Portable bandsaws.

[Toyota_Jim]

Whats good, whats bad?

Ive been eyeing one at the welding shop, its a milwaukee..

[300sniper]

the milwaukee is a great saw. i have been using them for years. the one i prefere is the one with the adjustable speed triger.

[Kartracer55]

Lemme ask, Why a portable band saw, and not a milwaukee super sawzall and a few metal blades? I use my sawzall to cut metal all the time and the thing does a damn good job. You just need to know what its limits are and to lube the blade.

Jim

[wv4runner]

I've also been thinking about getting one. My friend has one and he loves the thing.

[ChiScouter]

Don't buy a milwaukee untill you try out the new Dewalt. The Milwaukee is dam near a antique in design, The new Dewalt is much more compact, easier to use in tight quarters and has some improved design features. I sold my Milwaukee and bought a DeWalt.

[669 Sprink]

Milwaukee or Dewalt. Have been using one or another on a dailt basis at work for years. You can get a Dewalt with a small work light as well. How many tight spaces are you going to really need to get into??!? Perhaps a chop saw would do exactly what you need as well????? Just a thought.

[u2slow]

We have the Milwaukee at work. Sooooo much nicer than a sawsall or chop saw for the stuff we cut... allthread, conduit, strut, cable tray, etc.

[Aces'n'8s]

Be sure you know which Milwaukee bandsaw you are purchasing. There are two varieties-a regular cut and a deep cut. The regular cut bandsaw has the handle and motor at a more/less vertical position. The deep cut saw has everything leaning to one side. While it cuts up to 4"(????), I don't really care for them as they are IMO unwieldly.

As for the bandsaw versus recip saw, I like the slow cutting action of the bandsaw moreso than the vibrating, blade-bending of a reciprocating saw. Each saw has there place, but IMO, a bandsaw gives you more control over your cutting line.

[u2slow]

As for the bandsaw versus recip saw, I like the slow cutting action of the bandsaw moreso than the vibrating, blade-bending of a reciprocating saw. Each saw has there place, but IMO, a bandsaw gives you more control over your cutting line.

x2

We have the Deep-cut variety. Gotta be able to cut the 4" conduit. Unwieldy my ass. You hold the saw with one hand and your material in the other. :D

Sawsalls and angle grinders (w/ zip-cut disc) for tight spaces.

[78bronco460]

Another electrician for the Milwaukee. I've never tried a DeWalt so I can't say anything about em, but the Milwaukee can endure extreme abuse. In my use Sawzalls are for whacking, bandsaws are more precise and controlled. You can get some cool attachments for portabands to cut like a vertical bandsaw from Milwaukee:
http://www.toolking.com/milwaukee/view.asp?ID=3754

[300sniper]

Lemme ask, Why a portable band saw, and not a milwaukee super sawzall and a few metal blades? Jim

sounds like you have never used a porta band saw. i have had owned both for years and i use the band saw for every thing i can. if it wont fit is the only time i will use the saws all. i use the porta band more than my plasma cutter also. now that i think of it, the only thing i use my saws all for is removing old brackets from frames and such where i need to cut close to limit the grinding.


like mentioned above, make sure to get the deep cut. also the variable speed trigger is a must..

[ScoutIITD]

You just need to know what its limits are and to lube the blade. Jim

Jim,

What do you lube your recipicating saw blades with???

[Aces'n'8s]

x2

We have the Deep-cut variety. Gotta be able to cut the 4" conduit. Unwieldy my ass. You hold the saw with one hand and your material in the other. :D

Sawsalls and angle grinders (w/ zip-cut disc) for tight spaces.

Isn't that how you cut with ALL bandsaws. :flipoff2:

I was just implying that the deep cut is not as balanced as the regular cut bandsaw. If your a plumber, then get that one. If your everyone else, get the regular cut.

[Kartracer55]

Jim,

What do you lube your recipicating saw blades with???

When I am cutting steel angle iron or plate, I makesure i add some cutting oil to the cut everyonce in awhile to reduce friction and save the blade.

Jim

[EMG7895]

Definitly get the milwaukee.

[chillyf250]

I have an old school Rockwell Porta Band that I picked up for $50, all it needed was a new switch and absolutely works great. No comparison to a sawzall except for tight situations when a sawzall is the only alternative.

I'd check out the Porter Cable as well...less bulky then a Milwaukee.

[DRM]

Got a 15 year old or so Milwaukee deep cut porta-band. Love it, but it does have it's limitations, especially in tight spaces.

[pmurf1]

We have several Milwaukee's at work (commercial pipe fitting and HVAC). Never had a problem with one. I refuse to buy Dewalt junk anymore, hecho in mexico crap. We burned up three of their sawzalls in one month, last Dewalt stuff we bought.

[Brandon]

x2

We have the Deep-cut variety. Gotta be able to cut the 4" conduit. Unwieldy my ass. You hold the saw with one hand and your material in the other. :D

Sawsalls and angle grinders (w/ zip-cut disc) for tight spaces.


ditto sawzalls are the ultimate LAST resort!

[resqme]

Never really thought too much about a portable bandsaw...gonna have to try that.

Mistic Metal Mover is by far the best cutting oil I have ever used. Even keeps drills alive and metal cool in hard stainless.

Mistic Metal Mover (http://www.misticmetal.com/)

[odee]

I've got the portercable brand right now. Works really good for me I picked it up on a lucky chance for cheap when my local lowes was moving across the road to their new store. Going on 2 years now without any issues.

[GJC]

On the cheap side, I've been using this one http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47840
Just bought some Good blades for it. Works very well for the price. Someday I will buy a Milwakee.

[Old Scout]

Never really thought too much about a portable bandsaw...gonna have to try that.

Mistic Metal Mover is by far the best cutting oil I have ever used. Even keeps drills alive and metal cool in hard stainless.

Mistic Metal Mover (http://www.misticmetal.com/)

No lube on a porta band! The blade will just spin on the wheels.

[BlackSkies7]

Yep luben' the blade can cause the blade to slip on the wheels, however a light lube used sparingly can help some.

A sawzall can in no way compare to a portaband, perhaps yes for destruction but not a chance for production.
I have a used milwaukee deep cut and love it, ive used it on almost every project ive had.
You can get tricky and come up with a mount system for it so that it acts more like a real band saw.
The biggest problem ive had is making perfect verticle cuts, the sheer offset weight of the tool tends to try and 'lean' it, but if you take your time or make a hard mount, you can get some dam nice results.

[INtj]

When I am cutting steel angle iron or plate, I makesure i add some cutting oil to the cut everyonce in awhile to reduce friction and save the blade.
Jim
This sounds like a good way to cut a finger off to me. There is no way a recip can hang with a band saw in anything the band can reach! The portaband is the bomb for cutting stock out in the shop or flat steel that is attached to machinery.
INtj

[trkklr77]

the only time ive had the pleasure of useing a portaband i was able to out cut a torch cutting the exact same material !!!

i have alwaysed used a sawzall 10 amp with the double adjustable switch. i would never get rid of a sawzall but i cant wait to get a portaband.

somewhere i saw a deal the would make your portaband into a portable chop/band saw. it looked like a bolt on chop saw base.

[ChiScouter]

This sounds like a good way to cut a finger off to me. There is no way a recip can hang with a band saw in anything the band can reach! The portaband is the bomb for cutting stock out in the shop or flat steel that is attached to machinery.
INtj


Please elaborate..............not about a reciep vs bandsaw, but how using cutting oil can cause your finger to be cut off :confused:

[jpnjim]

Another electrician for the Milwaukee.

X3 :grinpimp:


I love everything about the deepcut Milwaulkee, except buying blades.

[300sniper]

X3 :grinpimp:


I love everything about the deepcut Milwaulkee, except buying blades.



i guess i don't love buying the blades but i don't need to very often even tho i use mine alot. it seems to me that every time some one else uses mine, there are groups of teeth missing off the blade. i don't know what the hell they do with it, it isn't that complicated to just let the saw do the work :rolleyes:

i guess when i used to build communication towers, i went through a lot of blades cutting stainless steel all-thread.

[BlackSkies7]

i guess i don't love buying the blades but i don't need to very often even tho i use mine alot. it seems to me that every time some one else uses mine, there are groups of teeth missing off the blade. i don't know what the hell they do with it, it isn't that complicated to just let the saw do the work :rolleyes:



Yup your friends are your portabands worst enemy. 2 things rape the teeth, 1- as you implied, putting excess pressure on the tool
2- not paying attention to your cutting, if the blade starts to travel, and curve it eventually gets pinched and kills the teeth. Then you get that nice *bump* every revolution.