hi all, been a subscriber for a while but never posted on here before.
I’m looking at getting a bigfoot worm drive saw but not sure if the 14″ one is the better one to get. i’m leaning towards that one because i can cut my glulams that are 5 1/8 with one pass. I also want the saw for gang cutting I joists and other lumber material.
anyone have any experience with the 14″ bigfoot? i read some old posts about people using the 10″ one, but not too many with the 14″.
is the conversion they did on this saw a good one or should i just stick to the 10″ one and just flip the glulams when i have some that big?
Thanks
Dan
btw, i’m a builder/carpenter in hunterdon county NJ. the stockton area.
Replies
There are a few here that know bigfoot well, dieselpig for one. Also, post over at JLC in the rough framing forum, Tim Uhler uses a lot of their stuff.
http://forums.jlconline.com/forums/index.php
I'm sure he has seven or eight bigfoots but he seems to like using a chainsaw more.
I've seen his pic's. He's better than me 'cause I couldn't use a chainsaw like that. My mom always told me I was a "bull in a china shop", with a chain saw framing, I'd be half a bull.
Just 2 1/2 Bigfoots (don't ask). But I do like chainsaws.... they can get a lot of work done fast with surprisingly accurate results.View Image
You must be mistaken. The gentleman working in the tool rental section of the Despot last weekend informed me that there was no such thing as a circular saw that big.
I ended up borrowing a 10" makita from one of my framing buddies to cut 60* cheek cuts in jack rafters. It was pretty sweet, but I've never used a 14"
I've got a 12" prazi beam cutter, though. It's pretty much a chainsaw bar that bolts to you circ. saw. I used to use it to rough cut cedar 4 and 6x material, and it would absolutely scream through it. It would work for gang cutting plumb and tail cuts, but I guess you's still need something else to cut the seats...
No such thing?? But I can believe it, I was in Home Cheapo about 2 weeks ago, asked about an 8 1/4" circular saw, the guy looked at me like I had two heads, he'd never heard of such a thing. Anyway, for some real big circular saws............Show him this!http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_3/104-7189412-5175115?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A468240%2Cn%3A551236%2Cn%3A552894%2Cn%3A552922&page=1
Edited 8/9/2006 12:38 am ET by Tomrocks21212
I got an 8-1/4 wormdrive a few months ago and I really like the saw. It bevels up to 60 degrees, and cuts up to 3 inches thick. It's a really good saw for gang cutting rafters. What's wrong with me? I could ask you the exact same thing.
for a really big saw take a look here: http://www.mafell.com/produkte/prod_saegen_fr.htm
and scroll down to the fsg240k
the blade is 25 3/16" in diameter!!!!
Yeah but it says it weighs 145 lbs. Do they offer steroids so you can pick it up?
View Image
Technical DataThree-phase
Cutting depth
5 7/8 - 9 5/8 in.(150 - 245 mm)
Tilt
0 - 48 degrees
Revolutions - no loda
940 rpm (1/min)
Three-phase motor
230/400 V
Power input
5.8 hp (4350 W)
Weight
145.5 lbs (66 kg)
no but it is supposed to be a two man saw!!!!:o)
why would anyone want to saw 2 men?
"Citius, Altius, Fortius"
Kind of out of today's market; but Skil used to make 12 & 14" worm drives back in the 40's. They ran on 220v and were so heavy that 2 men carried them from a pole between them & a 3rd one opperated it.
It's a great saw, it's precise and has enough power, has a very wide base plate that is largely hollow to accomodate its ability to swing to 75 degrees. For gang cutting it's great, for ripping stock less than 6 inches wide not so great, just can't generate the support.
hey guys, thanks for all your responses.
I think I'm going with the 14" one, I like the idea of being able to cut 6x material and glulams that are 5 1/8.
I am not sure if they sell these saws in any stores though, or only online. I don't want to wait for the shipping to get here. I could actually use it on the job right away.
just doesnt' seem like the 10 inch one cuts deep enough to really gang cut enough rafters.
I don't think I'll be ripping lumber with this saw. i'll be using it for beams and for cutting I joists, gang cutting rafters.
I bought the 10' this spring-love it, but wish I bought the 14" as we have started cutting lots of 6x parallams.
Bruce
If you're only buying one Bigfoot, I'd go with the 10" as it's more versatile. I'd also add a swing table so you can bevel up to 75 degrees and make those bastard hips look purdy. ;)
A word of caution.... that's a big blade and a little motor. There's a reason why they only offer a 30 day warranty on that 14" saw. Short 10ga cords will be the norm for that saw. Also, if you're not used to cutting with a big (and underpowered) saw you will struggle a bit at first by constantly stalling out the blade.
The 10" is a nicer saw, IMO. No, you can't cut 6X glulams in one pass though. But it's relatively easy to handle in the weight department and is very versatile. You can still stall the blade, especially with the swing table, but no where near as much as you would with the 14". This saw can also run on longer or lighter guage cords. I highly recommend you get the magnesium set up on the Bosch body if you go with the 10".
While you're there... pick up a headcutter for your chainsaw. Then you can rack up your I-joists on edge and cut a whole house worth in one shot! ;)
Another point in favor of the 10" is that the blades are a lot less expensive and more widely available. You can use the same ones as your table saw and chop saw.
-- J.S.
That is a good point John. Freud actually makes a 10 1/4" blade for the Bigfoot now as well.View Image
you've brought up some good points. and I will definitely consider buying the 10" one. i have thought that the 10" would be more versatile but wanted to cut the 5" glulams with one pass. now that i think more about it, i don't use 5" glulams all that oftenthe job i'm on now, we used them and the end cut is extended out past the gable and is exposed, so it has to be a clean cut.we'll have to do our best with cutting it from both sides. 14" would be a big saw to climb up a ladder now and cut the beam off. lolthanks guys!