Portable Band Saws?

Fawteen

Well-known Member
Location
Downeast Maine
My toy budget is burning a hole in my pocket and I'm thinking a portable band saw would be a handy addition to my shop.

I'd be looking at Milwaukee and Makita tools.

Looking for comments on brands, models, general usefulness and anything you think might be helpful in making a decision.

I do not have the floor space for a full-size metalworking bandsaw.

Also, I'm only interested in corded tools. While I can see battery unit being handy on rare occasions, I would think it would be a battery-eating monster.
 
I have a SEARS 10" metal sawing bandsaw. Works OK for light work. With the right blade will cut metal or wood. Blade is narrow, and cutting is slow, but gets job done. Thick blocks of wood tend to throw blade easily. Buy something better if your budget allows. Got this one at a garage sale for $35. Got my money's worth.
 
I have about 8 of those Milwaukee portaband saws (Electrical contractor). I like Milwaukee ones the best, the original series I like the best (they make a newer version too that has a light and other options)
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Those are great tools, BUT are not like a typical bandsaw when cutting. They WILL cut crooked as a dogs hind leg if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. Especially on tubing, square is worse than round, you basically have to pay attention and cut one side at a time.

They are a great tool as I have said, but there is a place for a horizontal bandsaw, that is my next move.
 
A while back I had a comparison video pop up on youtube and the Milwaukee came out the longest lasting. It tested gear heat also. It is kinka spendy but you can get a bench stand with a table that is real handy for cutting angles as well as square with the Milwaukee portable.
 
Hmmmm.

Any better than an abrasive chopsaw? I have one of those.

I'm looking at it as a convenient way to cut shapes in black iron plate and doing notching and such.
 
i have a milwaukee port a band. had it for better than 10 years. good saw. only consumables are the blades and the rubber tires that go on the blade wheels. they also make a stand for the milwaukee that makes kind of a table band saw. i dont have that, but have a regular metal bandsaw. dont "ride" the blade, let it cut at its own pace, otherwise you break blades. ( iknow, you knew that!!) (or is it knowed that?)
 
We have 2 Milwaukee brand one is 15 years old and trouble free, the other is 3 years old "deep cut" that I like better and also trouble free both electric.
 
Being a Pipefitter/Pipewelder, I used a Port A Band a lot. Milwaukee is great, but the original Port-A-Band is good too. I see Harbor Freight came out with one for a little over a $100.
 
I was thinking about one too, from HF but that's beside the point. Theirs has a 5" opening. Got me to thinking that usage would have to be for rod, pipe, and bar stock. If you limited it to that and felt it justified the price then yes. I'm still toying with the idea as I don't need to do much welding any more and I already have 2 non-portables that are easy to operate and readily available. Also have a Skil chop saw but seldom use it with the 2 BSs.
 
I bought a Milwaukee 2 speed portable band saw about 10 years ago. Never had any issues with it. It's like a chainsaw though, you will get the blade caught or wedged in the piece you are cutting if you're not paying attention. I usually never change the speed and just leave it on high. Blades are reasonably priced. I like the 14-18 teeth per inch and I get the variable tooth blades that have 14 & 18 TPI on the same blade. It all depends on what you want to cut though too. I use my 4-1/2" cut off wheel more than the band saw. Just depends on the project you're working on. I wouldn't be without a band saw. You can never have enough tools that's for sure.
 
Milwaukee deep cut here. I use mine for cutting 3/4"x3" flat steel and all the smaller sizes. Square tubing is easy too if it's in a vise and marked all the way around and pay attention. Have never owned a chop saw.
I bet I have cut darn near a mile with mine, lol.... building plow frames for garden tractors.
Flat sheet up too 6", sometimes more if it's around a corner or along an edge. Notches are easy too.
 
I have a corded Milwaukee that's pushing 20 years old and a new cordless one. Never had any troubles with either just had to change a few rubber dive wheels( diesel fuel will eat them up).
 
Get a Milwaukee and be done with it. They have tried several other brands at work and always come back to Milwaukee. The DeWalt is a second but it's geometry is different and I can't get a cut outta one to save my a$$. Pay attention to what the blade is doing and the Milwaukee will do a fine job for ya.
 
I have used them all from various contractors . The Milwaukee is by far the most popular. The only time it ever annoyed me is when the rubber wheel gets off track. I hardly remember anything but a Milwaukee being used.
 

I've had my Milwaukee porta band for around 17 years, I find it very handy for job site cutting and use it more than a cut off wheel on a side grinder.
For around the shop fab work I use a standard floor model band saw because I can get a more accurate cut with it and it will handle larger material.
 
I have an ancient Milwaukee deep cut that I bought used many years ago. I use it nearly every day. Very handy tool - I'd replace it immediately if it quit working.

Every electrical contractor that I ever worked with used Milwaukee portaband saws.

I've never used any other brand, so can't comment on others.
 
Thanks all.

I went with the Milwaukee 2 speed corded unit. Got a pretty decent price on it through Home Depot shipped to my place. Local store doesn't stock that model.

Gonna make me a little table for it. Lots of examples on Ewe Toob, the store bought one is just stupid expensive.
 
I use bimetallic variable pitch blades on my band saws and they last and last and cutting is superb. Get them off the www.
 

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