Which Notcher

[radjeeper]

I've been looking at purchasing the Low Buck Tools tubing notcher ($325.00 with one set of dies). I know they are limited in what angles they can cut but they're a lifetime tool. Any feed back or other recommendations on a quality tubing notcher? Thanks for your help.

 

[rockreligious]

Ive got an even cheaper one at $175 a JD2 that used hole saw bits, not as nice and doesnt do as hard of angles as the die/type but works good, and seems to be good quality. really noisey, but they probably all are. I bought it from m-tech

 

[lewis]

I bought the harbor freight one for around $50 and it has notched alot of tube and I have only went through 2 hole saws. I can also notch up to solid tubing with it.

 

[neagtea]

I used to use a lowbuck tools notcher but the fit up wasn't as good as a hole saw set up. I would go with the holesaw set up. Get one with bearings on the shaft instead of a bushing set up if ya can find it.

 

[Zombie]

Do you guys have a loca supplier for the hole saws? I never think far enough ahead, and always end up having to put a project on hold to wait for shipping. If I had a local line, then I'd only lose hours, not days, and I might finish something.

 

[I Lean]

Holesaw notchers sure are easy. Cheaper ones (with bushings) will wear out fairly fast with steady use, then you'll be spending more money on a better one. Once the bushings wear to a certain point, they won't hold the holesaw in line, it'll start to chatter and break teeth.

JD2 makes a few nice options and some can notch through a bend (most can't), Pro-Tools has a couple nice ones, the JMR notcher is supposed to be really cool.

 

[I Lean]

Do you guys have a loca supplier for the hole saws? I never think far enough ahead, and always end up having to put a project on hold to wait for shipping. If I had a local line, then I'd only lose hours, not days, and I might finish something.

You can get 'em from any tool place, including Home Depot, etc.

 

[rockreligious]

You can get 'em from any tool place, including Home Depot, etc.

yep, and it pays to buy the higher quality ones, cheap ones will get eat up and suck. I keep mine cool with soapy water use windex bottle, when im notching, make them last longer, also while your at home-depot pick up some earmuffs cause its miserably loud.

 

[Kiel]

I just bought the jd2 notchmaster, so far so good, and it does offset holes also!

 

[radjeeper]

I'm glad I asked. Very helpfull comments. Sounds like the quality hole saw type with ball bearings is the way to go. I'll check them out. Thanks guys. Anything else you have on these let me know.

 

[I Lean]

I'm glad I asked. Very helpfull comments. Sounds like the quality hole saw type with ball bearings is the way to go. I'll check them out. Thanks guys. Anything else you have on these let me know.

For production work, we ended up with a set of 6 or so holesaws from Cornwell Tools. They were pretty expensive, but with the lifetime warrantee they were worth it. Any time we wore one out they'd bring a new one to replace it, so we usually had nice sharp holesaws.

 

[smashmetal]

Keith over at http://www.xtremecrawlers.com/catalog/
has the best deal on protools notchers and benders I have a 500i notcher and it's awsome, 1" shaft with bearings, 1/2 steel backing plate and it will do off set notches.
another good resource for ya!

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/index.php

 

[Andy]

Keith over at http://www.xtremecrawlers.com/catalog/
has the best deal on protools notchers and benders I have a 500i notcher and it's awsome, 1" shaft with bearings, 1/2 steel backing plate and it will do off set notches.
another good resource for ya!

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/index.php

That's what I have and love it!!!