Electric Metal Saw

[Burt Alcantara]

Harbor Freight sells this tool. Does anyone know of a better made version?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=65766

Thanks,
Burt

[Tim Marks]

150 Watts? That is 1.2 amps... not exactly a real powerful motor. I wouldn't expect that would be able to cut anything thicker then 26 gauge sheetmetal... very slowly.

What material are you trying to cut and why?

If you want a reciprocating saw, buy a sawzall clone with a decent size motor so it won't get stuck. A sawzall can be pretty handy for raining distruction at amazing speed on any material; but don't expect to do any nice cutting with it. An example would be HF's version (don't have one; I have an old 12 amp craftsman model that has lasted me with intermittant use for 12 years):
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=4095

Note that it only draws 4 amps. Pretty wimpy; don't expect much cutting speed from that either. Look for something that draws 12 amps for a real MANLY destruction tool.

If you want to cut metal for building (vs destroying stuff), then typically a chop saw or bandsaw is used.

[Chuck Tringo]

Yes, its called a quality jigsaw with a metal cutting blade (i prefer the bosxh 1590 :p)


Harbor Freight sells this tool. Does anyone know of a better made version?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=65766

Thanks,
Burt

[Scott Rollins]

The millwrights at work use the milwaukee 6370-21 13 Amp 8-Inch metal cutting circular saw to cut plate 3/4" thick and sq tubing 2" thick with ease. It amazed me the first time I saw it. It cuts through 1/2" steel about 1/2 as fast as you would normally cut 3/4" ply. Very fast.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/416211VSV6L._SL500_AA280_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0000WUQI4/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=228013&s=hi)

[Jamie Buxton]

Burt, are you looking for a way to cut metal? Or are you looking for that saber-saw blade with a very small shoe -- maybe for cutting wood in an odd situation?

[Burt Alcantara]

I'd like to use it to flush cut broken screws & nails, do small trim jobs, do a bit of carving.
So, nothing requiring a lot of power but mostly smooth cutting.

I have recip and jig saws but for these tasks, they are too big, bulky and awkward. What I like about this tool is it's like a small recip saw.

Burt

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,
I have a Dremel MS400 saw attachment.
Works a lot like a mini recip saw.

Right at this moment Amazon has a fantastic price on it - $17.36.
IIRC, I paid quite a bit more for mine @ Lowes.

[David G Baker]

Burt,
I use a hacksaw blade mounted in a handle designed to do what you mentioned that you would like to do with the saw. I make sure that I have the right blade for the project that I want to do. It is very easy to control the cutting where I have trouble using the power type, always breaking or bending the blades.

[Tim Marks]

I'd like to use it to flush cut broken screws & nails
How about just hitting them with an 3" angle grinder? Alot easier to get them down smooth without messing up the surface around them (which is generally what a jig saw blade does for me).

If the screws are embedded in wood, you have to be carful about only hitting them quickly to avoid building up heat and scorching the wood.