To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Portable band saw stand

J

jvo

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Messages
51
Location
Lethbridge, AB Canada
I built this last winter from scraps and junk. Made it so I have lots of surfaces on all sides so as to use a c clamp to attach it to a table top. The big handle is sort of a lark, as a friend that is in the gaming business gave it to me. It is off a one armed bandit slot machine. The mechanism below the handle has some detent balls and springs to keep the switch in the on position when the handle is moved. The bass drum pieces on the switch mechanism came from some stuff my musician son in law was throwing out. The only thing new is the Milwaukee saw. It works great for cutting out small brackets that my big horizontal bandsaw can't do. And, it is very portable.

Sorry, the pics are sideways. I can rotate them on my own computer, but they still post sideways.
 

Attachments

  • 100_2533.jpg
    100_2533.jpg
    139.1 KB · Views: 1,203
  • 100_2534.jpg
    100_2534.jpg
    140.4 KB · Views: 1,122
  • 100_2535.jpg
    100_2535.jpg
    143.5 KB · Views: 1,056
  • 100_2536.jpg
    100_2536.jpg
    141.4 KB · Views: 1,041
  • 100_2537.jpg
    100_2537.jpg
    129.7 KB · Views: 929
  • 100_2532.jpg
    100_2532.jpg
    136.6 KB · Views: 1,447
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
V

Vicegrip

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,187
Location
NoVA.
That is some real nice work and thinking right there.

'Save as" after rotating.
 
M

mbatarga

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
883
Location
GA
I bought a used porta-band saw off CL a few weeks ago - it's not a deep throated version unfortunately. I browsed the web for ideas on mounting it as a horizontal saw with a table and created my own design. It's not completely finished yet - I still need to clean up some of the welds and add a switch box to control the table lamp separately from the saw power switch. I've used it a few times already - it definitely fits my immediate needs, as well as limited shop space.

 
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
That's great! I got the Swag Offroad one recently. However, you get many more man points for yours. Home-built is best.

Swag bends the table ends so it can sit in a vise -- so there's no undercarriage. And they suggest a simple spring clamp for the trigger so you can add an inexpensive foot switch ($14 from HF). I'll post pictures so that future DIY builders can benefit from one more design.

2milwaukee.jpg


bandsawone.jpg


Swag also has an optional miter guide that you can bolt onto either side. It helps to make pretty precise cuts.

4milwaukee.jpg


bandsawcut.jpg
 
M

mbatarga

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
883
Location
GA
Yes - I'm familiar with the Swag Off Road product - but it fits only the *********** version of the saw. I might have to "upgrade" my design to include a miter gauge slot though. I like the foot switch idea as well. Next trip to HF I'll pick one up.
 
N

NUTTSGT

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,855
Location
Northern Central Ohio
I think something like this would totally fit the bill for me rather than having a full size metal bandsaw taking up valuable floor space.
 
M

monkers

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
159
you can e-mail Swag and he will answer your questions, hes on pirate4x4 forum and off road forum, if you google swagoffroad you should get his site
 
J

Jack Olsen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
6,678
Location
Los Angeles
I emailed him. It will not work with the HF saw. It will not work with any band saw that doesn't have the '***********' proportions. And only Dewalt or Milwaukee *********** models, at that.

I asked him why he didn't make one for the HF saw, and he explained some of the limitations of the non-deep-throat saws when they're set vertical. He also said there's a significant difference in build quality and usability between HF and Dewalt/Milwaukee. Having had the Milwaukee apart, I will agree that it's a whole different animal than the HF. But in the cuts I've done with my HF saw, it's gone through the metal just fine. Still not sure what I'm going to do with mine.

There are plans out there for a base for the HF model. It's maybe not as functional as a base with a *********** saw. But it's still pretty good.

http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1417
 
Last edited:
2

2manytoyz

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Messages
419
Location
Central FL
Good thread guys. I have the HF version as well. At work, I have a Porter Cable portable bandsaw, and a Jet mobile bandsaw (with a tilting base). I am amazed at how well the HF version does compared to the more expensive brands.

I couldn't justify buying a dedicated metal bandsaw with a base for home, but making a cradle for the portable HF one is an excellent idea. Printed out the plans. This is on my list to build as things slow down a bit at home.

Thanks for the ideas!
 
Z

Zeke

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
17,176
Location
Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
NUTTSGT said:
I think something like this would totally fit the bill for me rather than having a full size metal bandsaw taking up valuable floor space.
Click to expand...

Not to mention having to gear it down. I realize you already have the metal version, but most bandsaw owners have wood and other soft material versions and have to modify for ferrous metals.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
N

NASTYZEN

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 11, 2010
Messages
2,823
Location
St-Colomban,Que. Canada
Great idea's guys. I bought this rockwell saw for 50 bucks some time ago and wanted to build something similar to leave upstairs of the shop so as not to have to walk up n down stairs all the time when I'm working on a project up there. Problem is that it rotates the wrong way.:headscrat I guess I could mount it upside down..... On the back burner for now......
I have 2 combination vertical, horizontal saws already....

imgp6485.jpg
 
M

machine_punk

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2011
Messages
2,540
Location
Napa Valley, California
Brilliant engineering! Looks like you have thought of everything. You have inspired me to try to build my own table, instead of buying one. I'm enjoying everyone's ideas...cool.
 
M

mbatarga

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
883
Location
GA
I took a few more pictures of the stand I made after I finished all welding and painted it. The second picture shows the notches for the bottom housing to clear so the handle will sit into the bracket groove. The third shows the power cord notch and the adjustable mount for the upgright bracket.

 
M

mike13u

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
616
Location
S.Florida
The HF 4x6 bandsaw, Grizzly 4x6, Enco, MSC, etc, is a classic that has tons of info and forums regarding mods and adaptations. I was wondering if any of you have seen a mod or forum where they make a permanent verticle bandsaw out of the 4x6 by making a completely different stand and making a platen/cutting table?
 
D

darkzero

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2011
Messages
3,315
Location
SoCal
mike13u said:
The HF 4x6 bandsaw, Grizzly 4x6, Enco, MSC, etc, is a classic that has tons of info and forums regarding mods and adaptations. I was wondering if any of you have seen a mod or forum where they make a permanent verticle bandsaw out of the 4x6 by making a completely different stand and making a platen/cutting table?
Click to expand...

Making a new table would not be hard for it but IMO converting one of those 4x6s permanantely to vertical is not practical. As with most horizontal bandsaws that are capable of vertical use, they were originally designed to be used as a horizontal saw so they have their capacity limitations when used vertical. Unless you already have one & want to work with that only, it would be best to just go & get a vertical bandsaw. If I had use for vert more than a horiz, I'd probably just sell the my 4x6 & pick up a vert. There's tons of them that pop up used in CL.
 
M

mike13u

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
616
Location
S.Florida
darkzero said:
Making a new table would not be hard for it but IMO converting one of those 4x6s permanantely to vertical is not practical. As with most horizontal bandsaws that are capable of vertical use, they were originally designed to be used as a horizontal saw so they have their capacity limitations when used vertical. Unless you already have one & want to work with that only, it would be best to just go & get a vertical bandsaw. If I had use for vert more than a horiz, I'd probably just sell the my 4x6 & pick up a vert. There's tons of them that pop up used in CL.
Click to expand...

Thanks. No metal-cutting verticles in my area < 4x the price of a 4x6. I'm sure there is a reason. I just see the little bad *** porta-band in this post and think "if they can make that into a perm. verticle..." But its guides are probably much more rigid in that short a length. I would love a verticle metal cutting saw but they are all well over $1,000 around here...and thats a beater price.
 
N

NUTTSGT

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
50,855
Location
Northern Central Ohio
Zeke said:
Not to mention having to gear it down. I realize you already have the metal version, but most bandsaw owners have wood and other soft material versions and have to modify for ferrous metals.
Click to expand...

Quite the oppposite, I have a wood bandsaw but thought of buying a metal bandsaw. I just hate losing the floor space though. :beer:
 
C

CARS

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
Messages
535
Location
New Ulm, MN
If you go to www.weldingtipsandtricks.com , go to the video section.

A while back he built a table for his porta band saw and I just received the email linking his new video which is the stand he built for the table.

Looks sweet!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom