I'm getting ready to purchase a new cut-off saw and was wanting some opinions on why someone would need the 8000rpm?
I've always used the 5000 for cutting carbons only (which is what the new one will be used for, too) but thought there might be some advantage I was unaware of.
Not that I know of, mine is 3,000 rpm and cuts everything I put to it including carbons, aluminums and woods.
I purchased the 8000 rpm saw because am use to using apple pro saw at archery shop there is big difference between apple pro over customer grade saw. The customer grade does great job but take about twice as long as pro saw.
I have had a 5000 rpm saw for years and it has always worked perfectly on all types of shafting. I'm trying to imagine it being any faster than it is...
can you use a band saw to cut carbons?
NO! on the Band Saw. Don't even try it.
I use the Apple Pro. Which saw are you looking at getting?
QuoteOriginally posted by BadgerArrow:
NO! on the Band Saw. Don't even try it.
I use the Apple Pro. Which saw are you looking at getting?
I was looking at getting the inexpensive model from Cabela's which is manufactured by Weston I believe. I don't use a cut-off saw but maybe 3-4 times a year so I couldn't justify a Apple or Easton Elite. Unless someone's got a good reason why I should?
Dusty
I use the Harbor Freight Mini Cut-Off saw. Costs under $30 and does fine for the amount of arrows I cut.
5000 for me. Never had a problem yet.
Bisch
QuoteOriginally posted by vermonster13:
I use the Harbor Freight Mini Cut-Off saw. Costs under $30 and does fine for the amount of arrows I cut.
This piques my cheapskate side's curiousity. Have you ever had any problem with splintering/fraying. Also, do you just eyeball to keep the arrows square while cutting?
I mark with a black marker to get my length, cut, then sand any mistakes off with one of the stones you get with Axis arrows. I roll the shaft a bit while cutting and don't have any splinter problems.
Those Harbor Freight saws are junky little tools.
They're cheap but you get what you pay for.
I have an 8k Weston saw and have cut hundreds of carbons, aluminum and wood arrows with no problems. They aren't nearly as nice as an Apple Pro but they are decent quality for less than $90 new.
I have a 5000rpm Weston and it cuts my carbons and alums just fine
I built my own cutoff saw about 20 yrs ago using a sewing machine motor. It's 5000 rpm and works great. I've replaced the motor twice and have cut 1000s of arrows with it as it was in the bow shop for 5 yrs.
Last time I replaced the motor I used one from Harbor Freight. Not as high a quality as Singer but works great.
I think you could make one in less then an hour using the HF 3" cutoff.
Mike
I'll also endorse the Harbor Freight. Yes, it's cheap, but then again, I don't make arrows for a living so who cares?
Having said that, I haven't used it for Carbon shafts so I can't commment to that.
The cut off saw from Harbor Freight works for aluminumn,carbon and wood. It comes with a blade for cutting the wood shafts and the blades for the alum. and carbon.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Has anyone used or even heard of FS Archery's cut-off saw? I found it on sale for $69.99. It looks solid as it does not have any plastic parts whatsoever.
Also found the Weston saws on sale for $97.00 (5000) and $105.00 (8000).
I've used the Harbor Freight on wood, carbon, alloy, and the carbon over alloy. It has worked fine for my needs, but I only usually do a dozen at a time and maybe 10-12 dozen a year. Use it a bit for nipping for tuning and it does great for that.
I don't know the brand of saw I have..but it was cheap. It's small and orange. I think I paid 20 bucks for it, and it has worked just fine for me. Then again...I only cut a dozen or 2 arrows each year with it...but I've had it for 7 years or so. Works for me.
We use the Apple pro at our shop 8000rpm I have found that for multi use it works best for us. Wood, Carbon and Alum.
I've been using a HF saw also. No problems with any type of shaft. Takes maybe 10 seconds long.to get every thing set up & cut but no splintering.
It may be a cheap tool but it does the job fine. Wouldn't want to use it in a shop but as a hobbiest can't justify the cost difference.
Seems to work best for carbon but they do dull the blade faster than other shafts.
I've just recently got a 5000rpm cut off saw, works great on carbons, but a little slow when you try to cut aluminums, it will stop the blade if you try and cut too fast, but if you take your time, it works just fine.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dusty Nethery:
Thanks for the advice guys.
Has anyone used or even heard of FS Archery's cut-off saw? I found it on sale for $69.99. It looks solid as it does not have any plastic parts whatsoever.
Also found the Weston saws on sale for $97.00 (5000) and $105.00 (8000).
Probably a little late for ya but I frequent two shops that use them (FS saw) and they seem to work great. I'm looking at getting one myself.
I guess they will both work fine. Since we cut hundreds of shafts a day at a show, I went with the best (the second time). I was truly impressed with the difference.
We stock an 8000 rpm just because it was only $20 more than the 5000rpm and if your going to buy an arrow saw, why chince on $20 bucks. Now the harbor freight works, but I have burned one of those up too (before I started selling arrows). Back to how much your going to use it and how many you want to purchase.
Good luck, Bigjim
I would agree with BigJim here...why chince for $20 bucks...I bought the cabelas 8000 on sale last year, and it included a vacuum outlet which is very important with the carbon dust and your lungs.
My 5000 RPM saw is the one from FS Discount Archery. Works very well, and I use it a lot. One thing is that you have to buy replacement cutoff disks from them as the arbor is not the standard size, or at least I haven't been able to find them elsewhere.
Also, I had one of those yellow jobs from Harbor Freight and I didn't think it did such a great job on carbons. I always thought it was going to burst into flames!
I must have got a good one from Harbor Freight...I've had mine for 4-5 yrs. and it works great. 7800 rpms. Mounted it on a board and built a holder for the shaft.. the key is to slowly spin shaft as you cut. I only cut 3-4 dozen shafts a year.
Jr.
I'm glad to hear that it works for you--I also slowly spin the shaft with my FS saw but I probably cut 20 dozen shafts a year, all kinds. So maybe I just wore out the Harbor Freight saw.
I have one of the 5000 rpm cabelas arrow saws. It works great on all my carbon arrows.
I didn't realize this had come back around 'til just now.
I've put off the arrow saw for now as I found that the full-length Trad Only 340 shafts fly perfectly for me out of my new set-up.
I am still considering a cut-off saw but now time is not of the essence.
Thanks for all of the advice guys!
I have the apple 5000rpm and love it,
the archery shop I used to work at has the 8000rpm saw, and I hated it!
There was a huge difference in the noise level of the two saws with the 8000 being ALOT louder.
Besides the noise factor, I wasn't cutting arrows any faster, I suppose you could if you were chop-sawing them with the saw, but I roll my shafts into the blade.
Really dont think 2 thou more rpms would matter, caution! Worked in an archery shop a little, use protection for your eyes while cutting. If you have ever seen one of these blades explode, I would not even have to tell you to wearem.