Milwaukee 12v bandsaw?

[Jason280]

I came across one of these the other day, and had no idea they even existed:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SNZJS0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Its a Milwaukee 12v bandsaw, and looks like it would be very handy around the shop. I have plenty of 12v batteries, and bare tools are around $129 on eBay. Anyone tried one, and how do you like it? Worth picking up?

 

[metaldad]

great little saw.
one of the few cordless tools i actually like.

 

[Lettusbee]

Love mine.

 

[firworks]

You'd be surprised what you end up using it for. I got it for a Unistrut project and have ended up using it all over the place.

 

[cheechi]

have one. love it. why haven't you bought it yet?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I can't sing this thing enough praises. I use this so often. Small angle iron, cutting down bolts, all kinds of stuff. I have the M18 fuel, the big corded deep band saw, a stationary steel band saw at does 1 inch plate, and a horizontal. I think the M12 is the most used. It is so handy

In fact I just used it the other day to cut down metal closet rod so I could hang my hunting backpacks. The list goes on and on

 

[Jason280]

Great, now I have to buy another tool...

 

[rpcraft]

I've seen them in use by some of the contractors at one of my job sites and I thought it was pretty cool when I saw it. Like others mentioned, really great if you are cutting unistrut, all thread, rebar, and things for support structure or hanging things from concrete ceiling and supporting all the infrastructure for mechanical and electrical on job sites. I'm not sure I would have a use for one other than to say I have one. I was looking at getting the mini sawz all though.... great for when you are at the wrecking yard and got stuff to cut off without lugging around the big sawzall... It's the next best thing to having a portable plasma cutter, lol

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F7B1AK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[JD3020]

Get a Hackzall, and you'll wonder how you live without it. We do lawn irrigation/landscaping/excavation so i'm always pulling out the saw to cut pipes, roots, wires, etc... Been using the M18 full size saw for a while and finally picked up a Hackzall last spring. Honestly can't tell you the last time i used the big saw. So handy and safer being able to easily hold the saw with one hand and what i'm cutting with the other. My brother has an M12 and its alright, but my m18 blows it away and is still easy to handle.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Get a Hackzall, and you'll wonder how you live without it. We do lawn irrigation/landscaping/excavation so i'm always pulling out the saw to cut pipes, roots, wires, etc... Been using the M18 full size saw for a while and finally picked up a Hackzall last spring. Honestly can't tell you the last time i used the big saw. So handy and safer being able to easily hold the saw with one hand and what i'm cutting with the other. My brother has an M12 and its alright, but my m18 blows it away and is still easy to handle.

Do you have the Fuel or non-Fuel M18 Hackzall? I've been in the market for one but can't decide between the 4 different models. I'm equally invested in the M12 and M18 lineups.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Damn it, you guys! I didn't even need an M12 bandsaw until I got reading this thread and checking out HD's site. $139 bare tool, or $199 for the kit plus a free 4.0 battery. And I've got a $100 HD gift card in my wallet right now, and I'm passing by the store twice today. Resist the temptation!

 

[rlitman]

I think it is great for what it is...

It is perfect for unistrut, 3/4” & 1” EMT...

Yeah, a friend of mine just got it for this, and loves it. His reasoning was that since you could one-hand it, it really speeds up his work. You can't comfortably one-hand the 18V version, or any other portaband.

It does differ from other portabands though, in that it uses a smaller non-standard blade.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

It does differ from other portabands though, in that it uses a smaller non-standard blade.

I didn't look today, but when I got my M12, I just bought a handful of blades on eBay...oughtta last a looong time...

 

[Jason280]

I have the 12v hackzall, just need to order the bandsaw.

 

[cheechi]

long time indeed. I've had mine for 3-4 years. No it's not used daily or even weekly but I am still on the original blade. It's my only metal bandsaw, if it doesn't fit this throat I use a hacksaw or hackzall.

 

[PelicanPines]

I cut 20 stainless bolts above my head with my M12 bandsaw... it was a perfect fit for the tool... I have used it half a dozen other times... I love it... wish it was bigger.

My biggest issue is storing the blow molded box with the saw in it. It doesn't want to fit in the holes I have available.

 

[rustyjames]

I read this thread and guess what I just bought?

 

[JD3020]

Do you have the Fuel or non-Fuel M18 Hackzall? I've been in the market for one but can't decide between the 4 different models. I'm equally invested in the M12 and M18 lineups.

Non-fuel. Working in mud/water my cutting tools get abused so i stick with the cheaper saws. I usually run 6-8" blades on it and I've never ran out of power.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Non-fuel. Working in mud/water my cutting tools get abused so i stick with the cheaper saws. I usually run 6-8" blades on it and I've never ran out of power.

That's the one I've been looking at. I heard the M12 non-fuel is underpowered, and the M12 Fuel is just as big and heavy as the regular M18, so I didn't see any reason for me to go with the M12 Fuel. Plus the M18 is only $99.

 

[ThatSickRip]

I read this thread and guess what I just bought?

Same. Got mine off CPO for the kit $199 and a free Rover light. I dont need another battery or charger, but the bare tool was $139, so for $60 I got the light and a battery. No brainer

 

[cheechi]

That's the one I've been looking at. I heard the M12 non-fuel is underpowered

of the 4, the M12 & M18 fuel & non fuel, it is the least powerful. It's not underpowered though just means you need more saw than it is, a lot of people do.

and the M12 Fuel is just as big and heavy as the regular M18

it's close, but no not really. For situations where you want the fuel over the non fuel, the extra weight helps. Kind of like how a horizontal bandsaw works.

 

[rpcraft]

Damn it, you guys! I didn't even need an M12 bandsaw until I got reading this thread and checking out HD's site. $139 bare tool, or $199 for the kit plus a free 4.0 battery. And I've got a $100 HD gift card in my wallet right now, and I'm passing by the store twice today. Resist the temptation!

I don't need the band saw but daddy needs a powered hacksaw..... That is a salvage yard specialty tool right there, more so even than a cutoff wheel. I could probably take that and a set of robo-grips with the max axxess socket set and take off darn near anything short of a front balancer bolt, lol..

 

[Crazyjake8493]

of the 4, the M12 & M18 fuel & non fuel, it is the least powerful. It's not underpowered though just means you need more saw than it is, a lot of people do.


it's close, but no not really. For situations where you want the fuel over the non fuel, the extra weight helps. Kind of like how a horizontal bandsaw works.

I just don’t see any advantage of going with a lower voltage if you’re not saving on size and weight.

I was actually still considering the m12 non-Fuel, since I can get it in a kit with the m12 SDS rotary hammer for less than the normal price of just the SDS. I’d really just be using the Hackzall for cutting PVC drains and conduit, some EMT, and cutting metal electrical boxes off the studs. I have a sawzall for bigger jobs anyway.

 

[cheechi]

I would honestly say I expect the M12 SDS to be underpowered, I guess if you need specific small holes it's better than having two battery systems but I bet you go through batteries quick though.

My 18v tools are Bosch, and I got the 'full size' sawzall as part of the package. When the M12 tools first came out I still had the 12v Nextec but got into the M12 specifically for the hackzall. I don't know if the Bosch version (equivalent to the non fuel M18) came out before the M12 Fuel but I found out about the M12 Fuel first so that's what I got.

My comparison is if someone has both M12 and M18 then it's a no brainer for you. I still think the M12 Fuel is lighter than either of the M18 and can be valuable. I mean you're not likely carrying all 4 of them around on a tool belt, but if you have a service van or gang box it takes up so little room.

I keep both M12 hackzalls and the bandsaw in the bag that came with the hackzall kit. I carry batteries & charger in my drill bag instead.

 

[kctyphoon]

That's the one I've been looking at. I heard the M12 non-fuel is underpowered, and the M12 Fuel is just as big and heavy as the regular M18, so I didn't see any reason for me to go with the M12 Fuel. Plus the M18 is only $99.

The m12 fuel is mid sized between the m12 and m18. The m18 has more power, and a slightly longer stroke from what I remember. I think every model jumps up an 1/8" in stroke. What do you want more, power or smaller size.. the m12 fuel is very usable for most things, but the m18 IS a bigger saw.

 

[Jason280]

I actually picked up my 12v bandsaw this week, but haven't had a chance to actually play around with it yet...its still sitting in the box on the shop floor. Luckily, I found a deal on some of the larger 12v Milwaukee batteries, so battery power shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Jlarson]

I love the mini bandsaw. I use it for all sorts of electrical stuff, cutting conduit, strut, allthread, cable. I use it to cut feeder conductors and cutting up scrap after we do demo. Being so controllable its handy for cutting bolts shorter and trimming fender washers too.

 

[Jason280]

I think it will be extremely useful in the shop, looks like it will be handy for lots of different projects.