Semi-OT: Concrete Cutoff Saws

[computeruser]

Yup, you guessed it - I'm thinking about picking up a used concrete cutoff saw. I have a couple little projects coming up where one would be helpful. Though I know a little about saws I am new to these cutoff things, having never used one, so hopefully I can borrow some of y'all's expertise. My initial questions:

1. Any brands or models to avoid at all costs?

2. Anything I should be particularly aware of when looking at used machines? Any sort of common points of failure or neglect that might fall outside the sort of stuff I'd think to look at with a used chainsaw?

3. Do these machines hold value better or worse than chainsaws? I've looked at eBay but the prices are all over the map.

4. Anything else I should know about buying a used cutoff saw?

Thanks!

 

[clearance]

I used them to cut steel, concrete and pipe. I used Stihl, they are good. If it was used for concrete or brick, block, pavers etc., was the air filter cleaned and changed all the time? Green blades are for that stuff, blue for steel.

 

[Lakeside53]

Most used concrete saws are toast... I see lots every month that have ingested concrete dust, have slapping pistons and bad main bearings. The cranks are usually toast also. Why? - dumb operators (pull that air filter -it's stopping the saw from running!!, or, put the butt end down in the tranch water when cutting pipe...), and bad or no maintenance. Life span of most concrete cutoff saws is measured in months...

Buyer beware..

If you can buy one cheap enough, slap in an after market pistons/cylinder/crank/bearing kit... I did... I figure they don't last long enough to justify OEM...

TS400 and 460 are real easy to get parts for. The TS350/360 are fine also, but somewhat dated - plenty of parts available, OEM and quality after market (Italian).


The TS400 is maxed out in 4 inch slab, but can do it. I run mine on the Stihl cart. The 460 has much more grunt and can run a 16 inch blade, as does the 510 and then the one with real grunt - the TS760. The 760 used the same engine as the 075/076.


I look after mine, check the air filter after every job, wash it off (and inside)after every job... It's doing great after two years of intermittent use.

 

[Stihl #1]

For units used to cut masonry, they will always have some dirt ingestion damage. Be sure to check the crank bearings for side play. If the unit is used without a water attachment, it will be worse. On the TS 400, TS 460, and the new TS 700, the filters are low maintenance, meaning leave them alone until the unit loses power in the cut, then just replace the paper pleated filter and the aux filter. Do not clean them and reuse them. The paper needs to get dirty to the best job of cleaning. I have seen the TS 700 go 150 hours cutting dry before the element needed changing.
If you are looking at the older TS 510 or TS 760, the filters should be cleaned more often.
HTH

 

[Fordman99]

up my alley!!

Ive owned/ used quite a few concrete saws over the years.I'm definately partial to Stihls.They hold up EXTREMELY well,considering the dust these saws "breathe", unless equipped with a water hook- up.I have the privelage of doing the maintenance on a fleet of TS-400 saws.Most of these saws see alot of road time where water is not an option.It is amazing the crap these things suck up and still run.

 

[computeruser]

It sounds like picking up a cutoff saw from eBay is riskier than a chainsaw. I kinda figured this would be the case.

Not exactly sure how much cutoff I need, since I don't really *need* one anyway. Just figuring the occasional paver block, concrete patio block, and stuff like that, which probably means I'd be fine with even the smallest of machine. Kinda partial to the 760 though, since I have two chainsaws on that frame anyway and the more parts commonality I can manage among my fleet of toys, the better.

So maybe a dead or parts-only 760 would be the way to go for my purposes, with the expectation to skip trying to make it work as-is and just rebuild it.

EDIT: This is my 1999th post. That's a lot of posts, eh?

 

[crashagn]

When i was looking for a saw on ebay i seen alot of the the Stihls ts400 and the 350s, way to many so i stayed away from the brand..And seeing that many on ebay makes me skeptical, not saying anything bad about them, Ive never run that brand when i worked on the concrete crews. All we had was husqvarna and a few partners. Seemed like we was always repairing the partners, the belt tensioner was always wrong or always wearing through belts alot. Seen the husqvarna catch on fire.. but that was from a greenhorn laying it on a plastic blanket after he ran it for 2 hrs. I was looking for 1 for my personal use on the acreage for some removal and also alot of iron work, So i looked into the Makita line. Picked up a very lightly used 7311 off of ebay for around $400. The owner used it to make a few cuts, and that he bought it from someone else, so he said on the phone and the watering attachment was broke off. For the price i wasn't gonna even think about the missing water adapter. When the saw finally arrived at my house, it looked almost new, with a few scratches on the bottom. I have yet to have a bad remark about the saw. The only thing I've done was tune it to the altitude were i live.. and i also tore the sides down to the cylinder and every piece i could take off to blow compressed air through it to give it a good cleaning. If your gonna be buying a saw, at least look into how much use your gonna get out of it, how long you want it to last, and the weight of the saw vs cc's. If your gonna be getting it off of ebay, get the phone# from the seller and call him/her and ask questions over the phone, you can tell if they might be yanking your chain. And if your suspicious of the item, don't buy it.

 

[Ed*L]

If you don't have any experience with a cutoff saw, you will find it's the least fun power tool ever invented. Especially if you are cutting flatwork with no cart for the saw.
It will be even less fun hunched over holding on to that 760. And less fun yet using a slow assed abrasive wheel instead of a diamond wheel.

Sorry to pee in your cheerios.

I would go for a ts400 sized saw. It will have more than enough power to do what you need. If you are buying used, don't rush into it, well maintained used cutoff saws are few and far between.

You might want to check into buying a rental. Didn't you get saw form HD a while back?

Ed

 

[blis]

It sounds like picking up a cutoff saw from eBay is riskier than a chainsaw. I kinda figured this would be the case.

Not exactly sure how much cutoff I need, since I don't really *need* one anyway. Just figuring the occasional paver block, concrete patio block, and stuff like that, which probably means I'd be fine with even the smallest of machine. Kinda partial to the 760 though, since I have two chainsaws on that frame anyway and the more parts commonality I can manage among my fleet of toys, the better.

So maybe a dead or parts-only 760 would be the way to go for my purposes, with the expectation to skip trying to make it work as-is and just rebuild it.

EDIT: This is my 1999th post. That's a lot of posts, eh?

Wouldnt you be better off with big angle grinder (makita or some else known brand) with diamond blade, its more than enough for occasional cutting of cement/bricks/other crap...

 

[computeruser]

Wouldnt you be better off with big angle grinder (makita or some else known brand) with diamond blade, its more than enough for occasional cutting of cement/bricks/other crap...

True, it would probably work for my purposes. Heck, my 6" Metabo would probably work. But then I'd have to buy a generator to carry around with me, too.



And Ed, I think you're probably quite right about the TS400 being plenty enough.

 

[Dan Forsh]

I'm in a bit of a cut-off saw phase at the moment.

I generally only buy Stihls and mostly TS 400s. It can be a lottery as others have said, most have been abused. I will generally assume that any spares/repairs saws I buy are at least going to need a piston and cylinder.

This one is an older model, pre 2000 I think, I bought as a runner. I stripped it down and found that it had obviously been well looked after, the filters were clean and it runs well.

This one has obviously been owned by a large construction company (plastered with safety labels), had a really hard life and it's a 2006 saw.

I have a monster Partner K1250 119cc that will need a new P&C due to abuse. The parts for it are going to kill me and I'll probably never get my money back from it, but I'm still going to fix it. I like working on the TS saws, easy to fix and easier to clean than an abused chainsaw, but not so much fun to use as a chainsaw

 

[Rleonard]

I rolled the dice on a used TS760 on Ebay. I wound up with a former rental company saw that must have been used only on one job. After blowing the dust off, the machine is like new. Filters had never off but had very little dust on them. Came with a 16" diamond blade for just over $500.

Bob

 

[keith c raymond]

We have Stihl and Husky cutoff saws at where I work,[water utility].Both the Stihl and the Husky run well.The Biggest difference is that the Huskys start easier.Unless you pull them through with the rope a few times ,then tug them good.The big thing is Keep The Filters Clean!A dirty filter forces the saw to pull nasty air in all the wrong places.Also blow off the cyl fins regularly to help keep the saw running cool.And dont do what our guys have done ,see if they run under water.

 

[dustytools]

Ive owned/ used quite a few concrete saws over the years.I'm definately partial to Stihls.They hold up EXTREMELY well,considering the dust these saws "breathe", unless equipped with a water hook- up.I have the privelage of doing the maintenance on a fleet of TS-400 saws.Most of these saws see alot of road time where water is not an option.It is amazing the crap these things suck up and still run.

Ill second that. I have had the same TS-400 on my truck for well over four years and have done nothing to it except change filters and plugs and a pull rope or two. I hate to admit it but its only seen el-cheapo 2-stroke mix in it since Ive had it as our shop foreman is a tight-a$$ and wont buy the good stuff. One tough saw to say the least.