got an abraisive saw....now what

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i've had a milwaukee 14" abrasive cutoff saw for a while.Now i want something that will cut aluminum and steel for that mater, accurately.I thought id get a 14" milw.. carbide bladed saw =$400 ish.but now i see a jet miter bandsaw for $700.[ame]http://www.amazon.com/JET-Swivel-Bandsaw-Hydraulic-Downfeed/dp/B000N8LXPA/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1245600722&sr=1-18[/ame]is the bandsaw worth the extra.it is not something that i use every day. maybee a couple of hours a week on average. Although i do seem to be doing more and more of this type of work these days.what do you all think?G
Reply:What do you plan on cutting?A band saw is great for small parts and plate that needs to be shaped, but it's completely a hassle to cut long stock with. If you need square edges good luck.If you cut long stock over 2 feet long like you normally do with a chop saw then get a horizontal bandsaw. A cold cut saw is also a good tool that can do what a chop saw does but with most metals and cleaner.
Reply:That's a very tough call.  They both have a place in a shop.
Reply:Thanks JCill show your post to the wife to justify my spending i'm mostly looking to cut tube, pipe and solid bar to length.I can do that with my abrasive saw now, but not as good as a tungsten blade, and no aluminum.Im doing more and more aluminum nowadays so id like a fast clean accurate way to cut it/ everythingi was thinking of horizontal bandsaw as opposed to vertical.G
Reply:I use a Makita 14" wood cutting miter saw with carbide blade for making accurate miter cuts on aluminum.  Works very good.For making accurate miter cuts on steel, I use an Evolution Rage III 10" metal cutting miter saw with carbide blade.  Have to go very easy with it to save the blade life.   There is a local shop that sharpens them and can re-tooth them too for alot less than buying a new blade.I would like to have a nice metal cutting mitering horizontal band saw, but cost and small shop space have so far kept me buying one.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I used a hor. band saw in the shop that I learned welding in.  It was nice to lay some stock in it, turn it on and walk away to do something else while it cuts!
Reply:i wont have an abrasive saw..hate the noise and dust. i got a horiz band saw(grizzly) which cuts nice. found it was good for big stuff, i also found i wanted to cut small stuff and i built a little deck for it that i could clamp stuff down to.  i still find myself using  my milwaukee portaband and even a hacksaw with the work ina vise because sometimes the bandsaw is too much of a pain in the ***.....
Reply:There are aluminum cutting blades for abrasive saws. http://www.mcmaster.com/#4173a63/=2g0ums
Reply:Bandsaw sounds like a better choice for you.  Cleaner, quieter, more accurate and only slightly slower.  We have both in the shop and the chop saw is only used when the other saws wont do, or we just need something cut fast and we are close to it.  Everything else is bandsaw.Abrasive saws also suck for cutting solid stock IMO, and aluminum if your doing more than a few small cuts. If thats going to be a fair part of its operation its a no brainer for me.Have we all gone mad?