Need saw info...

[hellowyo]

Hello Everyone!

I am a High School welding teacher, and I need to get a saw for my school shop. We have a chop saw, so I am looking at cold cut or band saws. I want it to cut angles easily. I am leaning toward band saws as they seem to be a little cheaper. I probably have up to $4500 to spend, but hopefully not quite that much. I want it to be accurate, Easy to use, and TOUGH! (They kids can destroy the best of things!) I also would like it to cut 6" box tube or so...

I have been looking at Wilton and Balieh saws, but do you have any words of wisdom?

Thanks Everyone! I enjoy reading your info very much!

[WyoRoy]

Ellis. Besides being made here in the U.S. of A. it is a fine saw set up for easily cutting angles. Except for the backbone of the saw frame and the swivel everything else is manufactured out of regular steel and should be good to go for years to come OR easily mended with a little fabrication, grinding and welding back into place. For 6" box tube you wouldn't even need that large of an Ellis model.

[BC Iron works]

i just bought the grizzly g0613 its a great saw for $1500.00
but if i had $3000.00 i would go with the Ellis 1600
go to there web site and they will send you info and a dvd

[WyoRoy]

Hellowyo, I just took a look at your profile and saw that you are over in Greybull. You're more than welcome to take a drive over the mountain to Gillette and check out my Ellis down at the shop.

[84ZMike]

I'd say an Ellis as well.... blades are lots cheaper than cold saw blades....and the kids are less likely to jack up the Ellis with too fast of feed rates etc.....plus Ellis is widely used in fab shops as well as production type work so they would be familiar with the saw and it controls prior to working in the the trade.....

[FATFAB]

Ellis! Biggest cut for the Buck.

[tnjind]

Bandsaws are more forgiving then coldsaws, when used by "non-thinkers".

Bandsaw blades are cheaper to buy but coldsaw blades can be sharpened many times.

To cut 6" box would require a large coldsaw, once again the nod goes to a bandsaw.

[DDA52]

Yup, a bandsaw would be a much better choice. You have to be perfect with the cold saws or the blades either go away fast or in one cut. That can get expensive...don't ask me how I know that.

[tnjind]

Yep,
But if you do have them sharpenend I use Tru cut in Ohio, $14.00 per blade.

[84ZMike]

Yep,
But if you do have them sharpenend I use Tru cut in Ohio, $14.00 per blade.

Could you imagine what a cold saw blade would look like the first time a HS kid jammed it into a piece of stock because it was cutting too slow..... after you payed to have the teeth welded back on then sharpened you'd have been better off with a new one....