Scaffold cutting: Angle Grinder vs. Reciprocating Saw

[alanw]

Now I've finally got my pension lump sum, it makes sense to buy things now rather than waiting for inflation to outpace interest rates.

I've just invested in a Milwaukee M18BLHX-501X drill, (£50 off) and a couple of batteries (Screwfix, £100 for two).

I was wondering about the relative merits of an angle grinder vs. a reciprocating saw for cutting scaff, etc.

Also, if anyone could use the help of a reasonably fit retiree with time on his hands in the south-western Dales, let me know. I'm already involved with Fume on Ingleborough, and previously with the new entrance tube to Stream Passage.

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Although not a digger's answer, having used a grinder while on rope (for work, many moons ago) In that circumstance I'd much prefer to use a recip saw to cut if I could to choose between the two. Although worth noting a grinder is a more versatile tool (cutting, grinding, cup brush, disk brush, etc).

Looking at your avatar, not just the batteries... you'll need a Milwaukee one to coordinate with the warmbac suit colours, whereas I'd have to go Makita to match my AV

 

[Pie Muncher]

I find an angle grinder to be quicker but if scaff is in situe a recip saw might give better access for cutting.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Grinder always. Better fireworks.

 

[topcat]

Grinder should cut well until diameter is too small whereas saw will get progressively blunt so will need regular renewing.

 

[legendrider]

Angle grinder every time! use 0.8mm thick cutting discs for fast results on scaff.
Replace disc whilst it still has useable diameter, dont bin it, but make a little stash of the used ones, which you can dip into when you hurriedly forget to pack new ones, so your project doesn't 'grind' to a halt!

 

[Pitlamp]

I have a vague memory that this very topic has been discussed on here several years ago, with a quite a few helpful comments. Might be worth a bit of searching?

 

[mikem]

Once the search function gets fixed...

 

[alanw]

Once the search function gets fixed...

I did try"reciprocating saw" site:ukcaving.com on DuckDuckGo, which only returned one hit, to the "New work at North End Pot" thread. It turns out that in this instance Google is better than DDG. I'm not sure why, if there'd been no hits I'd have gone straight on to Google.

I'd also found this: Scaffcut - a saw blade designed specifically for scaffolding.

This will be the thread that Pitlamp was thinking about. There's also this

 

[ism]

I did try"reciprocating saw" site:ukcaving.com on DuckDuckGo, which only returned one hit, to the "New work at North End Pot" thread. It turns out that in this instance Google is better than DDG. I'm not sure why, if there'd been no hits I'd have gone straight on to Google.

I'd also found this: Scaffcut - a saw blade designed specifically for scaffolding.

This will be the thread that Pitlamp was thinking about. There's also this

For interest I tried exactly your search string in perplexity.ai, and it came back with 15 sources, 11 from UKC and 4 from random sites, together with a summary of the findings.

 

[Badlad]

We generally use a rip saw at our digs these days although one of the group sometimes brings his grinder. I'm sure you'll be happy with either. We have progressed from the separate hand saws we used to use up until a few years ago. They were certainly lighter to carry and lengthy sawing gave the chums a chance to warm up on cold days. There was also much mirth on the straightness of the cut depending on the occupation of the cutter. On many occasions we celebrated the infamous 'poet's cut'.

In favour of the rip saw I would say it is safer to use, can cut deeper and easy to swop between wood and metal cutting blades.

 

[wormster]

Why not use something that doesn't require batteries and is compact enough to drop in a tackle bag:

Rothenberger 2" Pipe Cutter - George Roberts

Rothenberger 2″ Pipe Cutter This portable, easy to use steel Rothenberher 2″ Pipe Cutter is a fantastic addition to the George Roberts products range, offering a safe and efficient way to cut scaffolding tube. It is especially popular with workers on petrochemical sites and other applications...

georgeroberts.com

 

[badger]

Rothenburger scaff tube cutter in excess £175.00.
Think I rather use a recipe saw. Like Tim says very quick to swap blades, but is important to get the blades specifically for scaff tubes. They will cut through the tube a lot faster than a plain metal blade.

 

[MarkS]

Why not use something that doesn't require batteries and is compact enough to drop in a tackle bag:

Rothenberger 2" Pipe Cutter - George Roberts

Rothenberger 2″ Pipe Cutter This portable, easy to use steel Rothenberher 2″ Pipe Cutter is a fantastic addition to the George Roberts products range, offering a safe and efficient way to cut scaffolding tube. It is especially popular with workers on petrochemical sites and other applications...

georgeroberts.com

We tried one in Eldon a while back. I vaguely think it might have been specifically for scaffold tubes. Either way, it gave beautiful cuts and was awful to use. A significant downgrade on a hacksaw!

 

[wormster]

You can't have been using right, pipe cutters are swift and efficient

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Angle grinder has the most useful applications. We have just built a gabion in steel mesh to hold back spoil. Needed to be cut to shape . Also for cutting off protruding scaff clip bolts and modifying them if needed. I can pack my angle grinder and drill in one carry bag. Not to forget a spare disc and the key. Useful if the drill and AG use the same batteries.

 

[JAA]

If you go angle grinder, try and avoid transporting even in a rucksack with the disc pre attached as they have an awkward habit of snapping discs….
Also don’t forget some glasses and bits of cutting disc to the eye and face tickle….
(And yes both are lessons learnt through experience! )

 

[Maisie Syntax]

You can't have been using right, pipe cutters are swift and efficient

They work ok if you have the means of clamping the scaff pole efficiently, not always possible if the pole or gloves are slightly muddy (or cold hands). Mind you, the recip saw on scaff can make the pole judder around unless the pole is held firmly, which is sometimes not that easy in some conditions; certainly not always easy to cut if there's only one person. Pros and cons to whichever device yo use.

 

[Maisie Syntax]

I suspect that the main issue with using a basic 12" hacksaw, is that many folks don't understand how to use it correctly?

 

[legendrider]

Hacksaw Tale: On an epic dig back in 2016, pushing through the Old Man's collapsed understope, we uncovered multiple rails forced down from the roof, with absolutely NO room to get an angle grinder in, or even a hacksaw. Solved by clamping a hacksaw blade between 2 slats of wood to form a handle, and manually sawing though the rail overhead. Took ages but it worked, and once one was out the rest followed more easily. I highly recommend Sandvik bimetal blades as they stay sharp and are hard to break, unlike 'Lucky Chrysanthemum' or 'Golden Dragon' brands.