I went looking at air saws today. From reading some posts here it seems they work to cut a new panel the exact size when put on top of an old panel; when laid over top the old panel to be replaced. However, I am confused by the blades the tool stores offer me. They say to use standard reciprocating blades for metal. But they are longer and wider than what I see in the pictures of the air saws in their tool books. What kind of blades do you guys use? I wantto use an air saw to get a thinner gap for butt welding, as I practised cutting panels with a cut off tool, and then welding them. The cut off tool left a pretty wide gap that I had a hard time welding, given my inexperience as a butt welder. But maybe the air saw is too expensive anyway. I read one post where the author says the air saw tends to wander and is hard to keep on a straight line. Your comments?

I made the comment about the wandering saw.I was referring to a Sawzall,not an airsaw.Heres a nice saw and the replacement blades. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38831 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=36888

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http://photos.yahoo.com/ochrisl
Updated 8/20 PAINT!

thanks 70isfine; I was looking at one just like that. Chicago Pneumatic. About the same price here in Canada when I do the money exchange. I guess I really need the correct blades to work properly. Thanks for pointing out the blades also. They seem to be cheaper in the US as in Canada they want 19 bucks for 5 replacement blades for the CP unit. Question: in your experience, does this air saw leave a noticably thinner gap than a cut off wheel? I need a thin gap to make it easier to weld. I use .023 wire. With a thin gap I do not bad welding so far in my practise runs.

The air saw leaves a thinner gap.I start with the cut off wheel to make the first cut and then go to the air saw.Click on the link in my sig and go to 70chevelle/80%quarter, you can see how i did it on a quarter panel.You need to have your welder set up right,i use the lowest setting to avoid blowing holes in the panels.

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http://photos.yahoo.com/ochrisl
Updated 8/20 PAINT!

[This message has been edited by 70isfine (edited 09-14-2002).]