Frame rail cutting

[GregWeld]

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

[Sieg]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Change blades even with the cold saw? Yeah I hear the blades are around $200.

Only takes a min to change mine. I think if I was a high output shop I'd just run 2 different saws with blades set. Like I have my die grinders. Haven't swapped a collet/disc support in years.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

Change blades even with the cold saw? Yeah I hear the blades are around $200.

Only takes a min to change mine. I think if I was a high output shop I'd just run 2 different saws with blades set. Like I have my die grinders. Haven't swapped a collet/disc support in years.

It doesn't take but a minute or two to swap - but it's annoying. I want to take a piece to a machine - whack it - and move on.

Obviously for a commercial shop - having a couple saws isn't that big of a deal - but for the most part - on Lat G we're a bunch of home garage guys....

I've found that in my own situations -- a guy can't have too many ways to whack stuff -- and stick stuff together.... and bend stuff. It allows you to think in a different way. My thinking is never "how the heck am I going to build X" -- it's just "how do I want to build X"... without limits. That frees your mind up to just gettin' 'er done and makin' it kool.

[badmatt]

I never have the change blades with the band saw for different materials.. teehee 6 tpi blade and let it eat.