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06-14-2018, 01:59 PM | #1 |
Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PA
Posts: 13,921
| Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I'm looking to get a compact miter chop saw to do some cutting on small aluminum and brass tubes. I want something compact that I can keep in my hobby room. I don't want a full-size chop saw or miter saw that I have to keep in the garage. I just started looking and found that Harbor Freight has a 2" and a 6". The 2" would be plenty if it'll do the job. Online reviews seem mixed. The 6" seems better, but it's much larger than I need. Then there's the Proxxon which looks great, but it's around $250. The Rockwell BladeRunner is another potential option. Is there something in the middle? What do you guys use? Harbor Freight Drill Master 2" Harbor Freight Drill Master 6" Proxxon Rockwell BladeRunner |
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06-14-2018, 02:06 PM | #2 |
RCC Addict Join Date: May 2015 Location: Price Twp.
Posts: 1,291
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I have the top one and the only thing it is good for is cutting pen tubes and light metal tubing. Go to thingiverse and print yourself a cutting station for a dremal, assuming you have one. I had that bottom one and returned it. Could get a straight line because the blade would deflect. All I was trying to cut was 3/4" wood pen blanks. It happened to be a fathers day gift a few years ago. I like the second from the bottom one. Looks useful |
06-14-2018, 02:17 PM | #3 |
Custom Carbon Fiber Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Connecticut :(
Posts: 4,501
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
Ive had the Harbor Freight (second one) for about 7 years now, used it quite a bit when I built scalers. Still works good, never a problem. Only flaw I dont like is depending how big a piece of what ever, the wheel doesnt cut through it totally. Cutting 3/16 brake line or 12mm carbon fiber tubes .... the handle bottoms out before the wheel gos the last bit through. I just put a block in the vise part of it to raise the material up. Last edited by Robbob; 06-14-2018 at 02:24 PM. |
06-14-2018, 02:24 PM | #4 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Princeton, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 1,499
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
The Bladerunner is most attractive to me. I freehand on a fullsize tablesaw now (cringe), but I much prefer a stationary blade for precision and control over a chop type, unless they feature a laser, which these won't. And it will certainly be of higher quality than the typical Horror Freight offerings. |
06-14-2018, 03:08 PM | #5 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Deep in the Everglades
Posts: 5,816
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
A good vise and a 4” grinder with a diamond wheel can’t be beat Hang up and Drive |
06-14-2018, 03:43 PM | #6 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Douglassville, PA
Posts: 4,218
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I have a blade runner. It's loud as heck, and cuts in an upwards motion. Not the greatest for small parts. Feel free to come check it out sometime. I use it primarily for cutting new chassis rails and parts. I use a dremel and cut off wheel with a vise for smaller stuff. |
06-14-2018, 04:23 PM | #7 |
Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pontypool, wales
Posts: 364
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw |
06-14-2018, 05:40 PM | #8 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Deep in the Everglades
Posts: 5,816
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I have them already for cutting thru stucco and lath. Overkill, but love the 4” Hang up and Drive |
06-15-2018, 08:15 AM | #9 | |
RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Princeton, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 1,499
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw Quote:
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06-15-2018, 08:20 AM | #10 | ||||
Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PA
Posts: 13,921
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw Quote:
The second one from the bottom looks awesome, but it's $250 and I wouldn't use it enough to justify that. I wonder what the size of the motor is in the first one. Maybe we could hop that up... Quote:
This one does seem like a decent option though. Quote:
Quote:
I appreciate it. I might have to check it out. | ||||
06-15-2018, 08:25 AM | #11 | |
Custom Carbon Fiber Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Connecticut :(
Posts: 4,501
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw Quote:
Fingers ..... fast spinning fiber metal cutting disc vs putting something to hold material up a bit. I voted for my fingers lol | |
06-15-2018, 08:43 AM | #12 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Raleigh-ish vicinity
Posts: 3,846
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I have the first one and had the second one. The little saw has the power of a dremel and doesn't always cut parts straight but is good enough for RC use. I replaced the metal blade with a 2 inch cut-off disk and it handles 1/4" aluminum tubing but it really isn't up to cutting steel. The second, larger saw has more than enough power for anything you would need to cut in RC use, I cut a bunch of 1/4" stainless steel tubing and 3/16" rod for links like it was nothing. The big problem was the bevel gear that connects the motor to the blade stripped out rather quickly. The mesh on those gears was terrible and there is no real was to adjust it so the fact they failed isn't too surprising. |
06-15-2018, 08:55 AM | #13 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Princeton, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 1,499
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
The 2" Horror Freight does look interesting at $35.
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06-15-2018, 09:00 AM | #14 |
Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tifton
Posts: 590
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I use the 6" Harbor Freight one almost daily. Works very well.
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06-15-2018, 09:05 AM | #15 |
RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Princeton, North Carolina, USA
Posts: 1,499
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
Jato, just buy one of each of them and then post a review for us. Kthx. |
06-15-2018, 09:27 AM | #16 |
I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Where the sheep run scared.
Posts: 3,008
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I bought the blade runner when they first came out. It does cut metal ( I spilt a few frame rails with it). IMO it isn't ideal for our hobby.....
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06-15-2018, 09:39 AM | #17 | |
Pebble Pounder Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Philly Area
Posts: 137
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw Quote:
I've only done wood cutting so far, but know that it's cut quality is directly tied to the quality of blade. Throw away the stock blades, and pick up a set of Bosche baldes. Makes the difference between it being total garbage, or a serviceable tool. Even with nice bladed though, any wood working generally needs some heavy sanding to be serviceable. All that said, it's actually a nicer, more accurate tool than a $100 Jigsaw-in-a-table has any right to be. It won't replace a band, table, or chop saw, but it'll "do in a pinch." Also, it appears it's being discontinued as a "Rockwell" product, and being shifted to the Worx Brand: https://www.worx.com/bladerunner-por...saAslbEALw_wcB In summary, ask your self "can I cut what I'm about to cut with a Jig saw, assuming I could mount everything in a secure way", and that's what the blade runner does for you. And, like the jig saw, it's a great "tool for someone who doesn't want a lot of tools", if that makes sense. Last edited by AggressorBLUE; 06-15-2018 at 09:44 AM. | |
06-15-2018, 09:40 AM | #18 | |||
Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PA
Posts: 13,921
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw Quote:
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06-16-2018, 01:11 PM | #19 |
Pebble Pounder Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Bay area
Posts: 129
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
Honestly, a $100 benchtop band saw is a bit bigger, but *SO* much more versatile. I've been using mine for 5ish years, and is absolutely one of my most used tools.
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06-18-2018, 11:40 AM | #20 |
Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PA
Posts: 13,921
| Re: Hobby Bench Top Cut-Off Miter Saw
I went with the Drill Master 6" saw from Harbor Freight. It was only $45.99, but I had a 20% off coupon so that brought it down to $36.80. On their website they list this saw twice and the only difference I could find is the arbor size - 5/8" vs 7/8". The saw I bought included both size arbors. I also bought a 3-pack of these blades. The saw doesn't come with one and these were the only 6" blades left in stock at that Harbor Freight. I actually thought they were completely out of 6" blades, but I finally found these after double checking. Here's my first test cut. Not perfect, but certainly not bad. The miter and clamp are clunky to use. And I'm not sure why, but there were some occasions where the cut wasn't perpendicular to the aluminum. But this saw will definitely due fine for this small project I have going. |
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