Best cutting tool for metal fab

[solidfrontaxle]

I need a metal cutting device for my garage to use for basic fabrication. I have an arc welder, but what is the best all around tool for cutting steel up to about 3/8"? I'm not going to use it a whole lot, just for building bumpers and stuff every now and then. I want to take into account quality (longevity), cost and frequency of replacement of consumeables (blades or whatever), versatility (angles, long cuts, etc), speed, and cost. I'm thinking about spending about $200-$300 but may go more or less depending on value and usefulness.
Options I've considered:
A good high quality chopsaw like Dewalt or Milwaukee.
A harbor freight bandsaw (I've heard these are actually decent)
A small oxyacetylene torch kit
A good high quality sawzall

Any other ideas? What is going to be the most useful? Obviously a torch would be the most versatile, and for more than just fab, but cost is alot higher, especially to refill. Plus the cuts aren't very clean....

What would yall do?

 

[TJDukit]

I have a friend in New Mexico that bought a band saw for about 200 bucks, it wasn't harbor freight but I'm guessing around the same price probably. He loved it, it made short work of a lot of things we did, it got a lot of use when we put a 5.3L in his '93
Wrangler. So I would say go with the band saw/

 

[Corban_White]

For that price, the torch, a 3 inch air cutoff wheel and a sawzall.

 

[DToy]

I've got a Makita chop saw that I have used for 7 years and it's still going strong. Between that and a decent 4-1/2" grinder there's very little that I haven't been able to cut. Blades aren't too expensive either. I would like a torch one of these days, but so far I've been able to get along without one.

 

[GOAT]

Look for a used bandsaw or a new portable bandsaw. You can also fab a stand/plate and use the portable as an upright as well.

IMHO. torches, sawzalls and abrasive wheels bring the suck for fabwork. By far the best tool you can buy for a garage is a plasma cutter. Worth every penny.

 

[spencurai]

Harbor freight grinder with like 200 cut off wheels is all you need man...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Chop Saw. I use my chop saw more than grinders, plasma, torch, etc... hands down.

 

[lewis]

I use a 4 inch grinder with 7 inch skill saw blades. I have only burned up 25 grinders in 10 years. You have to be careful though, things can go bad real fast, just ask my leg.

 

[Coreshot]

Depends on what you're cutting. For tube, angle and the like, a chop saw is the way to go. Longer cut on sheet metal, I would opt for a band saw. Of course, the best option would be a plasma, but not for the money you stated.

 

[Badbuggy]

One cutting tool, chop saw. But each one has it's best place to be used. One cutting tool, will not fit the needs of every application.

 

[ChestonScout]

for basic fab I think you need 2. Chop saw and a porta band saw.

If your not using it all the time...just buy the higher "quality" Harbor Freight chop saw. You can get them on sale for under 100 bucks, they have a warranty and they actually dont do to bad. Ive had one for 4 years and I have beat the piss out of it. It just barely died last week. Then buy your portable band saw as well.

This assumes that you have a 4 1/2 grinder all ready. If not, you need one of these as well. 20 bucks at HF

 

[Medsker]

Chop saw, it will cut most things. A 4 1/2" grinder will do the rest. If you have to cut thick stuff you can always use your arc welder (just crank it up and it will blow through anything).

 

[ricsrx]

X2 on every thing said above,
but..... start looking at all of the tools you want, and slowly collect them one at a time.
I purchased the wood upright band saw from HF, then got a good quality blade for metal, and reduced the speed, i am carfull with it but it is very handy.

 

[RockMonkey]

Some interesting posts in here. Lots of very different opinions. Here's mine:

You absolutely have to have a 4 1/2" angle grinder or two or three. I you have nothing else start with this. It's nice to have multiple grinders so you can have a grinding wheel on one, a wire wheel on one, a flap wheel on one, a cutoff wheel on one, etc. If you've only got one grinder that's fine, but you'll be switching tools on it a lot.

For me the next most used tool is the plasma cutter. It's going to be tough to get a decent one for your price range with some extra consumables, but if you could spend a bit more I think this is the way to go. They cut at any angle, and in any shape. More versatile than about any other cutting tool. It's tough to cut an old spring hanger off a frame with a chop saw. A plasma cutter does require you to have a decent air compressor as well.

Third for me would be a nice horizontal band saw. They're great for making precise, clean, straight cuts in nearly any material. One advantage is you can set them up and walk away while they cut. When they're done they'll shut off automatically. They do take up a lot of room, and cost quite a bit. One of these is on my wish list.

Fourth for me would be a chop saw. Similar uses as a band saw, but not as good in any way. Cuts are not as clean or precise, but a chop saw is a fraction of the price of a band saw, and small enough to store in a cabinet when not in use. You cut through thick material, but have some patience, don't push too hard, and make sure you're plugged into a sufficient power source.

I used a sawzall a lot years ago, but I almost never break it out now. There are just better options almost every time.

I've never owned a torch. Occasionally I've thought it would be nice for heating something up (to bend it, usually), but I can't really imagine I would ever reach for a torch to cut something when I have a plasma cutter available.

I've never even used a porta-band. I'm surprised how high up on the list this is for a few posters.


To stay within your budget, I would probably start with a couple grinders, a chop saw, and a bunch of different abrasive wheels. Then add to your collection from there.

 

[I Lean]

To stay within your budget, I would probably start with a couple grinders, a chop saw, and a bunch of different abrasive wheels. Then add to your collection from there.

Yep, that'd be my advice as well. Get at least one good quality grinder--I have a decent DeWalt that I use for anything that will stress the grinder at all, then two Harbor Freight grinders ($9 ea.) that I keep a sanding disc and wire wheel on.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

Yeah I should have said originally that I have two 4 1/2" grinders for exactly those reasons. I do hate cutting with them though. The blades wear out waaay too fast.
Thanks for all the advice and input. Keep it coming....

 

[bobmed]

I bought one of these and it's working out good.
It cuts fast and smooth and I've made about twenty cuts in 1/2" plate, 1/4" wall square tube and 1 1/4" dom with out any problems.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00961252000P?vName=Tools

 

[Shawn]

I have a nice chop saw, haven't used it in years... loud, dirty, cuts ok. I invested in a nice horizontal band saw and haven't looked back. I use it more than the plasma.

 

[bobdog]

I've never owned a torch. Occasionally I've thought it would be nice for heating something up (to bend it, usually), but I can't really imagine I would ever reach for a torch to cut something when I have a plasma cutter available.
.

Try washing a bearing race off of a shaft without hurting the shaft with a Plasma cutter. I will admit that a plasma is a great tool but I would never want one over a torch. I find I almost never bother plugging in the plasma while the torch is in constant use. Plasma is easier but if you know how to use the torch it can do just about anything the plasma can and many many things the plasma cant. It is also cheaper.

 

[Shawn]

Try washing a bearing race off of a shaft without hurting the shaft with a Plasma cutter. I will admit that a plasma is a great tool but I would never want one over a torch. I find I almost never bother plugging in the plasma while the torch is in constant use. Plasma is easier but if you know how to use the torch it can do just about anything the plasma can and many many things the plasma cant. It is also cheaper.

I agree, a torch is a must. Saying you don't need one shows the lack of using one. There are things a plasma cutter can't do that a torch can.