Best Metal Chop Saw in 2023: Top Picks, Reviews & Buyers Guide

Most of the saws that you will find are commonly used for woodworking jobs. What if you want to cut steel pipe, cast iron rod, or slice rebar? In this case, you will need to have the best metal chop saw. You might ask yourself, why do you need a metal chop saw yet you can use an angle grinder or a hacksaw to cut through metal?

The truth is, that all these tools work well in cutting metal. However, if you want to get the best outcome, a metal chop saw is the right tool to use. This is because the saw uses an abrasive disc as compared to a saw blade. Again, the saw doesn’t have teeth so it does not get stuck.

How do you choose the right saw to suit your needs? There are so many models on the market that it can be overwhelming to pick the best. In fact, according to a survey on this particular issue, we come to know that there are over 26 types of saws that are used for different applications.

Best Metal Chop Saw – Quick Table

Today, I will take you through reviews of the best-rated metal chop saws on the market. My team of experts and I spent many hours on research and testing. We tested over 50 metal chop saws to come up with a list of the 9 best models.

What Does A Metal Chop Saw Refer To

A metal chop saw is also referred to as a cut-off saw or an abrasive saw. This is a powerful tool that is used to cut tough materials such as metal, concrete, and tile. The saw cuts with the help of an abrasive disc that resembles a thin grinding wheel.

The saws work well in cutting materials that are rigid at a particular angle. These saws work amazingly well as compared to a torch or an angle grinder.

The fact that the saws don’t have teeth lead to finer chopping and the teeth do not stick between the metal when you are chopping. You can get the saws in corded and cordless models depending on your preference.

Best Metal Chop Saw- Reviews for 2022

1. Evolution Power Tools EVOSAW380 15-Inch

Most of the saws that you will find are commonly used for woodworking tasks. If you want to cut metal, then you need to have a quality saw that is designed for the job. The Evolution chop saw works well in cutting square tubes, steel plates, round pipes, I-beams, and metal sheets among others.

The saw is designed with a quality blade that can cut over 1000 cuts before you consider a replacement. It has an adjustable vice that helps you to achieve cuts from 0-45 degrees.

Working with this chop saw doesn’t leave the entire working environment dirty. You can cut metal while leaving the place tidy. The saw is designed with a pull-out collection tray to collect the metal chips for easy disposal.

Pros

• It doesn’t require coolant.
• Cuts metal with little heat and burrs.
• Designed with a heavy-duty aluminum base.
• Longer blade life.
• Works well as compared to other abrasive saws.
• No sparks.
• Has an adjustable vise.

Cons

• The base of the saw doesn’t sit flat.
• A plastic handle can break with ease.
• The saw is heavy.

2. DEWALT D28710 14-Inch

When it comes to power tools, Dewalt is one of the leading brands that provide quality and dependable tools. Have you tried their metal chop saw? The DEWALT D28710 is an amazing machine that you can use for all metal cutting tasks.

The saw is designed with a powerful motor required to cut metal. This motor offers overload protection, durability, improved performance, and much more. 

It is designed with a quick-lock vise that makes clamping easy and fast on different materials. For maximum comfort when working, the saw is designed with an ergonomic handle that gives your hand the best holding position. This reduces fatigue even when you are working for several hours.

Apart from comfort, the handle gives you an easy time when you need to transport the saw from one point to the other. Additionally, the saw features 45 degrees pivoting to provide you with accurate and fast cuts all the time.

Pros

• Designed with smooth-running wheels.
• It has a spindle lock for easy wheel changes.
• Powerful motor.
• Comfortable handle.
• On-board wheel change makes storage easy.
• Has an adjustable spark guard.

Cons

• The lift spring would have been a little stronger.
• The blade guard hangs up at times.

 3. PORTER-CABLE PCE700 14 Inch

When selecting a chop miter saw, power and durability are two main things that you should check. This chop saw provides you with that and much more. It gives you the right power that is required for efficient cutting.

The saw is packed with a 15 amp motor with 3800 RPM. The motor features replaceable brushes that provide durability and power. It is also designed with a heavy-duty steel base that gives it the required stability when you are cutting.

Working with this chop is pretty easy. It is designed with a quick-release material clamp that helps you to cut and remove materials with ease. Again, it features a spark deflector for safety purposes and easy cutting sight.

If you need to change the blades, expect a simple task because the saw has a spindle lock that makes it easy and fast to replace the blades

Pros

• Has a powerful motor.
• Designed with safety in mind.
• Can handle different types of jobs.
• It has a heavy-duty base for stability.
• Easy cutting and material removal with the quick-release material clamp.
• Spindle lock for easy blade changing.

Cons

• Nice machine but it is slower.
• Many customers complain of insufficient power.

4. Makita LC1230 12-Inch

There are so many good metal chop saws on the market today that choosing the right can be tough. If you want to end up with a quality saw from a well-known brand, I would recommend the Makita LC1230 metal cutting saw.

This is a quality saw that performs well when it comes to cutting light pipe, tubing, iron, conduit, and much more. It is designed with a powerful 15 amp motor that offers the needed amount of power for metal cutting tasks.

The saw is designed with comfort in mind. It features a D-shape handle that provides you with a nice grip to reduce fatigue. Even when you are working for an extended period of time, you will love the feel and performance of the saw.

Another important thing that you need to check when buying a metal chop saw is safety. Your safety should always come first. This is why the saw is designed with a lock-off button that prevents accidental starting.

Pros

• Comfortable handle.
• Powerful motor.
• Provides faster and more accurate cutting.
• Safety feature to prevent accidental starting.
• Has a moving pivot that reduces the load on the blade.
• Has a collecting tray to collect waste for easy dumping.

Cons

• You need to purchase the accessories separately.
• Doesn’t work well with stainless steel tubing.

5. Evolution Power Tools RAGE2 14-Inch

This is another high-quality saw that works well in cutting metal, PVC, and wood. The saw is versatile so it doesn’t limit you to the number of uses you can apply it. You can use it to cut aluminum, steel, and wood with a single blade.

Another thing that you will appreciate about this machine is that it allows you to cut without any sparks. You can cut through metal without burrs, heat, or sparks. This gives you a workable finish as compared to other saws.

When it comes to performance, this saw outperforms other saws in the market. It is designed with blades that last longer and provide cleaner cuts. To improve its durability and performance, the saw brags a high torque motor gearbox that eliminates motor stress.

Get this saw and achieve angled cuts from 0-45 degrees, thanks to its swivel clamping mechanism.

Pros

• Provides faster and cleaner cuts.
• The saw is multipurpose.
• Doesn’t produce heat, sparks, or burrs.
• It doesn’t need coolant.
• Good quality saw for the price.

Cons

• The saw works well but the vise is not a quick release.

6. DEWALT DW872 14-Inch

One of the factors you look at when selecting a metal chop saw is the ability to perform the work effectively. This particular cutter fits the category just fine. It performs its work efficiently by cutting a wide range of materials at a constant depth throughout its blade life. It cuts from ferrous to non-ferrous metals. You would prefer this multi-cutter saw as it cuts four times faster than other chop saws and 8 times faster than portable band saws at a 2” x 2” x 1/4” angle iron so your work will be pretty easy and quick.

This cutter has carbide teeth that are designed in a special manner and they help deliver fast accurate, and almost burr-free cuts. This reduces the necessity of preparation grinding and you will have finished cuts that are smooth when you touch.

The tip of the blade is made of carbide materials thus it will cut at a constant depth throughout the entire blade life. Additionally, the tip of the blade is 14”, 66 inches, perfect to deliver cuts at a lower cost as to when you compare when cutting with abrasive wheels.

The performance of this machine is very high and the machine itself is highly durable. This is because it is packed with a 15 amp / 4HP motor that provides increased capacity for overload.

Pros

• It’s faster than other chop saws and portable band saws.
• Has a powerful motor.
• Cuts a wide range of materials.
• Easy cutting and removal of material due to fast clamping mechanism.
• Has a larger capacity for increased productivity.
• Comfortable when using.

Cons

• The force of the clamping system is a bit high.
• It tends to be more effective on soft materials than on tough ones.

Verdict

 7. MK Morse CSM14MB 14-Inch

This 14-inch metal cutting saw is a must-have in your workshop as it cuts without sparks, noise smell, or the heat accumulating when cutting. Even better, it includes a safety guard containing 6-8 mm hex wrenches, safety spectacles, earplugs beveling vice, and a metal devil steel cutting blade. All these are for your own safety measures.

This metal cutting saw is suitable for cutting pipes, metal studs conduits, and tubes because it is powered by low speed and high turning 1,300 RPM motor. It is perfect for cutting thanks to the 72-tooth carbide blade, unlike other cutters that grind the metal.

This cutter is designed with an onboard blade that is able to change the wrench, therefore, storage becomes much easier.

Pros

• Makes more cuts than other machines.
• Cuts the surface clean, unlike other machines that grind the metal.
• Cuts faster compared to other machines.
• No noise or funny smells are produced when cutting.
• Stable base.

Cons

• It starts fine, but after some time, it cuts rough surfaces.

8. DEWALT D28715 14-Inch

If you want a powerful machine that provides more capacity to overload then Dewalt D28715 is your choice. It has a 15 Amp /5.5 hp motor that enables the high capacity overload and it works on both metal and plastic.

This machine is used for hand tools and tool organizers, for example, the handsaws. The saw is imported from China where the manufacturing is done. It is designed with a quick-change blade system that enables the users to change the wheels without a tug.

Changing blades is pretty easy. It features a quick-release blade change system that helps you to change the wheels without necessarily using a wrench.

Pros

• High power motor for a great production.
• Works on a variety of materials.
• It provides accurate cuts.
• It is highly flexible and pretty easy to handle.
• Easy wheel change and it is portable.
• Stable base.

Cons

• It does not cut the surface as clean as other saws.
• Some customers complained that is not that durable.

9. PORTER-CABLE PC14CTSD 14-Inch

This is designed with a 15amp motor and replaceable brushes for the power that you need. These features also make the chop saw last for a long time. It has also a front D handle make so when cutting you don’t need much force to pull the handle.

It is easier and faster when cutting and removing materials from the blade as this machine features a quick-release material clamp. One other thing that makes this chop saw durable is its ball-bearing design.

The saw has a capacity miter of 45 degrees which allows it to cut metals up to a 45-degree angle. Additionally, it has a quick-release material clamp for simple material cutting and removal.

Pros

• The motor is powerful with replaceable brushes for maximum power provision.
• The front D handle design reduces the force of pulling the handle.
• Easy material cutting with the help of a quick-release clamp.
• The heavy-duty steel base provides maximum stability.
• It is made with the user’s safety in mind.

Cons

• It is more efficient when cutting soft metal materials as compared to hard metal.

10. Evolution Power Tools RAGE4 7-1/4-Inch 

RAGE 4 evolution is a multipurpose cutting tool. Don’t think that its smaller size will make it not function well. Don’t be fooled! Just like any other saw, the RAGE 4 saw can handle any task with much ease. The tool features strong construction, and it is easy to use as compared to a hacksaw. On top of that, it is portable so you will not have problems carrying it.

Having a seven 7¼ blade, a RAGE 4 is compact and unusual compared to a 14-inch blade. Also, the small-sized edge makes the machine portable. The patented blade is essential for eliminating any build-up as well as reducing sparks during work. This feature is excellent if you are looking forward to reducing clutter within your workshop.

This machine is designed with a multipurpose tool with the ability to cut across woods, plastics, metals, and aluminum. The versatility feature ranks it among the best cutting saws eliminating the need to use any other saw. It does this entirely as there is no need to change its blades after cutting.

Pros

• Cuts materials with low spark emission.
• It is not heavy compared to other cutting machines.
• Pocket-friendly price.
• No build-up of heat.
• It features a strong construction.

Cons

• Very noisy when powered on.
• If you are not careful while cutting materials, you might incur damages.

11. Evolution Power Tools EVOSAW230

For the efficiency of work done, this saw tops the list. It cuts minor steel clean and does not use any heat, coolant, or burrs. This saw can easily be carried from one place to another. It has a 15amp motor that is 1750 watts. The motor turns at 2700 RPM with no load.

This is a perfect solution if you need accuracy and better cutting performance in industrial tasks. It works well in cutting square tubes, steel plates, round pipes, i-beams, angle iron, scaffolding, and much more.

This saw has can tilt from 0 to 45-degree angle with the help of a bevel tilt and has a 1-inch blade arbor. The saw has a 48 tooth carbide-tipped blade making it perform better than abrasives. No coolant is needed as the material is cold and can be worked on immediately

Pros

• The cutting strength is unmatched.
• Comes with a three-year warranty.
• Cuts faster than abrasives.
• It is durable and strong.
• Cuts a lot of, therefore, maximizing productivity.

Cons

• The base is not entirely stable. It shifts from side to side.
• The blade is a bit thinner.
• It is heavy.

Buyer’s Guide

For the efficiency of work done, this saw tops the list. It cuts minor steel clean and does not use any heat, coolant, or burrs. This saw can easily be carried from one place to another. It has a 15amp motor that is 1750 watts. The motor turns at 2700 RPM with no load.

This is a perfect solution if you need accuracy and better cutting performance in industrial tasks. It works well in cutting square tubes, steel plates, round pipes, i-beams, angle iron, scaffolding, and much more.

This saw has can tilt from 0 to 45-degree angle with the help of a bevel tilt and has a 1-inch blade arbor. The saw has a 48 tooth carbide-tipped blade making it perform better than abrasives. No coolant is needed as the material is cold and can be worked on immediately

What considerations should you have in mind when buying a metal chop saw? Read this buying guide to find out the most important things that you should remember when buying a metal chop saw.

Blades

The blades are an important component of a metal chop saw. If you want to get the best cutting performance and accuracy, then you should pick a chop saw with quality blades. Basically, there are two types of blades that you can pick. They include an abrasive blade and a cold saw blade.

The two types of saws cut metal and provide you with the shapes that you want. They are designed with blade guards that will retract when the blade goes down on the material being cut which is held against the fence. The purpose of holding the material against the fence is to help you achieve more accurate cuts. Let us have a closer look at the two types of metal chop blades in detail.

Abrasive blade

This is a blade that produces sparks and leaves the material being cut hot after cutting. Abrasive saws wear down so you will end up throwing them in the trash because you cannot sharpen them several times.

Cold Saw Blade

This is a toothed blade that transfers the heat that is produced by cutting chips and it allows the material being cut and the blade to stay cool. Cold saw blades are highly tensile and they resist wear and tear. This makes them suitable for application in many projects like cutting both thin and thick metallic sheets.

Another benefit of using a cold saw blade is that the temperature of the metal and the blade remain low throughout the cutting process. As compared to abrasive blades, these blades cut materials pretty fast.

In regards to the speed, cold saws have a lower blade speed as compared to abrasive blades. But the cold saw provides some benefits like producing smooth finishes and they can also cut thin sections with little tooth damage.

How do you intend to use the tool?

Basically, there are two types of metals that you can cut with a metal chop saw. The two common types of metals that are used in construction include ferrous and non-ferrous metals.  Ferrous metal includes carbon steel, stainless and cast, and wrought iron. 

These metals are used in large construction work because they are tough. They make the best bridges and many DIY projects. Cutting these metals requires more power and durable blades.

When it comes to non-ferrous metals like copper, aluminum, zinc, tin, and much more, you need a less powerful saw. These metals are used for roofing, outdoor signs, gutters, and liquid pipes and they are highly malleable.

Size of the blade

The size of the blade matters depending on the size of the metal you want to cut. Make sure you get the right blade size that can pass through any size of the metal bar.

A good metal chop saw should have a blade size ranging from 7-14 inches in terms of diameter. If you are a DIY-er, you should buy a blade with 12-inches. However, having a 7-inch blade can also help you handle most of your tasks.

Maximum cutting capacity

What is the maximum cutting capacity of the saw? When you are choosing the right chop metal saw to buy, consider the specifications as well as the maximum cutting capacity for squares, cubes, and rectangles. Look for a versatile saw that can handle the type of blade you need for various cutting tasks.

Is the fence adjustable?

You definitely want to work with a metal chop saw that has an adjustable fence. What is the importance of an adjustable fence? It makes the saw versatile so you can keep your workpieces at various angles. Additionally, look for a saw with a fence that is easy to set at precise angles or one that can be locked at 90 degrees.

Vise adjustment

When looking for a good metal chop saw, you will find out that most models on the market are designed with a spring-loaded pivot arm that is attached to the man part of the saw. The saw features an angle plate that holds the workpiece at the right angles and the vise locks the material in place making it easy to cut.

Having a saw that allows you to adjust the vise is crucial and helps you achieve accurate results. Check out for saws that allow easy and fast adjustment and they also hold different types of material sizes. This can be time-saving in the long run.

Changing the blade

At one point or the other, you will have to change the blade of your saw. You want to have a quality saw that not only allows easy vise adjustment but also allows you to change the blades fast. This is important when you are dealing with professional work which might require you to change the blade in between the project.

Is it portable

Would you love to carry your saw from one job site to the other? If so, you should consider a portable model that will be easy to move around. A portable saw is also ideal if you do some DIY projects at home. 

Check out if the saw is designed with carrying handles that make portability easy. Additionally, you can check to find out if the saw has lock-down pins that help you achieve stress-free transportation.

Blade rotation speed

This is an important consideration to check when buying the best chop miter saw. The blade rotation speed is important because it helps you determine how powerful the saw is.

The metal chop saw should provide at least 1,300 RPM for metal cutting tasks. If you buy a saw that uses an abrasive disc, then you need to ensure that the tool can provide at least 3,000 RPM.  

Clamping mechanism

Cutting metal produces heat as compared to cutting other materials. If you are dealing with smaller metal pieces, it is important to keep your hands away from the metal.

Select a metal chop saw with a clamping mechanism so you don’t have to hold the stock. Make sure you check the quality and type of clamping mechanism so that you don’t have to end up with a poor clamping system that causes the metal to fly and hit your face.

Safety features

Safety is important when you are dealing with any type of saw. The metal chop saw should have safety features like a blade guard to prevent accidents. You can get a model with a splash or hood guard that can act as a spark deflector. Check out if the saw has an adjustable spark guard that is easy to change or alter based on the work at hand.

Other Considerations

• How about the warranty?
• Motor
• Base elevation
• Price
• The brand

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict

Your buying decision is crucial, which is why I have given you a comprehensive guide on the best value metal chop saw on the market this year. The above reviews and guide will help you when choosing the right metal chop saw.

My team and I spent many hours of research so that we could provide you with details about the specifications, sizing, features, benefits, and much more. It’s my hope that after you go through the reviews and guide, it will be easy to pick the best metal chop saw for you.

Relevant Resources

• The 10 Best Miter Saw Stand for 2022 – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide & Reviews
• The 6 Best Compact Miter Saws in 2022 – The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
• How to Cut Metal without Power Tools – Everything you need to know