Starting small one guy shop idea needed...

[geezer]

I ain't there yet, although I'm not starving either. It's not just the cost of the tool. If I really wanted it, I'd end up getting it sooner or later. Saying, "I can't justify the cost," is just short-hand for, "There's just a lot of other things that I want more, that I spend money on first."

I understand ,,,been there done that myself..

[everlastsupport]

I ain't there yet, although I'm not starving either. It's not just the cost of the tool. If I really wanted it, I'd end up getting it sooner or later. Saying, "I can't justify the cost," is just short-hand for, "There's just a lot of other things that I want more, that I spend money on first."

I'm sure that most of us are like that. But sometimes, I jump on something and regret it later. I think Geezer is right, in my case, if I can make money with it or save time. Like he said about time.

[jameslo]

It's a balancing act. You don't want to blow it all on one top of the line tool when you could get two things you need that are in the 'really good' category rather than 'perfect fit.'

Depending on the type of shop it is, one of the best investments I made was a 2 post car lift. I don't do car work for money, but it sure is nice to work on my project cars, and do the general maintenance of the daily drivers.

That might fall out of the "cost effective" tool range, but it really is handy.

But I'll stand on my previous answers - Northern Tool dry cut metal saw and a sand blaster - GREAT tools to have.

[everlastsupport]

Does Northern Tools have the discount coupons like HF has? I rarely use the sand blaster, but that saw would be great. The abrasive saw smells up the place.

[DaveO]

I signed up for email specials and get coupons by email and snail mail every now and again... Northern doesn't attempt to bury the country in coupons to the same depth that HF does.

Has anyone else noticed that "Northern Tool" seems to have stores in southern states, mostly?

[jameslo]

Yes, they do. They tend to send coupons out for the "20% off on purchases over $20", "30% off on purchases over..." kind of things. I'm on their mailing list and these come in a few times a year.

I think you can probably find the coupons on-line, or if you are close to a store, call and see if they have them on hand.

If I run across a link to any coupons, I'll post it.

[jameslo]

Here's a link to a video of it, if you haven't see it work. It really works that well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANYKnJA4vjI

I've used it on 4x4x5/16 angle and it sails through it.

I saw an old Northern coupon for $50 off on purchases over $250, so it would certainly be worth looking for one of those.

If/when you get it, spend a few minutes squaring it up and you'll be amazed at seeing two 45 degree cuts that really do make a 90.

[geezer]

Here's a link to a video of it, if you haven't see it work. It really works that well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANYKnJA4vjI

I've used it on 4x4x5/16 angle and it sails through it.

I saw an old Northern coupon for $50 off on purchases over $250, so it would certainly be worth looking for one of those.

If/when you get it, spend a few minutes squaring it up and you'll be amazed at seeing two 45 degree cuts that really do make a 90.

This saw costs about 3 times what chop saw costs, the blade on it costs nearly the price of a chop saw, ($95.00),,,the only difference between this saw and a chop saw is the speed, 1300 rpm for it and 3800 rpm on a chop saw,,,,the blade costs 19 times that of a chop saw,,,will it last as long as 19 chop saw blades,,??? Advantage for it over a chop saw,,,,fewer sparks,,,,

[Paul Moir]

[QUOTE=geezer;48852 Advantage for it over a chop saw,,,,fewer sparks,,,,[/QUOTE]
And the end isn't blazing hot, and it doesn't need further dressing. Changing blades less often means less time changing blades and buying blades. Also it does aluminium. Honestly I've only one once but I know what my choice would be if I had to use one every day as part of my shop. Very Very loud however, and instead of sparks and dust you get hot angry bees, so I think that's a bit of a tossup on those fronts.

I'm in a good position where I don't have to be fast, so a horizontal bandsaw works for me.

[geezer]

And the end isn't blazing hot, and it doesn't need further dressing. Changing blades less often means less time changing blades and buying blades. Also it does aluminium. Honestly I've only one once but I know what my choice would be if I had to use one every day as part of my shop. Very Very loud however, and instead of sparks and dust you get hot angry bees, so I think that's a bit of a tossup on those fronts.

I'm in a good position where I don't have to be fast, so a horizontal bandsaw works for me.

Yes Paul,,,I should have mentioned that it's real advantage is cutting aluminum...which is a PITA with a chop saw...

[jameslo]

This saw costs about 3 times what chop saw costs, the blade on it costs nearly the price of a chop saw, ($95.00),,,the only difference between this saw and a chop saw is the speed, 1300 rpm for it and 3800 rpm on a chop saw,,,,the blade costs 19 times that of a chop saw,,,will it last as long as 19 chop saw blades,,??? Advantage for it over a chop saw,,,,fewer sparks,,,,

It's just me, but as far as if it's worth it, yes. I retired my chop saw. Whether or not the blade will do what you want at speeds it's not rated for, I don't know that I would want to stand in front of this blade spinning faster than designed to save a couple hundred bucks.

Well, I take that back. I know I wouldn't.

I guess you'd need to use one to decide if it was worth the cost, but as far as blade life, yeah, I think you'll get your money's worth. Mine is 3 yrs old and on the original blade. I'd go though 6 abrasive blades a year without much trouble.

Cost of the saw and replacement blades are the reasons I held off on buying it, but like I said, if it blew up today, I'd get another one tomorrow. Every time I use it call myself an idiot for futzing around with abrasive blades for as long as I did.

I've let 3 friends try the saw, and all 3 bought one.

All that said, it might not be worth it to everyone. My intent was just to let people know it works as advertised.

[jameslo]

Another big advantage is that when you make the cut, the next step is NOT to have to get a grinder and try to clean the cut without losing too much more steel.

And the cut isn't hot.

And the blade doesn't flex.

[joshuab]

And the blade doesn't flex.

This is huge. I have never had a cut come out of the abrasive chop-saw square. It always flexes outward at the end. This is why I only ever use the chop-saw if I am doing something like cutting up coupons for practice, where squareness doesn't matter. For all "production" work, I use a horizontal bandsaw. But the bandsaw sure is slow. If I was actually in a situation where time was money, the cold-cut saw would be very attractive.

[Rambozo]

I guess I've heard enough to pull the trigger on one of these. I've been on the fence for a while. I really hate the dust and grit from my abrasive chop saw. It cuts square and leaves a great edge, but because of the grit I have to keep it away from everything. The hot parts coming off it are no fun either. I don't really have the space or the money for a true cold saw, but have used them in other shops and loved them. The best thing about them was a totally burr free cut on tubing inside and out. How do these dry cut saws do for that? I figure I'll have to rework the vise to make it easy to go from 90 to 45 and back.
I use carbide woodworking tools (table saw, chop saw, etc.) for all my aluminum cuts so that won't be an issue. If I could have as clean a steel cutting setup as that, it would be great.

[geezer]

It's just me, but as far as if it's worth it, yes. I retired my chop saw. Whether or not the blade will do what you want at speeds it's not rated for, I don't know that I would want to stand in front of this blade spinning faster than designed to save a couple hundred bucks.

Well, I take that back. I know I wouldn't.

I guess you'd need to use one to decide if it was worth the cost, but as far as blade life, yeah, I think you'll get your money's worth. Mine is 3 yrs old and on the original blade. I'd go though 6 abrasive blades a year without much trouble.

Cost of the saw and replacement blades are the reasons I held off on buying it, but like I said, if it blew up today, I'd get another one tomorrow. Every time I use it call myself an idiot for futzing around with abrasive blades for as long as I did.

I've let 3 friends try the saw, and all 3 bought one.

All that said, it might not be worth it to everyone. My intent was just to let people know it works as advertised.

It's good we talk about these kinda things,,,a person would not buy just the blade and try and use it on a chop saw,,,that would be dangerous,,,myself being sort of a tool junkie,,I am always looking for new things,,,don't know if I will spring for one,,,but it's always possible,,,do most of my aluminum cutting on the table saw or with the skill saw,,,or band saw..

[jameslo]

I guess I've heard enough to pull the trigger on one of these. I've been on the fence for a while. I really hate the dust and grit from my abrasive chop saw. It cuts square and leaves a great edge, but because of the grit I have to keep it away from everything. The hot parts coming off it are no fun either. I don't really have the space or the money for a true cold saw, but have used them in other shops and loved them. The best thing about them was a totally burr free cut on tubing inside and out. How do these dry cut saws do for that? I figure I'll have to rework the vise to make it easy to go from 90 to 45 and back.
I use carbide woodworking tools (table saw, chop saw, etc.) for all my aluminum cuts so that won't be an issue. If I could have as clean a steel cutting setup as that, it would be great.

You're right. The vise is pretty much the same as the chop saw. It's not elegant, but if you square it up coming out of the box, and set the little adjustable angle indicator so that it points at zero from the angle you want to look at it from, then moving it to 45 is no big deal.

One more thing. I got a magnetic sweeper that comes in handy. This is like a lot of tiny chisels eating through the metal, so there will be a little to clean up after a while. But it's not the dust and shower of sparks.

I'm in the same situation you are. I'd love to have a Dake cold saw. But I just can't justify that. Not even to me, and I'm the easiest one I know. This is the next best thing. I grinned like an idiot the first time I cut a 1/18" spacer from a piece if 1" pipe.

[cbmkr]

I use a dry cut steel chop saw , but you have to watch what you cut some of the cheap mill run poor spec angle and flat material has hard spots and will wipe a blade out in nothing flat. Most cuts are done on my horizontal and i use coolant and vari tooth blades if needed. I use my weld table for a lot of things the 5/8" steel top and heavy tube legs keep welding projects from moving around.

[breakneckmot]

I think the most useful tool in your shop depends on what kind of jobs you do. I work on bikes and the most useful purchase for me was a hydraulic lift table purchased for $150 off of CL. After that my 3/8" ratchet is probably the tool I use the most. If you're just trying to drum up work something I've considered is a tubing bender for making off-road bumpers. Around here there's a lot of call for that kind of work.

[johnnymg]

I use a dry cut steel chop saw , but you have to watch what you cut some of the cheap mill run poor spec angle and flat material has hard spots and will wipe a blade out in nothing flat. Most cuts are done on my horizontal and i use coolant and vari tooth blades if needed. I use my weld table for a lot of things the 5/8" steel top and heavy tube legs keep welding projects from moving around.

Between the two tools (dry cut chop or horizontal) which have you found more useful and/or which would be "better" for square/angle steel/Al?

regards
JohnG

[dzljon]

What is the most used machine in your shop...or most important that made you into a REAL shop? I am outfitted with a portaband, oxy torch, MIG, TIG, ARC, drill press (benchtop), 12 disk sander, Horz bandsaw, banch throatless shear 9", metal chop saw, sawzall, drills, hand grinders, bench grinder, plasma cutter....and tons of hand tools. Any benders brakes or shears I should be looking at? Do you use them or need them that often? WHat tool is a must that I am missing? Thanks for the input.

without a doubt my torchmate took me to the next level, fit ups are better I can reproduce pieces in a flash and at the same time I can to some creative art things for my wife to sell when slow on fabrication.