Tube Notchers

[race-rodz-inc]

i dont know if im ready to kick down the $3000+ for a dedicated notcher, im wondering what everybody uses to notch tubing.

i personally find myself using a side cutter on a mill 75% of the time, except when its a "compound" notch. the other 25% its the good ole chop saw and angle grinder method. it pretty much sux... i know there has to be an easier way.

[jacobgiles]

summit or jegs sells one, i have one like it and it works really good.

[parsonsj]

Race-rod,

3 Large is a lot when you only occasionally notch tubes. Lately I've been using a mill which is slow, though accurate. Chop saw and angle or die grinder does indeed suck. I hate the mess it makes too.

I've never used the dedicated hole saw tools. Perhaps that's what jacobgiles is talking about.

jp

[Rubes]

notcher

I have one of these, but never used it yet. But how much worse can it be than a chop saw and angle grinder? for $30 it is worth tryin out.

[rockdogz]

Eastwood has one too, if you'd like to spend 10x more. Who wouldn't? Seriously though, it's got to be better than HF, and it's $30 off now! I just used a grinder though. Man that sucked.

[race-rodz-inc]

i also have never tryed a hole saw notcher, as the mill does basically the same thing, only a lot more accurate. i dont do nearly enough rollcages for customers to warrant the 3g's.... so i will probably stick with my current methods.

i think its just one of those shyt jobs that comes with the territory, not nearly as bad as scraping off undercoating with a putty knife though.

thanks for the input... i was really wishing somebody had a miracle cure for making notches....oh well

[Matt@RFR]

This is the best hole saw type tubing notcher available. It costs $200.

The $100 versions (Summit) are flimsy with an overall lack luster fit and finish.

as the mill does basically the same thing, only a lot more accurate.

...and a helluva lot slower. Plus, you have to re tram the head after any angled notches. I don't know if those are really issues for you though.

[race-rodz-inc]

i might just have to run down and pick one of those up.... since they are local to me. yeah the mill is way slow, thats why im looking into other ways of getting it done. as for reseting the the head.... its just part of the process..... the slow time robbing process.

has anybody tryed the "el manual" notchers? looks something like a shear for tubing?

[C4Bird]

Race,
One of my friends has this notcher:
http://www.pro-tools.com/hsn500.htm
It works pretty good and cuts fairly fast. Uses standard hole saws and is well made. At $200 it isn't too bad. He has probably built 3 full cages with it and it is still working great.
-Nate

[jacobgiles]

the one i have is called "the ole joint jigger" i have the one with the aluminum base. once you figure out how to cut your angles it works really well, especially for the price.

[nestockcar]

Williams Lowbuck Tools has notcher that is a shear type. I have not personally tried one, but I have been told they work great by others.
http://www.lowbucktools.com/notcher.html

[quarterstang86]

Since everybody is adding what they can find, and a few comments to what they've used.

Here's what a friend bought when I helped him put a CM setup in a friends mustang. With all intents and purposes, we'll be using it to put a full NHRA certified chassis in my mustang coupe soon.

http://vansantent.com/tube_notcher.htm#reviews

As mentioned previously, you want a tool that is stable during the job. This piece is over built and is fully rebuildable in all the common wear areas associated with such a tool. It really does an excellent, accurate job.

[paul67]

Try these they are called hole saw cutters made by starret ,made trike frames, and roll cages + upper a arms using theses they fit into a bench drill you can get loads of different sizes,

[B Schein]

I realize that this probably out if every one hears price league, but this is actually the best tubing notcher that money can buy. Fast, you haven’t seen fast until you use one of these it takes maybe 30 seconds to notch a tube with one of these monsters
http://www.vansantent.com/coping_machine.htm
Brian

[ProdigyCustoms]

I want a ultimate notcher so bad I can't stand it! I may just get froggy and do it next time I need to notch. Hole saws are a pain in the ass. Obviously for a hobbist they are fine, but in the shop, I feel the need.

This message has been approved by Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor

[Modo Innovations]

To me the Ultimate would be an Edwards Iron Worker. It takes up alot of floor space but you get more benfits with it ie. cutting flat bar,angle, punching holes etc. Kind of pricey though.www.edwardsironworkers.com
Shannon

[MrQuick]

I Gots me an " Ole Joint Jigger " too , been had it for 15 years and it works great. I bought it at a good guys swap meet for $45. You tend to go through hole saws tho. Chrome Moly forget it, buy the good saws.

That, a case of hole saws and a drill press and your good to go...I tried it with a black and decker drill and a bench vise once and I haven't walked the same since.

[Kenova]

...I tried it with a black and decker drill and a bench vise once and I haven't walked the same since.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.
I was making up an "H" pipe for my Nova. I was cutting the holes in the exhaust pipe with a brand new 2 & 1/8" hole saw chucked into an old B&D 1/2" drill. Everything was goin' fine untill the pilot bit broke through and the hole saw bit in to the exhaust tubing. Hole saw stopped dead, the drill kept on going . I'm here to tell ya that there's no holding on to them drills. I thought for sure that my arms had just been ripped off.
Ken