Cut-off machines are indispensable in the metal fabrication workshop. The three types most often used are the friction disc type, band saws and cold cut.
If speed of cut with good accuracy and a clean finish is important, a cold cut saw is a game changer. Much, much faster than a traditional friction disk saw, cutting with a cold cut saw produces almost no sparks, doesn't heat up the material and leaves an almost burr-free finish.
As for accuracy, I have done over 2000 cuts with the Makita LC1230, including miter cuts and have not needed to file or grind the material to butt up perfectly for welding purposes. It saves vast amounts of prep time and will pay for itself in short order.
One of the concerns around the cost of a cold cutting saw relates to the saw blades and yes, blades are expensive, however after more than 2000 cuts the blade on my machine is still serviceable and the cost per cut is below R1 each. Taking into account the cost of top quality grinding discs as used on normal friction cutters, I am still saving money and a benefit of the cold saw blade is that it can be resharpened once dull.
The one negative aspect of these types of cut-off saws is noise, especially when compared to a bandsaw type, however comparing to an abrasive cut-off saw the difference is not noticeable in my experience.
Quality. The quality and workmanship of the Makita LC1230 is excellent and contributes greatly to the accuracy of cuts achieved. It has a solid cast aluminium base as opposed to stamped steel, beefy fence and no slop in the mechanism. When comparing the machine to other brands these attributes sealed the deal. I look forward to many years of use and would highly recommend the saw to anyone looking to up their fabrication game.
