Cutting Square Tubing

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Is there a reliable way, other than with a chop saw, to cut square tubing?  I have a Portaband, but I can't get square cuts on 2" square tubing.
Reply:A Sawzall will work fine for you. Have you tried using a cut off wheel on an angle grinder?
Reply:I hate chop saws but this is one thing that they happen to be pretty good & quick with... either that or I normally cut square tubing in my cold saw for awesome perfect mitered ends ready to weld... if I didn't have the cold saw though I'd have to say that the chop saw is probably the best common tool for cutting square tubing square, even more so if your looking for mitered edges... why don't you want to use a chop saw?of course most band saws would also be very good for this too... maybe not a portaband, but most other types...miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:i cant see why the portaband isnt working assuming you are using a square and sharp pencil to mark..then be careful watching to cut the line.. in my experience the sawzall is harder to cut precisely with than a portaband........
Reply:Are you trying to cut from ther top stright threw to the bottom?I have found the easiest way to cut anything, weather it’s with a portaband, angle grinder, or a torch is to make a line on all four sides and then make four separate cuts. That is the only way I can get good squared cuts. They will be square almost every time.Good Luck!KroekerMiller Trailblazer 302Miller Dial ArcMiller Suitcase 12RCVictor Torch
Reply:Change the blade on your bandsaw and make sure you enter the cut straight, a little off at the start and it keeps growing as you cut. You can also make a straight edge for cutting square tube by having another piece that will just slip over it, get that piece cut square and use it as a guide to help you cut straight.
Reply:i just got a horizontal band saw and love it its small for garage use i hated all the crap from a chop saw
Reply:Use a dry cut saw. Looks like an abrasive chop saw but rotates slower and has a carbide tipped blade. Cutts like butter  and leaves a machined finish on the cut ends.Cut an MGB and widened 11" C4 Corvette suspension and LT1 Chevrolet power & 6 spd. Pictures here:Part 1http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,7581Part 2http://forum.britishv8.org/read.php?13,22422
Reply:Originally Posted by morgaj1Is there a reliable way, other than with a chop saw, to cut square tubing?  I have a Portaband, but I can't get square cuts on 2" square tubing.
Reply:Originally Posted by ironmangqChange the blade on your bandsaw and make sure you enter the cut straight, a little off at the start and it keeps growing as you cut. You can also make a straight edge for cutting square tube by having another piece that will just slip over it, get that piece cut square and use it as a guide to help you cut straight.
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6I hate chop saws but this is one thing that they happen to be pretty good & quick with... either that or I normally cut square tubing in my cold saw for awesome perfect mitered ends ready to weld... if I didn't have the cold saw though I'd have to say that the chop saw is probably the best common tool for cutting square tubing square, even more so if your looking for mitered edges... why don't you want to use a chop saw?of course most band saws would also be very good for this too... maybe not a portaband, but most other types...
Reply:The Milwaukees are kinda heavy to hold back and control the direction and they cut quick on thin & small tubing. To make a straight cut free handing you need to be all over the whole affair, holding it back watching both sides, guiding it front and back, guiding it down straight. You can't just lay it on there and let it cut."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:A true cold saw is the way to go. But a dry cut is cheaper.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Interesting. I have a Ryobi 14" chop saw (Abrasive type), and I got to use my friend's Makita, which looks just shy of identical - but he's got a carbide blade in, and it does, indeed, produce gorgeous lovely cuts.When it's time to replace the cutting disc on my Ryobi, would I be able to just order in an appropriate size and RPM carbide blade from my local hardware store of LWS?
Reply:Someone on this site a while back explained that you'll get a better cut from a porta-band with a "Heavy-Duty" blade. It's thicker and fits the guides better. A regular duty blade is thinner, and therefore can twist easier.
Reply:Buy the evolution dry cut saw. It costs about what a regular milwaukee chop saw costs but will cut much better
Reply:Don't they make a stand for a porta-bandsaw so that it holds the saw just like a bandsaw?It's sorta like the stand for an angle grinder which turns it into a mini chop saw.Maxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Originally Posted by WiregeekInteresting. I have a Ryobi 14" chop saw (Abrasive type), and I got to use my friend's Makita, which looks just shy of identical - but he's got a carbide blade in, and it does, indeed, produce gorgeous lovely cuts.When it's time to replace the cutting disc on my Ryobi, would I be able to just order in an appropriate size and RPM carbide blade from my local hardware store of LWS?
Reply:Originally Posted by welds4dSomeone on this site a while back explained that you'll get a better cut from a porta-band with a "Heavy-Duty" blade. It's thicker and fits the guides better. A regular duty blade is thinner, and therefore can twist easier.
Reply:Originally Posted by dugndeepDon't they make a stand for a porta-bandsaw so that it holds the saw just like a bandsaw?It's sorta like the stand for an angle grinder which turns it into a mini chop saw.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1They do but they are almost as much as a Chop saw $240.00 +/- and they won't do a Mitre
Reply:Originally Posted by greenbuggyThe one I linked above is <$60, with guide to do consistent mitres less than $100.
Reply:The stands SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!You will have better luck doing it by hand. The problem with portabands is that no matter what you do the blade flexes. If you can come up with a way to hold the blade rigid but adjustable like a horizontal BS you could make a fortune.A man needs to know his limitations!
Reply:As stated in my earlier post this is what iam using now i found it used for  140.00 but they can be had bran new for 365.00http://www.jetwilton.com/us/manufact...&category=7307 I have the smaller version.Last edited by blowinholes; 05-12-2011 at 05:19 AM.
Reply:Well, budget would not allow a dry cut saw, so I bought a reconditioned Dewalt abrasive chop saw.  I cut all the 2" square tubing for my latest welding project today.  I am sure a dry cut saw would have been faster with less mess, but the chop saw did fine for me.