Cutting Tools (Bandsaw/Chop Saw) Recommendations

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I’m fairly new to the trade and as I expand out my shop I was hoping to get some feedback/recommendations on what people are using as far as bandsaws and cop saws. 90% of the work I have planned will be on material thickness of 3/16th and under. Jet makes a 5 x  6 ½ HP Horizontal/Vertical bandsaw that has been of interest but I have yet to find a solid review on it.  Correct me if I’m wrong but a common theme I’ve been finding in threads is the difficulty in creating accurate miter cuts. I understand this is in part due to technique but I would prefer the equipment not be a limiting factor in this as well. Appreciate the comments in advance.
Reply:I just do hobby work...I have a JET 5 x 6.5 Band saw...  It works well and has been reliable for the 3 or 4 years I have had it.  Once adjusted and cutting straight it stayed that way until recently.  I don't know why it went out of alignment but it was starting to cut slanted towards the vise.  The initial adjustment I made when it was new left the blade guides at or very near the limit of their range, so to bring it back I had to do some minor filing of the cast steel guides but this was not a problem.  My only complaint is the legs have no stiffeners and feel flimsy and wiggly, but once set down on the floor it has been stable.  Work piece that is 3/16th and less is thin for the bandsaw, you will need to use blades with 24tpi or more.  I use this rule of thumb: not less than 3 teeth in the work to prevent the teeth from binding up in the cut.The JET is comparable to similar models from HFand Northern Tools, as well as a few others.  I suspect they are all designed by the same company and manufactured in the same plant, only a few details are different as specified by each marketing firm.  Not unlike snow throwers and lawn mowers:  Troy Bilt, Craftsman, Lawn Boy, etc.  Nearly all of them are manufactured by MTD, only a few small details distinguish one label from another.I also have a Dewalt 14" abrasive chop saw but haven't used it since I acquired the band saw.   Much faster than the bandsaw, but noisy and sparky and dusty and the material is HOT when it comes off the saw.  There seems to be more differences in the various labels in this line than in the small bandsaws, I picked the DeWalt because I liked the clamp system quick-adjust and Tee handle, vs crank and no quick adjust on some others.  The "D" handle is more ergonomic than the pistol-grip too.If you are doing a lot of sheet work a shear would be great.  HF offers and combination shear, finger brake, slip roller I have an eye on, but I haven't pulled the trigger because I do very little sheet work.  Meanwhile I have a pneumatic nibbler, good for sheet up to 16ga. max and use snips or plasma torch where appropriate.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:I appreciate the input!Last edited by TargetofGravity; 06-04-2013 at 10:07 AM.
Reply:Use the search function...this is just one of the subjects that have been discussed to death and backtype in band saw..or chop saw..or dry sawBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:I have a Milwaukee chop/abrasive saw. Yes, it cuts very quick. The downfall, the finished cut is pretty rough, makes a heck of a mess, stinks to high heaven, loud as heck, inaccurate. It is certainly meant for rough cut, get you close measurement. It is all I have for cutting steel for my projects and I am also looking to buy a horizontal band saw. The chop saw is not the tool for accurate cuts, not for me anyway. I am sure the chop saw has its place.....BrentLincoln 3200HD MIGLincoln AC/DC 225 Stick
Reply:I guess in general do you feel a bandsaw would provide more accurate cuts?
Reply:What Mondo said. Since I bought my cheapy horizontal metal cutting bandsaw, I have not used either my Makita or Milwaukee abrasive cut off saws. The bandsaw maybe slower to make a cut, but hey, I can go off and do something else while it cuts. Just not having the noise and mess and sparks and smoke and fire hazard is well worth it. If you take the time to set it up, it can make very accurate cuts, but make sure you get a good quality bandsaw blade. (chuck the one that comes with the saw away!) Everytime you replace the blade you probably will have to adjust the squareness and alignment, but I go months between blade changes and I use my bandsaw a lot, practically everytime I am in the shop.  Instead of using steel to check the squareness of my cuts, I use wooden two by four blocks. Much faster than steel. Go to yahoo groups and check out the 4X6 bandsaw group, lots of awesome tips and ideas there.