Harbor Freight Metal Cut Off Saw: Hercules vs Bauer (2026)

Harbor Freight sells two 14-inch abrasive cut-off saws today, the HERCULES 56790 at $189.99 and the BAUER 58091 at $159.99, and the older $79 Chicago Electric chop saw many pages still describe is no longer on its 14-inch page. This guide compares the two current models on verified specs, wheel cost and safety setup. We have not bench-tested either saw, so everything below comes from Harbor Freight and Amazon listings read on October 7, 2026.

Which Harbor Freight Metal Cut Off Saw Should You Buy?

Pick the Bauer 58091 if you will cut steel a handful of times a year and want the lowest entry price. Pick the Hercules 56790 if you cut regularly, want a longer warranty and want a wheel in the box. Neither is a woodworking tool: both are abrasive saws that throw sparks, so the real question is whether your shop has a safe place to run one.

	HERCULES 56790	BAUER 58091
Listed price	$189.99	$159.99
Motor	15 amp, 4.3 HP	15 amp, 3.8 HP
Speed	4,100 RPM max	4,200 RPM
Warranty	3 years	90 days
Weight	39 lbs	34.2 lbs

Hercules 56790 vs Bauer 58091: What the Extra $30 Buys

The listings agree on the basics: both are 15 amp saws with a 14-inch abrasive wheel, a 1-inch arbor, a quick-release vise and 45 degree miter capacity. The differences are in the details, and they are easy to miss if you only compare horsepower.

Detail	HERCULES 56790	BAUER 58091
Cutting capacity	Up to 5 in. thick	Square tube 4-5/16 in; rectangular tube 6-11/16 x 3-15/16 in; angle iron 5-3/8 in; round tube 5 in
Wheel in the box	Professional abrasive wheel included	Abrasive wheel sold separately
Blade changes	Spindle lock and built-in storage	Adjustable depth stop
Guard	Oversized blade guard	Not highlighted in listing
Cord length	10 ft 2 in	74 in (about 6 ft)
Harbor Freight rating	4.6 of 5 (397 reviews)	4.5 of 5 (310 reviews)

Here is the arithmetic the sticker prices hide. A Bauer plus one Harbor Freight wheel at $8.99 comes to $168.98, so the true gap is about $21, not $30. For that $21 the Hercules adds roughly 2.75 more years of coverage and 4.8 extra pounds of weight, which usually means the saw walks less across the bench. The Bauer’s 74-inch cord is the other practical difference: plan on an extension cord rated for a 15 amp load.

What Happened to the Chicago Electric 60714?

Older versions of this article, and plenty of other pages, describe a Chicago Electric 14-inch metal chop saw (item 60714) at $79 to $99. When we checked, Harbor Freight’s 14-inch cut-off saw category listed only the Hercules and the Bauer. We could not confirm the Chicago Electric’s current status, and the specs and prices once attached to it should not be used to plan a purchase. If you find a used or clearance 60714, treat any old spec as unverified until you read the data plate on the saw itself.

Cut-Off Wheels: Cost and the RPM Check

The saw is only half the system. Harbor Freight’s own 14 x 1/8 inch Type 01/41 metal cut-off wheel (item 57659) lists at $8.99, is rated for steel and stainless steel, and carries a 4.5 of 5 rating across 94 reviews. The listing claims up to 2X longer life than standard wheels, which is the manufacturer’s claim, not our measurement.

Check	Wheel 57659	Hercules	Bauer
Diameter and arbor	14 in, 20 mm / 1 in	14 in, 1 in	14 in, 1 in
Speed	Max 5,400 RPM	4,100 RPM	4,200 RPM
RPM headroom	n/a	1,300 RPM	1,200 RPM

That headroom row is the check most buyers skip. A wheel must be rated at or above the saw’s speed, so before you buy a cheaper or off-brand wheel, read the maximum RPM printed on it and compare it with the saw’s data plate. Also look for the best-by date Harbor Freight says is printed near the center of the wheel or on the packaging, since bonded abrasive ages even in the box.

What a 14-Inch Abrasive Saw Can and Cannot Cut

These saws are built for steel shapes: the Hercules listing names drywall track, angle iron, conduit, pipe, channels, tubing and rebar. They are not for wood. In a woodworking shop that matters for a second reason: the same shop usually has dust collection and fine sawdust, and a stream of sparks does not belong anywhere near either.

If your real task is trimming a few pieces of steel for a workbench frame, a handheld cut-off tool may be enough. Our comparison of the cut-off tool vs circular saw and the explainer on cutting metal with a chop saw help you decide, and cut-off saw vs miter saw explains why you cannot swap the two.

Spark and Safety Setup for an Abrasive Chop Saw

Treat the saw like a grinder with a bigger wheel. This list is general abrasive-saw practice, not a substitute for the owner’s manual that ships with the saw.

• Eyes and ears: wear safety glasses or a face shield and hearing protection every time the wheel is spinning.
• Clear the zone: move sawdust, rags, solvents and finishing supplies out of the spark path, and keep a fire extinguisher within reach.
• Clamp everything: use the vise on every cut and never hold the piece by hand.
• Let it reach full speed: bring the wheel up to speed before it touches the metal, then lower it steadily rather than forcing it.
• Inspect the wheel: reject any wheel that is cracked, chipped or past its best-by date.
• Leave the dust collector off: do not connect a woodshop dust collector to anything that throws sparks.

Abrasive cutting also makes fine metal and wheel dust. A respirator rated for fine particles is sensible, and so is cutting outdoors or with the door open.

Abrasive vs Cold-Cut: When to Skip Harbor Freight

If you cut metal weekly, a carbide-blade cold-cut saw trades a higher price for fewer sparks and no consumable wheels. These are the 14-inch Amazon options we found in stock on the day we checked, with prices from their listings.

Saw	Type	Listing detail	Price
PORTER-CABLE PCE700	Abrasive	15 amp, 3,800 RPM, spark deflector	$172.99
DEWALT D28730	Abrasive	2300W motor, quick-lock vise, 45 degree fence	$175.99
WEN CM1446	Carbide blade	15 amp, up to 1,450 RPM, 5.125 in round tube capacity, 2-year warranty	$264.99
Evolution S355CPSL	Carbide blade	Heavy-duty 14 in metal-cutting saw	$400.00

Notice the speed difference hidden in those details: the WEN turns its carbide blade at up to 1,450 RPM, roughly a third of the 3,800 to 4,200 RPM of the abrasive saws above, which is why it throws chips instead of a spark stream. For a deeper look at blade choice, read our guide to the saw blade you need to cut metal and the roundup of small saws for cutting metal.

Changing the Wheel and Basic Care

1. Unplug the saw before touching the guard or spindle.
2. Lock the spindle and loosen the arbor nut with the wrench the saw provides.
3. Fit the new wheel and confirm the arbor hole matches before tightening.
4. Snug the nut without cranking it, lower the guard and run the empty saw for a short test before you cut.

Our walkthrough on how to change the blade on a chop saw covers the same steps with more detail. Between jobs, wipe off abrasive dust, keep wheels flat and dry, and store them away from solvents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Harbor Freight sell a metal cut off saw?

Yes. When we checked Harbor Freight’s 14-inch cut-off saw page, it listed two abrasive models: the HERCULES 56790 (15 amp, 4.3 HP, $189.99) and the BAUER 58091 (15 amp, 3.8 HP, $159.99). Prices and stock change, so confirm both on the product page before you plan a purchase.

Can you cut wood with a Harbor Freight metal cut off saw?

No. These saws spin a 14-inch abrasive wheel at roughly 4,100 to 4,200 RPM, a design made for steel, tube and rebar. An abrasive wheel burns and clogs on wood and the sparks can ignite sawdust. For lumber, use a miter saw with a proper wood blade.

What size cut-off wheel fits the Harbor Freight 14-inch saws?

Both saws use a 14-inch wheel with a 1-inch arbor, and the Harbor Freight Type 01/41 wheel (item 57659) is 1/8 inch thick with a 20 mm / 1 inch arbor. Its listing shows $8.99 and a maximum rating of 5,400 RPM, above the speed of either saw.

Do abrasive cut-off wheels expire?

Harbor Freight’s wheel listing says to use the wheel before the best-by date marked near the center of the wheel or on the packaging. Bonded abrasive wheels age, so check that date before you mount an old wheel, and never use a wheel that is cracked, chipped or has been dropped.

Is the Bauer or the Hercules the better buy?

It depends on how often you cut. The Bauer costs $30 less but carries a 90-day guarantee and ships without a wheel. The Hercules adds a 3-year warranty, a wheel in the box and a 5-inch capacity. If you cut metal only a few times a year, the Bauer plus one $8.99 wheel is the cheaper path.

Bottom line: for a woodworker who occasionally needs to cut steel, the Bauer 58091 plus a spare wheel is the cheapest current Harbor Freight route, and the Hercules 56790 is the better value if you want a warranty. Verify price and stock on Harbor Freight before you go, and set up the spark zone before you plug it in.