Harbor Freight Mini Chop Saw

[CronusTRD]

Anybody have this? For $30, it could either be a handy tool or a complete POS. I hate having to use my 14" chop saw for cutting small bits of metal accurately, and dremel doesn't really do the job fast enough.

Make perfect cuts in steel, brass, aluminum, and wood in 1/10th the time it takes by hand. So accurate that you may never have to file or sand ends.

* Includes one 2'' dia. high speed steel blade
* Motor: 110V, .9 amps, 7800 RPM maximum
* Cutting capacity: 3/4'' depth
* Miter gauge: 0° to 45°
* Base: 5-1/2''L x 5''W
* Overall dimensions: 9''L x 5-1/2''W x 6-3/4''H

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42307

 

[DirkDigler]

Anybody have this? For $30, it could either be a handy tool or a complete POS. I hate having to use my 14" chop saw for cutting small bits of metal accurately, and dremel doesn't really do the job fast enough.

Make perfect cuts in steel, brass, aluminum, and wood in 1/10th the time it takes by hand. So accurate that you may never have to file or sand ends.

* Includes one 2'' dia. high speed steel blade
* Motor: 110V, .9 amps, 7800 RPM maximum
* Cutting capacity: 3/4'' depth
* Miter gauge: 0° to 45°
* Base: 5-1/2''L x 5''W
* Overall dimensions: 9''L x 5-1/2''W x 6-3/4''H

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42307

For $30....how could you go wrong?

 

[AdamF]

OMFG...DONT GET IT!


I bought one a while back, and the SOB wouldn't even cut through a 3/16" brake line! The motor would stall as soon as you cut into it!


Worthless piece of crap.


If you have a dremel, HF sells a fiberglass reinforced cut off wheel for like $5.99 for a 3 pack including the wheel mount. They work great.

 

[Madcratebuilder]

Mine works great on carbon fiber tube and aluminum tube. I had to use a 2in cutoff wheel to cut steel tube. Makes clean, square cuts. DON'T be in a hurry.:mrgreen:

 

[savageracer312]

yeah right i was at harbor freight checking one out and it didnt seem sturdy, wiggling, i understand not to be in a hurry now, lol

 

[traxxas_man]

yeah, i was at Harbor freight checking it out awhile back, i wanted it till i saw it, it looks like crap, Harbor Freight sells many many different kinds of tools but most of them are made by Chicago Electric which dont last long, if u r lookin for a drill go to Lowes, it will last much longer however if there is a tool at H F tht u cant find anywhere else then hell get it...

Jeff

 

[WRMorrison]

OMFG...DONT GET IT!


I bought one a while back, and the SOB wouldn't even cut through a 3/16" brake line! The motor would stall as soon as you cut into it!


Worthless piece of crap.


If you have a dremel, HF sells a fiberglass reinforced cut off wheel for like $5.99 for a 3 pack including the wheel mount. They work great.

Ditto. I've got one, and the only thing I've been able to cut with it is carbon fiber arrows. Everything else stalls the motor.

-WRM

 

[ColquittCustom405]

I have a chicago mini chop saw I got from Harbor Freight, works good. But like the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Yes it stalls every now and then but if you go slow it works fine......

 

[AdamF]

Hmm...maybe I got a bad one or they changed the design? Because it took damn near 10 minutes to cut through a 3/16" brake line tube. Maybe it would be better with an abrasive disk.

 

[thaclodking]

I was at HF Thursday and checked this thing out. I think I will pass on this. I have been impressed with most of the stuff from there like my lathe, but I was afraid I would break it on the shelf. It just isn't very sturdy.

 

[Cubman]

Sorry to dig such an old thread up. Has anyone found an alternative to this saw? I am looking for a small cut-off saw to quickly cut aluminum stock no bigger than an inch or two. I could use my dremel, but I would like to keep the ends perfectly square (Always end up cutting at an angle with the dremel :roll: ). I would like to find something less than $100, if possible.

 

[taco crawler]

I was at HF Thursday and checked this thing out. I think I will pass on this. I have been impressed with most of the stuff from there like my lathe, but I was afraid I would break it on the shelf. It just isn't very sturdy.

which lathe are you refering to i have been eyeing those to but wanted to hear from someone that has used them first.

 

[DUDE]

Put an old sewing machine motor in it, that might do the trick. I thought about building one with the fore mentioned motor off an industrial type sewing machine. Or any small motor with some power.

BTW: when you look at electric power tools the amps is where it is at. Now if that was a 5 to 10 amp motor it would not stall.

I broke down and bought a cheap Delta 9" band saw and had some metal cutting blades made up. It has some really cheapy side guides for the blade made of plastic. They are easy to replace with something better for cheap. I am thinking derlin or oil light brass. You could also fab up a bearing , but the bearing would have to be small and the holder custom made from whatever you want

 

[Double J]

I was at Harbor Frieght today and they have a 6" cut off saw on sale for 25.99. It was less expensive and made of metal. I don't have specs on it at the moment but will go there tomorrow and find out the info for you. Hold on I'll check the net to see if they have it on their site..........


...................... Hey there it is..
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItemList.do

Just an FYI there are different Harbor Freight sites. This one is to the flyer that I receive from them. Harbor freight usa.com and not just harbor freight.com.. But the good thing about it is that if one has an item for sale they will honor it, even though it's not on sale at my store..

EDIT.. I just clicked on the link and it didn't come up just search for 6" cut-off saw..

 

[Cubman]

This one?

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=41453&CategoryName=&SubCategoryName=

How do I find out what cutting disc I need to use with it? Thanks for the info.

EDIT: The manual calls for a 6" cutoff wheel with a 5/8" arbor (hole in the middle, right?).

 

[6x6bigdollars]

Hi I got one of those,they are JUNK,so I bought the next one up,it has a 6" blade,it works Fine,I only paid $26.00 at Harbor Freight,,the blades are easy to buy,you can get them anywhere but the little chop saw is only good for Plastic,Lite wood.Jim

 

[Cubman]

the little chop saw is only good for Plastic,Lite wood

Are you refering to the orange one, or the one with the 6" blade?

 

[6x6bigdollars]

The little orange one is only good for Plastic,Lite wood,I have one,it is No good for Metal,I bought the one with the 6" Blade,that one works great,I cut everything with that one.Jim

 

[Cubman]

I have to put a plug in for the 6" saw. I purchased one a couple months ago, and have used it on many things. This past weekend, my dad and I built a trailer hitch for the front of his lawn tractor. I had to reposition the metal a couple times, but I cut through 5" x 3" x 1/4" angle iron with the little saw! It didn't even use up an entire blade.

 

[P47TBolt]

I bought the this one at HF.the blade that it comes with is good for
cutting wood or plastic.I installed a 4" cutoff wheel that I use at work for cutting metal.I had to leave the gaurd off,but as for cutting,I have been cutting 8/32 threaded rod and steel brake line with it without any problems.If you apply a lot of pressure while cutting it will stall the motor,but it will cut through the steel brake line in about 30-40 seconds with the 4" cutoff wheel.Cost was $23.99.THe display model was flimsy ,so I removed one out of the box and it was a lot sturdier.I think the display model was broken at its pivot point.I am not cutting very big stuff with it anyway.