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Discussion Forum

bigfoot saw, which one?

apgarconstruction | Posted in Tools for Home Building on August 9, 2006 04:49am

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.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    DDay | Aug 09, 2006 05:11am | #1

    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

    1. davidmeiland | Aug 09, 2006 05:22am | #2

      I'm sure he has seven or eight bigfoots but he seems to like using a chainsaw more.

      1. User avater
        DDay | Aug 09, 2006 05:46am | #3

        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.

      2. User avater
        dieselpig | Aug 10, 2006 01:57am | #15

        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

  2. mallardmillwork | Aug 09, 2006 05:49am | #4

    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... 

     

    1. Tomrocks21212 | Aug 09, 2006 07:29am | #5

      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

      1. Stilletto | Aug 09, 2006 12:47pm | #6

        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.

      2. kostello | Aug 09, 2006 05:13pm | #9

        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!!!!

         

         

        1. User avater
          DDay | Aug 09, 2006 07:58pm | #10

          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)

          1. kostello | Aug 09, 2006 10:48pm | #11

            no but it is supposed to be a two man saw!!!!:o)

          2. User avater
            Heck | Aug 10, 2006 01:05am | #13

            why would anyone want to saw 2 men?

             "Citius, Altius, Fortius"

    2. jimxxx | Aug 10, 2006 08:48pm | #19

      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.

  3. rcobb | Aug 09, 2006 01:07pm | #7

    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.

    1. apgarconstruction | Aug 09, 2006 01:26pm | #8

      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.

  4. Hiker | Aug 10, 2006 01:02am | #12

    I bought the 10' this spring-love it, but wish I bought the 14" as we have started cutting lots of 6x parallams. 

    Bruce

  5. User avater
    dieselpig | Aug 10, 2006 01:49am | #14

    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!  ;)

    View Image
    1. JohnSprung | Aug 10, 2006 04:01am | #16

      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.

       

      1. User avater
        dieselpig | Aug 10, 2006 04:06am | #17

        That is a good point John.  Freud actually makes a 10 1/4" blade for the Bigfoot now as well.View Image

    2. apgarconstruction | Aug 10, 2006 01:03pm | #18

      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!

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