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Kerry;
I used my Dewalt just yesterday to cut 1 1/2″ black pipe to make a bbq stand. Bought used a couple of yrs ago for $75 and have cut everything from rebar to plate to angle. I have the 14″ abrasive – they now have a diamond blade model – nice smooth cut but for 450 bucks I’ll just spend a couple mins at the grinder. I usually haul mine outside and use it on a workmate so the sparks and grit fly off into the landscaping. They are messy and certainly the sparks and slag must be contained for safety reasons. Hence the outside operation away from the gas cans, chain saws, sawdust.. Just remember to clean up the filings or they will rust on your concrete driveway! Like I tell my wife “chopsaws are like anvils – they seem like an extravagance until you need one”
Will
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Kerry, I have been using a Milwaukee for about 6yrs. now,its a quality machine I'd recomend. What ever you decide just make sure the machine you buy has a quick release vice, I have seen some that don't, it will save you alot of time.re:cutting rebar... I use the machine alot for this.I took a 6" length of 2x4 (wood) and cut a groove down the 6"length of one of the 31/2" wide faces.The groove should be centered,aprox. 1/8" deeper and 1/8" wider than the rebar you are cutting. I take this block and securely fasten in the vice,groove up and at a right angle to the blade.It is then a simple matter to lay the rebar in the groove and cut to length, then slide the rebar in the groove to the next cut, and so on.The groove being deeper than the rebar holds it securely.I have used this method for years and it is fast. Good Luck, Bill
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I would like to get a 14 inch abrasive miter saw. Does anyone have any experience with these cutting steel studs or rebar. Any brands that are better than other? Or any features that one should look for?
Any suggestion are welcome.
*Used a B&D back in the 80's. Worked well, loud, sparks flew, don't use a cardboard box to contain them. Most of those I've seen didn't have any differing features. Saw with handle, blade, clamp for work. Pretty simple and accurate enough for what it was for. Ask a window/store front shop. They use em everyday and would know the ins and outs. Best of luck.
*My experience parallels calvin's. I was using one in the mid 80's and it was loud and sparks flew. Have You considered a porta-ban or would that be to slow?I've see the deep cutting model mounted on a arm that acted like a miter saw. Seems like something would have come along to improve on the chop saw. Good luck and don't forget the ear plugs. Skip
*Kerry;I used my Dewalt just yesterday to cut 1 1/2" black pipe to make a bbq stand. Bought used a couple of yrs ago for $75 and have cut everything from rebar to plate to angle. I have the 14" abrasive - they now have a diamond blade model - nice smooth cut but for 450 bucks I'll just spend a couple mins at the grinder. I usually haul mine outside and use it on a workmate so the sparks and grit fly off into the landscaping. They are messy and certainly the sparks and slag must be contained for safety reasons. Hence the outside operation away from the gas cans, chain saws, sawdust.. Just remember to clean up the filings or they will rust on your concrete driveway! Like I tell my wife "chopsaws are like anvils - they seem like an extravagance until you need one"Will