Anything welding

I’ve only made a few cuts with it so I’m not a great one to ask, but I like it. For this project it was useful for cutting the swingout wheel mount off of my old homemade thing. You can see it to the left in the first pic.

I like my combo of rage cold cut saw for making easy 90° cuts (or other repeatable angles) and the portable bandsaw for other misc tasks. A benefit of the portable saw is being able to pair it with a swag off-road table, making it a table saw to cut out intricate shapes.

I wouldn’t count on the porta band saw being able to make Uber precise cuts without a bunch of practice.

 

Mostly bar and tube is what I anticipate cutting on the bandsaw, I can use the plasma cutter for plate and bar. Precise to me just means something that is better than what I can currently do with an angle grinder lol. Most of my cuts will be welded so I'm not worried about getting it that dialed in, but at the same time would like a square cut to make the fabrication part go smoothly and not have to spend a lot of time cleaning up my cuts. I'm leaning toward the HF unit since I don't need it outside the garage and I have the room for it (I did a massive garage reorganization this weekend to clear space for a horizontal bandsaw and shop press).

I looked at going with the Evo chop saw vs HF bandsaw, leaning heavily toward the bandsaw since I now have the room for it and it's quieter and less shavings to clean up.

 

Have you seen this video? It's what ultimately sold me on the cold cut saw vs the band saw. I was always wanting one until I watched this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ern1lW4gY&t

 

I've had the Harbor Freight portaband for months (built my camper with it) and it's fantastic. I had a Milwaukee that I found at a pawn shop and sold it. This HF saw is just as good, and sounds like it will last too.
Zim

EDIT: I've had chop saws and they're messy, noisy, and a pain in the ass. If you're cutting rail road ties, C channel or other big structural steel, go for it. Anything automotive can be accomplished with a portaband, and a plasma or a circular saw with a metal blade.
Zim

 

I hadn't seen that video, definitely gives me something to think about (again!). Which Evo saw did you end up getting? Really the noise is the main thing I'm concerned about with the Evo but I don't make enough cuts at this point that it's really an issue, I can put on some ear protection and to hell with the neighbors.

Do those with a horizontal bandsaw ever use it in the vertical position much to make freehand cuts? Wondering if that's a big enough factor to buy one or if it's too much of a hassle to get it setup, and then switch back to horizontal. Also, for the HF horizontal bandsaw, it doesn't have a cooling system but I assume you would want to apply some cutting oil, correct?

 

You can but the blade support is not there for me. Sketch level "expert" LMAO.
ZIm

 

I have the Klutch (Northern Tool) benchtop band saw. Maybe not as fast as that 15" metal chop saw in that video, but it's fast enough for my needs. Kinda pricy now, but it was about $50 cheaper in November when I bought it, and they were running a $50 gift card with $250 purchase promo. Klutch Benchtop Metal Cutting Band Saw — 3in. x 4in., 1 1/3 HP, 120V | Northern Tool

You can buy (or make) a vertical table for it - see F-007075-012, 782 Bandsaw Vertical Table, HEM Saw, Femi (trick-tools.com) or WEN 3975 Metal-Cutting Band Saw Vertical Table Mod Part 1 - YouTube

 

The HF horizontal bandsaw is listed at $279, and if you can get a 20% coupon applied to it, brings it down to $223, which is pretty attractive. Decisions, decisions...

 

The 20%-off coupons typically exclude Central Machinery, and thus wouldn't likely apply to the saw.

Wait long enuf and you may get it for $199 though, but could be months. Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Coupon Search for: 93762 (hfqpdb.com)

There's also the warranty being 90 days vs 1 yr vs cost for extended warranty.

What the "right answer" is depends on the individual situation. I looked at the horizontal band saws, but went with the bench top partly because it can sit on a shelf when I won't be using it for a while.

 

You can’t walk away from an evo and have it still finish it’s cut. Horizontal bandsaws are a labor multiplier and it’s quiet. You can also use it at a vertical bandsaw. Biggest drawback is it will only cut as good as you can dial it in, but once you figure that out it will cut perfect.

 

I have the

$189 rage4 7-1/4" TCT multipurpose cutting chop saw, orange

rage4, the baby saw. It’s awesome.

 

careful about doing small cuts on it, it started shooting flames after I jammed it up with this.

 

On today’s episode of where did welding take me...

 

I'm a portaband fan boy. I have one on each side of the shop. I won't be without them.

 

Finally.. how many times did it take?

 

1.

Drove to Air Gas.

I got my money back from those internet clowns.

 

Got in a conversation with my Air Gas salesman that I've been dealing with for years.

Was telling him about my former coworker and his 15 year old son spending time at my shop learning about MIG welding.

I was quoted $1350 for a Miller 211. I was also told a deal for gas and a couple 10 lbs rolls of wire along with some tips could be rolled in. I wish I knew what "that deal" part meant.

The equivalent Vulcan is $830 and you still need to source the consumables.

I am leaning towards the fact that AG is feeling the pressure from other welding equipment providers and want to make some sales.

 

They might be I myself have not priced any millers or Lincoln’s