Spec me a saw.

andicole0 · 11 Jan 2015 at 11:50

I'm going to need to cut some 100mm fence posts and as I'm past my prime in the energy stakes I'm looking for a suitable powered saw.

Any recommendations? I don't think I'm looking for a petrol powered chain saw but it will need to be capable.

Andi.

Lumeycom · 11 Jan 2015 at 12:10

100mm is quite a cut for a powered saw.

You'd need a compound (mitre) saw to have a chance of cutting 4inch square and you'd be looking upwards of £500 for something that isn't going to fall apart and cut true.

You could use a reciprocating saw with a lengthy blade to get to 4 inch but they don't really cut square very well, more designed for demolition. Chainsaws also lack any finesse for square clean cuts unless you have mad skills

Honestly, unless you have hundreds to do, buy yourself a nice jacksaw and do it by hand. You'll get good square cuts that are clean.

booyaka · 11 Jan 2015 at 12:22

Any decent handsaw will do fine - should take seconds to cut through 100mm posts.

I did my fence last year and it was all handsawn posts.

Maccapacca · 11 Jan 2015 at 12:36

A sharp saw or a skil saw

Traffic_Warden · 11 Jan 2015 at 13:03

A sharp bahco superior will do that job easily

Lisapete · 11 Jan 2015 at 13:04

http://www.screwfix.com/p/evolution-rage3-fp2552-255mm-compound-mitre-saw-230v/26612

Just wait until Monday morning to get it all im saying

Mark A · 11 Jan 2015 at 13:51

If you do go the circular saw route make sure you have a firm platform to cut the posts on. The cut closing up due to not being supported and binding on the blade will cause a nasty accident. You can get a cheapo one for £40 or so from ebay, which will be fine for doing a pile of fence posts.

If you only have a few to do then a decent handsaw with some WD40 to lubricate the blade will cut them with surprisingly little effort.

howsertrading · 11 Jan 2015 at 16:55

http://www.screwfix.com/p/irwin-jack-universal-saw-20/95247

Will do the job easily unless you have hundreds to cut.

Powered saw would be overkill for a one off.

Also the sliding mitre saw linked to above wouldnt have the capacity, its only 75mm depth of cut

Lumeycom · 11 Jan 2015 at 17:40

Lisapete said:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/evolution-rage3-fp2552-255mm-compound-mitre-saw-230v/26612

Just wait until Monday morning to get it all im saying

Max depth of cut 75mm so wouldn't be of much use.

Mark A · 11 Jan 2015 at 18:23

It just means you have to flip the post over to cut through the other side.

Traffic_Warden · 11 Jan 2015 at 19:53

Which means you may not get a clean cut, it's like drilling a hole from either side of the wall. it's much cleaner to go all the way through one way. if it's a job to stay then do it right

Mark A · 11 Jan 2015 at 20:26

You use a stop block to get it perfect. Ideally using a proper mitresaw stand, but you can also set one up on a plank of wood. Just bolt/screw down the saw and then fix a block of wood to stop the post where you want the cut. Then when you flip it it'll be in the exact right place for a perfect cut.

NickK · 11 Jan 2015 at 21:21

Mitre box + hand saw.. would do for fence posts.

A 7 teeth per inch saw would do..

andicole0 · 14 Jan 2015 at 16:34

OK so I'm going with my old reciprocating saw and a long wood blade, see how I get on, I can always buy more posts :-)

If all goes wrong I'll try something bigger.

Due to health problems I won't be doing any hand sawing ;-)

Andi.

bitslice · 14 Jan 2015 at 21:28

Lumeycom said:
You'd need a compound (mitre) saw to have a chance of cutting 4inch square and you'd be looking upwards of £500 for something that isn't going to fall apart and cut true.

LOL, you don't need a compound anything unless you want funny looking fence posts.

£500? and you said that with a straight face?
he's cutting fence posts not making furniture, any £50 mitre saw will do.

darreny · 16 Jan 2015 at 22:50

Reciprocating saw should be fine

darreny · 16 Jan 2015 at 23:01

I'm truly shocked by some of the comments in here

Nedved11 · 16 Jan 2015 at 23:22

Mitre saw, finish the rest off with hand saw. Job done

Abyss · 18 Jan 2015 at 12:48

Lumeycom said:
100mm is quite a cut for a powered saw.

You'd need a compound (mitre) saw to have a chance of cutting 4inch square and you'd be looking upwards of £500 for something that isn't going to fall apart and cut true.

You could use a reciprocating saw with a lengthy blade to get to 4 inch but they don't really cut square very well, more designed for demolition. Chainsaws also lack any finesse for square clean cuts unless you have mad skills

Honestly, unless you have hundreds to do, buy yourself a nice jacksaw and do it by hand. You'll get good square cuts that are clean.

I completely disagree with your first statement. I've got a compound mitre saw in the garage that was under £100 and has completed a 25m2 raised decking project, used for making furniture, a Wendy house and is used/abused every time either my dad or I want to cut a piece of timber. Not surprisingly it still cuts true and not a single piece has fallen apart.

If you are cutting larger timber just cut from both sides using a stop block as already mentioned

valve90210 · 18 Jan 2015 at 17:11

Lumeycom said:
100mm is quite a cut for a powered saw.

You'd need a compound (mitre) saw to have a chance of cutting 4inch square and you'd be looking upwards of £500 for something that isn't going to fall apart and cut true.

Another vote for this being a load of nonsense!!

I made a side gate for my house and built the frame out of 4 inch fence posts which I cut with my cheap and cheerful sliding mitre saw which cost me £70 from Lidl!!

Ok I have to do two cuts as the depth was just a bit too much for the saw but that was hardly a chore and literally a case of rolling the fence post over after the first cut and doing a second cut.

Spec me a saw.

Tea Drinker