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Need some info I dont have the funds for a plasma yet so what would be the best a chop saw or a porta band for most cutting
Reply:What is it that your mostly cutting?Millermatic 251Spectrum 300 PlasmaEverlast PowerTig 250EXEverlast PowerCool W300Harris / Victor OACraftsman 13 Speed Drill PressProTools Air/Hydraulic Bender48" BrakeCompressor, Notchers, Grinders, etc.
Reply:Well a chop saw will be a lot easier to make straight cuts with as well as Mitre cuts- noisy but a work horse.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by RugarWhat is it that your mostly cutting?
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Well a chop saw will be a lot easier to make straight cuts with as well as Mitre cuts- noisy but a work horse.
Reply:Wood saws are designed to cut wood. Abrasive metal saws are designed to put up with the punishment that comes from cutting steel. You're not the first I've heard kill a wood one cutting metal.An abrasive blade will cut thin alum, but it won't be the nicest cut as the blade loads up with alum.  Also the abrasive material will imbed itself in the alum and cause you issues with welding unless you clean up your cuts afterwards. Alum cuts best with a saw with teeth. A carbide metal saw, ( one specifically designed to run low rpm metal cutting carbide blades) or a band saw (you get the best cuts from a staionary band saw as opposed to a portable one) will easily cut alum and give you good clean cuts. The down side is that the carbide saws are not cheap, and cheap stationary band saws usually require some mods/adjustments to get good cuts, and the good stationary bandsaws aren't cheap. Either of these will cut thin steel as well..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:You could have gotten some nice cuts on Al with a wood chopsaw if you would have bought an Al cutting carbide tipped blade ($60) for it. I'd go with a bandsaw and since I don't work will very large material I bought my bandsaw from lathemasters.com.