Best Portaband Stand?

[dr_clyde]

Despite having an embarrassment of riches regarding the variety saws in my shop, they're not very portable. I LOVE the Milwaukee portaband, and over the years I've collected a few of them.

I'd like to dedicate one to a stand to turn it into a pseudo-permanent mini vertical bandsaw for when I'm on the road.

Who makes the best one I can get my hands on?

 

[MOS3522]

I switched almost all my pipe and tube cutting to a Dewalt band saw and the Harbor Freight stand.

Universal Portable Band Saw Benchtop Stand

Amazing deals on this Universal Portable Band Saw Stand at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I think it works very well.

 

[RMERR]

Lots of people like the Swag brand. I don't have one, but I've been considering one for a while.

Portaband Table Pro Model - SWAG Off Road

Discover the SWAG Portaband Table Pro Model - the perfect tool for metal fabrication enthusiasts. Made in the USA, our table offers exceptional durability and stability in a compact design. The table features built-in dual miter gauge slides and bolt-on steel legs, providing a stable platform...

www.swagoffroad.com

 

[GeoBruin]

I'm assuming for vertical use? The SWAG is pretty ubiquitous and probably hard to beat if you don't want to make something yourself.

 

[danielbuck]

the swag is good if that's the style you want. For what it is though, it's not exactly inexpensive.

 

[Beerhippie]

I switched almost all my pipe and tube cutting to a Dewalt band saw and the Harbor Freight stand.

Universal Portable Band Saw Benchtop Stand

Amazing deals on this Universal Portable Band Saw Stand at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I think it works very well.

That looks like something I need!

My Milwaukee Porta-band doesn't get much use these days due to its weight. I've clamped it up in my bench vise for use as a vertical saw a couple of times, but this looks like a better option, and the chop-saw would be right handy until I can justify a cold-cut saw (probably never).

 

[dr_clyde]

Pretty much only need it for vertical use.

I could make something I suppose but it would be nice to just buy something that works like I want.

 

[08h3]

I’ve had a swag for 6 or so years and it does what I need of it. I didn’t get one with legs and instead decided to make its place into my work bench and put a small trash can under it to help with catching the debris from it.

 

[PugetDude]

Made this one in about an hour. One bolt, replaced the factory handle. Swarf falls into a trash can, not onto a table.
Use it nearly every day.

 

[cycle61]

Lots of people like the Swag brand. I don't have one, but I've been considering one for a while.

Portaband Table Pro Model - SWAG Off Road

Discover the SWAG Portaband Table Pro Model - the perfect tool for metal fabrication enthusiasts. Made in the USA, our table offers exceptional durability and stability in a compact design. The table features built-in dual miter gauge slides and bolt-on steel legs, providing a stable platform...

www.swagoffroad.com

We have the Swag offroad stand for one of our heavy portabands at work, and it's fantastic.

 

[Steve_P]

Made this one in about an hour. One bolt, replaced the factory handle. Swarf falls into a trash can, not onto a table.
Use it nearly every day.

Cool, but I think that he's looking for something to purchase that's portable and ready to go for business purposes- not wanting to bolt it to his truck's bumper, or asking to clamp it to an office desk to cut a handrail to length.

 

[PugetDude]

He didn't mention either of those scenarios.

 

[driftpin]

I have the Harbor Freight stand, and a HFT Hercules portable bandsaw, and it's easy to convert it from horizontal to vertical. It works well for what it is.

 

[RTM]

I have the SWAG, hauling it out next weekend for a project.

Too lazy, not the right toolset to make a metal stand quickly or nicely. Wood one maybe.

 

[e015475]

I’ve had the SWAG for my Portaband for about ten years now. Took a little fiddling to get the saw to fit

I had a bigger bandsaw too but got rid of it when I didn’t use it after I got the SWAG/Portaband

It is one of the most often used tools in my shop. The miter slots are useless unless the blade is very new. Mine is starting to rust a little so if you can order it painted it’d be nice

A good low profile work light helpful and the cheap on-off foot switch from HF make it a pleasure to use.

 

[e015475]

A little work station with the SWAG stand and a 1” belt sander for debuting cuts works well in my shop

 

[NUTTSGT]

Pretty much only need it for vertical use.

I could make something I suppose but it would be nice to just buy something that works like I want.

I'd suggest a SWAG table then. Check out the options available and just order them. I'm sure there's a way for you to write it off or part of it as shop use. I believe I did buy the miter gage off Amazon, I believe it was many dollars cheaper than what SWAG was charging.

I bought mine unpainted and did that myself as I didn't want the table itself powder coated. I figured it would just scratch up and look like ****.

They offer several different table models for different saws. I suggest getting a saw for the bandsaw and leaving it mounted up.



If you were closer, I'd tell you to come check mine out.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I bought a HF Hercules only cause it was on sale for 79$, but it works great. Otherwise I planned on getting a swag,I think either one would work.

 

[steel 35]

I Scraped my swag, couldn’t change the band alone.

 

[PhantomEB]

Gonna be a Milwaukee portaband and Swag for me….will buy it when I don’t even need it, lol.

 

[steel 35]

What I made.

 

[afazz]

I have a Swag for my corded Milwaukee and it’s fantastic. It’s definitely one of those tools I don’t know how I went without for so long.

I haven’t bought one yet, but these new Readysaw mounts look very nice. They’re more expensive and designed to be more quickly convertible / configurable than the Swag setup.

Ready Saw M-CB1

Premium Stainless Steel Multi-Function Ready Saw Fits Milwaukee corded and cordless models: 2729 cordless, 6232 and 6238 corded deep cut band saws Price includes (1) stowable table and (2) mounting buttons (saw not included)

readysaw.com

 

[SRU1436]

I’m a recent SWAG owner, no complaints so far.

 

[fourjeepin]

I got a swag with the Wen saw at Christmas and love it.

 

[JradM]

Made this one in about an hour. One bolt, replaced the factory handle. Swarf falls into a trash can, not onto a table.
Use it nearly every day.

What I made.

I trust these cool stands have been shared in the Homemade Tools thread?

That thread is awesome and deserves more entries.

P.s. You'll find my homemade stand for a cordless bandsaw there. I made a push button switch to deactivate the trigger because if you zip-tie the trigger like people do with the corded saws, you'd have to pull the battery out in case of emergency (which didn't seem safe).

 

[larry4406]

Made this one in about an hour. One bolt, replaced the factory handle. Swarf falls into a trash can, not onto a table.
Use it nearly every day.

I need to copy this one day.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I bought a "ditok" brand stand off Amazon, I think I paid like $100 for it last year I think. Came powder coated and is built quite well. I looked at the swag table but it was like $180 for powder coated one.

 

[MOS3522]

Question to all the Swag guys: Does that unit let you use the bandsaw both vertically and horizontally? That’s the reason I bought the Hercules one at HF - when I cut long and heavy 2.5” tube I can keep the tube on the floor without needing to lift it more than a couple of inches.

It basically mimics a cut off saw, but without all the dust of the abrasive kind or the expense of the cold version.

 

[steel 35]

I trust these cool stands have been shared in the Homemade Tools thread?

That thread is awesome and deserves more entries.

P.s. You'll find my homemade stand for a cordless bandsaw there. I made a push button switch to deactivate the trigger because if you zip-tie the trigger like people do with the corded saws, you'd have to pull the battery out in case of emergency (which didn't seem safe).

I use a pedal switch! but when I plug it in never know if its on or off.
Thanks

 

[RTM]

Question to all the Swag guys: Does that unit let you use the bandsaw both vertically and horizontally

Mine (MKE ***********) is only vertical

 

[MOS3522]

Just to further, this short vid I dug up on youtube illustrates the horizontal cutting on the HF band saw stand:

 

[Nutria]

Question to all the Swag guys: Does that unit let you use the bandsaw both vertically and horizontally? That’s the reason I bought the Hercules one at HF - when I cut long and heavy 2.5” tube I can keep the tube on the floor without needing to lift it more than a couple of inches.

It basically mimics a cut off saw, but without all the dust of the abrasive kind or the expense of the cold version.

My Swag is vertical only. I have a Milwaukee mounted on it and an old Porter-Cable that I use for free-hand horizontal cuts. Porter-Cable did make a bolt-on stand for horizontal cutting.

 

[speed bump]

I just made a flat plate for my DeWalt that bolts into the default holes. Eventually I want to do something where I can change the blade without taking the saw out of the stand but I haven't gotten around to it.

 

[Beerhippie]

This is what I currently use for vertical use of the saw--Milwaukee deep-throat:



Handle in a pivoting bench vise. Irwin Quick-Grip clamp holds the trigger, so I can release it quickly if needed. Yanking the cord is an option--once.

A table would be nice, but what I want is the ability to use the Porta-Band as a chop saw.

 

[larry4406]

This is what I currently use for vertical use of the saw--Milwaukee deep-throat:



Handle in a pivoting bench vise. Irwin Quick-Grip clamp holds the trigger, so I can release it quickly if needed. Yanking the cord is an option--once.

A table would be nice, but what I want is the ability to use the Porta-Band as a chop saw.

Milwaukee sells this..

 

[Beerhippie]

Milwaukee sells this..

I wasn't sure (still am not) that will fit my "vintage" Porta-Band.

The next question: Is a scroll-saw blade for a Porta-Band a thing? Possible? I wasted a lot of good copper on my last project clearancing my curved cuts.

 

[RTM]

The next question: Is a scroll-saw blade for a Porta-Band a thing? Possible? I wasted a lot of good copper on my last project clearancing my curved cuts.

You are be able to order a custom sized thin band without too much trouble. Will it track correctly is another question. I don't know that half. I've posted my bandsaw vendor several times. Will add it here shortly.

Spectrum Supply

 

[Swervyjoe]

Homebrew

 

[steel 35]

Cool, but I think that he's looking for something to purchase.

Stolen !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goneracin]

SWAG. i had one that i sold during a move across country. will buy again when my shop is built