then again -- I have a super spiffy Cold Cut Saw that is quiet - clean - fast - and makes perfect cuts.

Get ya one of these bad boys and you'll forever by a happy metal cutting man!

**GregWeld** · #7 10-05-2012, 10:26 PM

I should have posted this pic up -- which actually kinda shows the saw!

I mounted mine on "slides" because I have limited room in the "shed" - and have a wall to contend with - so I can move the saw back and forth on the slides to gain an extra couple of feet...

These use machining coolant... and that gets a little messy -- but the water evaporates and the oil is water soluble...

**GregWeld** · #8 10-05-2012, 10:44 PM

I hope you guys realize I'm just being funny here....

A decent quality abrasive saw will be a very versatile tool if used correctly... The Raptor style would be my choice if the guy can stand the noise and is willing to clean up afterwards... I think you have to be MUCH more careful with the Raptor style - they're higher speed - and the blades are mean and nasty. Fail to secure a part and it WILL fly across the room and imbed itself in a plywood wall! Ask me how I know that!

I totally get that most people don't have the space or $$ to be buying all this stuff.

Vince@Meanstreets · #9 10-06-2012, 12:09 AM

I'd love to get a cold saw, my buddy scored one at a Goodguys swap meet for $300. The guy thought is was dead but it had a plugged pump screen and a loose switch connection...on top of that the guy didn't want to take it home. Win some loose some.

You aren't kidding about launching end cuts if you aren't carefull. A good center blade miter base would solve that. I like the Raptor blade, I cut very slow and let the blade do the work, the only think I do after a cut is deburr the edges. The dust from the abrasive chop saw gets to e, and it smells 3 hours after you had used it.

**GregWeld** · #10 10-06-2012, 11:07 AM

Another "plus" of the Cold Cut saw --- 50 RPMS.... no flinging parts... No heat in the part with the coolant/lubricant.... It just feels nice to use it. Sadly the cost and the power required are major impediments to home ownership.

A minor annoyance --- switching blades for different materials. They ain't cheap blades - and you need one for Al U mini Um --- and another for Stains Less Steel... and another for mild steel...

So around a "hot rod shop" where we're always cutting different stuff... it can be cumbersome.