Dewalt DW872 Metalica Chopsaw 240V Reviews

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Good Points: Bench mounting (or free standing) metal saw with 130 mm of crosscut capacity and 130 mm depth of cut (max sizes).Ergonomically designed horizontal handle for greater comfort (nice!).Comes complete with allen key for changing blades.4m heavy duty power cord (extends available working area).Full service facility and spares available from Dewalt approved distributors.2200 watts power.Spindle lock for easy blade changes.Does not produce dust, rather, it leaves sharp metal flakes scatterred in the immediate vicinity, making it rather hard to clean.Easy to make adjustments.Portable @ 22.5kg.Soft start.Good aluminium castings, ABS mouldings and reasonable steel pressings.Sturdy and stable.Reasonable design and construction.Noise level: reasonable.Good choices of materials.Good finishes.Takes standard 355mm (14") blades with a 25mm (1") arbour.Good range of blades available from various manufacturers.Attachments available: None, unless the "auxiliary clamp" qualifies? It certainly doesn't as a holdfast clamp!

Bad Points: The auxiliary clamp is cheap and I can't see why it was bundled with the tool.The thick, pressed steel, base has raised portions that make a flat bed for the material being cut, consequently, they are not very flat, but, will do.The guard, main chop pivot and safety release feel a tad flimsy.The main clamp is tenuous, in that, it is rough; to set, in its function, in its accuracy and (I would have thought) in its reliability. It does work however for rough squares and various mitres.

General comments: I have been using this Dewalt DW872 Metalica Chopsaw for cutting stainless steel sections (tube, flat etc.) and have found that; although the cut faces are a little rough and the trueness of angles a few degrees out here and there, it does cut well. I was expecting this from the saw and I was happily surprised at just how fast it cuts. Machine & cut set-up times are fast too. I never force the blade into the steel; just rest it on the metal and the blade does all the work. I can see that a blade (I'm using a s/s Jancy slugger) will last a long time. If I pushed the blade it would not last. I already have a plasma cutter and I'm happy to have this item to complement my tooling. It is ideally suited to working on pre bought stock (Parker Steel) before cleaning & shaping for pre-fabrication. When taking long lengths (>0.5m) small wooden blocks could be made for it (the same thickness as the base) to support them properly. The only other contender was the Bosch chopsaw, but I didn't like the handle and the Dewalt had a few more extras that the Bosch didn't, although I suspect the Bosch would have been better value. Comfort is important to me as I can concentrate on the cut and not be distracted by an awkward handle design, which the Dewalt gives me.The saw is supplied with a Dewalt mild steel blade (DT1900QZ average r.p £100.00). I wish the saw could have been sold as a "bare" machine without a blade, so I could choose my own. Obviously, this mild steel blade, which I won't use, is added onto the cost of the purchase.I mostly do; one off, individual pieces, but I can see that this saw may well be a cost effective solution in a fabrication workshop and equally at home with a serious DIYer.