New Saw Purchase
The Sawing Expert Series
By Larry Anderson, Technical Advisor
Saws are sold by salesmen who generally know their product and customers have a need that can be filled by purchasing a new saw from a well prepared salesman.
Customers must always stay focused on their needs and also try to plan for an uncertain future.
So, rather than having a salesmen tell you, the customer, what he has you must give him a complete list of what your present and possible future needs will be.
Here are suggestions as to how to approach the BUYING EXPERIENCE.
Tell the salesman how much you want to spend. You aren't taking away your bargaining
capability, if any exists. The salesman can help you more if you are honest about this UP FRONT.
You might have $20,000 but all your requirements mean that you need a $40,000 saw, so the suggestion might be to find the $20,000 saw that matches up with many of your requirements. But, make sure that no matter what, the saw you choose comes with a knowledgeable service man.
Prepare a list with the following info:
Materials that you cut now and include any materials that you can possibly think might be cut in the future.
Sizes of materials that you plan to cut.
Shapes of material of what you cut now and what you might want to cut in the future.
Do not go forward until the salesman says that you can cut all the material, sizes and shapes that you want to cut. A horizontal saw that can cut a 14" round might not be able to cut a 14" I Beam. Make sure you understand specifically the largest piece that can be vised and that will clear the head of the saw. Another less known problem that comes after the saw is installed is: “What is the narrowest cut that can be made?”
Some saws will not let the operator cut a piece smaller that 1/4". I have seen this problem and there is nothing that can be done. The piece gets caught in the groove below the blade and the operator must "grab" each piece after the cut. Something to think about and ask the salesman about.
Prepare a plan as to your cutting goals. For instance: do you want to cut only for your own jobs or will you contract to cut for other people. Cutting for other people requires additional skills as you might be able to excuse certain bad cuts for your own use but you cannot sell bad cuts.
Prepare a plan as to the accuracy that is required for pieces that you plan to cut. For instance you plan to cut 304 stainless solid rounds, diameter 4", and you will need accuracy of .005 top to bottom and .005 left to right. Every customer must ask this question. The answer might be: the saw can cut with an accuracy .002 per inch. Now a little math: .002 x 4 = .008 which doesn't match your requirement. A note is needed here and that is: that a well constructed saw can usually do very good job but it is not a milling machine. The exercise here is for you to shop the market and get the salesman to give you this information. Usually a saw that is reputed to hold close tolerances will cost considerably more money than one that can't quote tolerances or one that has tolerances that are anything but straight. Maybe go to Forum and ask the question.
Prepare questions about how the automatic functions are powered. You must ask if vice pressure can be adjusted. Does the saw have ability to have adjustability of saw rate and saw feed force. Does the saw give suggestion as to rate and force for cutting aluminum and 400 series stainless.
Customer must always find out about how the speed is adjusted. Is it adjusted through a hertz converter or is the speed adjusted with vari-speed pulleys or step pulleys. The cheaper the saw the more primitive the speed control will be.
Customer should tell the saw salesman what kind of coolant he will use, synthetic or water soluble oil. Water soluble oil generally won't bring problems but with synthetics there might be a problem with chemicals eating up the plastic that protect the bearings. If you want to use a particular synthetic you must get a statement that this material will not affect any plastic parts in the saw. Will the synthetic that you want to use take the paint off the saw? If so what to do? Accept, because the paint doesn't matter anyway, or reject and get a saw that is painted with a material that resist the corrosive effect of the coolant. Once you have bought the saw and your coolant eats the paint it is your problem.
Customers should ask and get firm answers as to what oil is used in the hydraulic system. You will probably not get this information in 4 years when this question will come up. Same with the gear box. The question must be asked before you buy the saw. The salesman might be interested in this detail when you ask, before you buy, but after the saw is yours, you are on your own. If you put the wrong fluid in a gear box, which is dry after 4 years, you will destroy the gears.
Prepare a question about the Coolant System. Ask about the H.P. of the pump. The bigger the better.
Prepare a question about a chip auger. Ask if it is engineered so that pieces can fall in the trough and not bind the auger. Does a bound up auger shut the saw down? Is it possible for an operator to remove pieces that have fallen into the auger? Salesmen generally will not know the answer. If salesman answers, request he double check with the company he represents.
Customer must find out if there is a service person in the area that can help with problems. And, ask if you can talk to him before you buy. If this is possible ask him, the service person, about the Model of saw that you are thinking about and does he have any suggestions.
Prepare a written statement concerning two important things. The saw's electrical requirements and the total floor area that the saw will occupy. Saws come in all dimensions and sometimes saws are purchased that cannot fit the area desired. Also the vertical-horizontal argument is many times a space issue. The salesman should be able help with this but BE CAREFUL. Trying to cut 40' pipe into four 10' sections might imply a wall application. But there have been many that have used guillotine or scissors horizontal saws successfully that haven't been on the wall.
Best plan is to have your whole shop graphed showing where all equipment is now and where the saw will be placed. A good salesman will be able to make suggestions as to whether your floor plan will work. Another good Forum question.
Never buy a saw immediately after presentation unless you have already made up your mind before seeing a salesman. Even if you know the salesman.
A careful review of all your needs and how those needs will be met must be done. You might talk to another person or you can go onto the Forum section on this web site to get ideas from other people as to their opinions.
Finally, be very organized in your purchase. Do not let the salesman take over. Leave spaces for answers and write an answer to all your questions. You might have better questions than these, if so use them.
Larry Anderson
Technical Advisor
