I see there are two types of portaband tables available. I'm going to buy (or build) one. From what I've seen one style has the slot for the blade coming from the front, the other from the rear. I guess there is pro and cons to both. I'm thinking from the front you dont have to remove the saw to change blades once it gets dull or breaks. The style with the slot from the rear you dont have to remove the blade from the saw to use the saw freehanded? Which do you have and has the direction of the blade slot been a problem or asset.

I was just looking at this one.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=822589&highlight=portaband+table

What others have you found besides milwaukee's $$$ horizontal one?

I have the front slot style. I would prefer the other. I use my portaband a lot without the table and rarely have to change blades.

I have the front slot style. I would prefer the other. I use my portaband a lot without the table and rarely have to change blades.

I've abused the piss out of mine and had to change blades twice... both in the same day for doing stupid sideways cutting twisting the blade :laughing: my other portaband has the same blade after 1 year of abuse.. missing random teeth but going strong. I love the portabands, and am gonna make a stand like they sell or just buy one if I don't have the time :smokin:

For the $ you can't go wrong with a portaband + stand to keep it all modular.

My next purchase down the road will probably be a v28 portaband to finish off my collection :grinpimp:

I was just looking at this one.
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=822589&highlight=portaband+table

What others have you found besides milwaukee's $$$ horizontal one?


I'd like to have the one you linked, but out of my price range at the moment, may have to wait and buy that one instead of making one. Nice design, and modular.
Swag, the one you linked, makes another one:
http://www.swagoffroad.com/Porta_band_Product.html

And the other style (of slot), also a P4x4 vendor and fellow Virginian :
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748205

I've had the portaband for a while, and have been looking for a older vertical metal bandsaw but cant find anything in my price range. Hoping this would work till I could find one.

a table is pretty easy to fab, I used some scrap channel and i just clamp it in the vice to use it

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/mjmillar/junk/th_nov1-09-001.jpg (http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/mjmillar/junk/?action=view&current=nov1-09-001.jpg)

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/mjmillar/junk/th_nov1-09-002.jpg (http://s699.photobucket.com/albums/vv358/mjmillar/junk/?action=view&current=nov1-09-002.jpg)

Gents,

Here is the latest style to come out of my shop.

This bandsaw mounting table fits all Dewalt and Milwaukee deep throat saws.

Installation is straight forward, remove the foot guard mounting screws and install the ¼” thick lightweight 6061 aluminum mounting plate. This mounting plate weighs less than a pound and will reduce user fatigue when the Portaband is used as it was originally intended for.

To convert your portaband into a vertical band saw, insert the saw into the table mounted band saw bracket, and tighten the 5/16” thumb screw….simple as that. You now have a saw that performs two functions, a portable band saw and a vertical band saw that does not require any tools to switch between the two functions. The 12” wide ¼” thick table mounted band saw bracket is laser cut and formed on a CNC press break, It has 4 holes on the bottom so it can be securely attached to your work bench.

Troy

I just ordered a portaband and a SWAG table with foot pedal switch. I'm hoping it will work a lot better than my HF bandsaw.
I'll post back when I've used it/them...

Gents,

Here is the latest style to come out of my shop.

Hey, I've got your old style. Now I feel robbed :flipoff2:

I just ordered the new one, it looks like a sweet unit! :grinpimp:

I placed my order on Saturday and had an email this morning with the shipping info.........that's service!

One of these are on my list!

Hey, I've got your old style. Now I feel robbed :flipoff2:

X2, how about a trade-in program.... :smokin:

Gents,

Here is the latest style to come out of my shop.

This bandsaw mounting table fits all Dewalt and Milwaukee deep throat saws.

Installation is straight forward, remove the foot guard mounting screws and install the ¼” thick lightweight 6061 aluminum mounting plate. This mounting plate weighs less than a pound and will reduce user fatigue when the Portaband is used as it was originally intended for.

To convert your portaband into a vertical band saw, insert the saw into the table mounted band saw bracket, and tighten the 5/16” thumb screw….simple as that. You now have a saw that performs two functions, a portable band saw and a vertical band saw that does not require any tools to switch between the two functions. The 12” wide ¼” thick table mounted band saw bracket is laser cut and formed on a CNC press break, It has 4 holes on the bottom so it can be securely attached to your work bench.

Troy

Looks good :smokin:

Apparently these looked good to a bunch of guys here...

I ordered one last night and very early this morning I got a reply that guys from Pirate had bought all he had on hand...

Looks like Im waiting untill the end of the week for mine.

I guess I was a little too slow on this one... lol

A question for those of you who have used these tables, or any table to stand up a porta band, do you have problems with the tires filling up with metal shavings/chips?

do you just clean the tires extra often?

and for those who didnt know, yes the rubber bands which drive the blade are called tires by Milwaukee

I just ordered a portaband and a SWAG table with foot pedal switch. I'm hoping it will work a lot better than my HF bandsaw.
I'll post back when I've used it/them...

Update:

I got an email response from SWAG super quick and the table and switch came about 2 days later as promised. I had to wait a few more days for my saw to come from Amazon (free super saver shipping :D).

I set it up and played with it a bit tonight. This setup works about 10 times better than my HF horizontal band saw in vertical mode!

The portaband cuts twice as fast as the HF saw and the blade is quick and super easy to install and change (no adjustments even).

As for the table its waaaaaay more flat and sturdy/stable, even not screwed down to the bench. Took about 2 minutes to set up, and the saw installs and removes from the base in about 10 seconds if you want to take it out to cut something portable-ly or change a blade.

The foot switch is definitely nice to have too. It is push-on, push-off, so you don't have to hold your foot on it the whole time.

I'm quite happy and definitely recommend this setup. I'm sure its going to get a lot of use! :smokin:


Sure, I could have built one, but for the price it would not have been worth my time and also wouldn't have been nearly as nice or user friendly. I'm also glad I don't have to stick this thing in my vise.

Oh, and FWIW, shipping adds $22.50 to the cost in the cart, so its about $108 for the table or $123 for the table and switch to your door.

I finally got to use SWAG's new setup......... a little spendy, but my initial impressions are that it was one of the best tool purchases I've made. I like the fact it doesn't occupy the vise, it stands on its own, and feels real solid. If you have the right cutting tools, you could easily make one of your own, but after you factor in time/materials, it was worth it to me to have SWAG do the work. I recommend it as it's a great setup for small shops, and would be great to put in the race trailer.

A question for those of you who have used these tables, or any table to stand up a porta band, do you have problems with the tires filling up with metal shavings/chips?

do you just clean the tires extra often?

and for those who didnt know, yes the rubber bands which drive the blade are called tires by Milwaukee

I havent noticed any buildup on the tires

I've used the same saw and foot pedal for over 16 years now. I've put 2 sets of tire rubbers and 3 sets of guide rollers on the saw. The only thing about changing baldes if the saw is a production shop with several operators, you will go through blades often

Mark

What radii can be cut with the out of the box bands? I have a shop localy that makes custom bands, but im just wondering from those of you who use these stands to cut shapes.

Im debating buying a deep cut and stand, or just building a table for my horizontal saw, which stands up enough to be vertical.

the portaband blades are ~ $20 each where the blades for my saw are ~$35.....

What radii can be cut with the out of the box bands? I have a shop localy that makes custom bands, but im just wondering from those of you who use these stands to cut shapes.

Im debating buying a deep cut and stand, or just building a table for my horizontal saw, which stands up enough to be vertical.

the portaband blades are ~ $20 each where the blades for my saw are ~$35.....

You can get 3 portaband blades for $20.

Can't tell you about the radius, but I imagine it's going to be tighter than if you convert your horizontal.

The good bi-metal portaband blades are $15/pair at Home Depot. The regular high speed steel ones are sold in 3-packs for about the same or a little more.

They don't seem to cut a very tight radius. Maybe 4"-5"?