Portable Bandsaw - DeWalt or Milwaukee or ??

BikerDad · Jul 1, 2016

I've pretty much settled on getting a portable bandsaw for my near term metal cutting requirements, a bunch of 1"x1" up to 2"x2" square tubing, no more than 1/8" thick. The majority of the cuts will be 90deg, with a small number of 45deg cuts thrown in.

The question at hand is:

Milwaukee or DeWalt? Cost wise, the Milwaukee is a bit less expensive ($255 vs $270 both w/ case). Advantages/disadvantages of each, from you're, the GJ'ers, perspective.

I know I can get a HF Horizontal BS for about the same money, but I do not have the space for one, and from what I've seen, the portables will be able to do what I'll need in the forseeable future.

rice rocket · Jul 1, 2016

This is almost a question of religion. Either way, just buy one that fits this:

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V30-Portaband-Table_p_55.html

Roobaix · Jul 1, 2016

Do you own any Milwaukee or DeWalt tools now?

I've got M12 and M18 stuff so I'd be going with Milwaukee.

dnschmidt · Jul 1, 2016

The M18 Fuel *********** version is the nuts. Why deal with a cord if you don't have to.

Ole Slewfoot · Jul 1, 2016

I've used a Makita one as well, it seems equally good.

dr_clyde · Jul 1, 2016

I have 2 milwaukee corded bandsaws. They work well. I use them daily. I have no reason to consider other brands.

Al Borland · Jul 1, 2016

We have (had) both at work. The Milwaukee survived the "drop test" DeWalt did not.
Your mileage may vary.

S4cruiser · Jul 1, 2016

I've had a dewalt with the swag table for a few years. No issues so far. I use it more from a hobby perspective.

danski0224 · Jul 1, 2016

The brand is up to you, but get one with a variable speed trigger.

arsco · Jul 1, 2016

rice rocket said:
This is almost a question of religion. Either way, just buy one that fits this:

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V30-Portaband-Table_p_55.html

x2 love my table and my milwaukee

Finky198 · Jul 1, 2016

We have a Milwaukee at the shop, Id say its one of the tools their best known for is the "Porta Band" like their hole hawg and hole shooter, but from what it sounds like I'd be much more inclined to just used a chop saw for what your intending to cut...

foghorn1966 · Jul 2, 2016

Be-aware of the compact versions. My Milwaukee compact portaband is very hard on blades, fatigue cracks them before they dull. Otherwise it it incredibly handy with a Swag table.

Wanna Ride · Jul 2, 2016

I'm a Milwaukee man, so my answer is naturally, the red one.

MTW · Jul 2, 2016

I have the Milwaukee line powdered deep cut model, purchased more than twenty years ago. It's a bad *** tool and as durable as they come. I found the Lenox bi metal blades to be the best there is, even better than the Milwaukee brand.

As a contractor I use it regularly for conduit, strut channel, angle iron, channel iron, threaded rod, bolts, wood, plastic. I even use it to cut apart welded assemblies to scavenge and re-purpose metal stock.

The worst thing about it was it came with a ****** sheet metal one sided work support. It only allowed you to cut from one direction on your stock with full support, and would bend with rough treatment. I made a new one from some 1/4 x 2" band iron, that provides robust support on both sides of the blade, as well as supports the saw while cutting freehand on the bench or floor. Made a great tool even better. I think today that they provide a support on both sides of the blade.

Be sure to get some blade stock when you purchase the unit, get a few different blade pitches. I find the 10/14 tooth variable pitch blades to be the most useful for general purpose use. 18 TPI for cutting sheetmetal, thinwall conduit and threaded rod for less burs and jamming in the cut.

The variable speed trigger with the max speed adjustment screw is a real blade saver. Cutting slow and steady and avoiding pounding impacts on the blade teeth will greatly extend your blade life and prevent running to the store to source new blades in the middle of your project. A frustration saver.

I don't like battery powered tools for ones that are used infrequently. They become an expensive pain in the *** when you drag the tool out for a quick cut to discover that the battery is dead and has been that way for too long it will no longer accept a charge. It's much less inconvenient to find an outlet or chord, than it is to order a new round of expensive batteries and wait for them to arrive.

MTW Ω

Jamie V · Jul 2, 2016

I have both the corded and M18 Milwaukee ones at home and I love them. The M18 one is my favorite but I have a ton of other M18 tools so finding the batteries dead when I need it (like MTW said above) isn't a problem for me but could be if that's the only M18 item you have.

I also have a Dewalt one at work and it works great also.

Go with what you prefer.

WhiskeyRanger · Jul 2, 2016

MTW said:
I don't like battery powered tools for ones that are used infrequently. They become an expensive pain in the *** when you drag the tool out for a quick cut to discover that the battery is dead and has been that way for too long it will no longer accept a charge. It's much less inconvenient to find an outlet or chord, than it is to order a new round of expensive batteries and wait for them to arrive.

MTW Ω

Just buy the same brand as your other cordless tools. We always have a dozen charged Hilti batteries and probably twice that many DeWalt batteries in the shop at any time.

BD1 · Jul 2, 2016

I have Milwaukee band saws and my employer uses them too. My original is before the deep cut model and still going strong. I know the Dewalt have a light on them now but not sure about Milwaukee. Search craigs list for used ones and do a test run. Once you have it you'll know why you should have bought it sooner.
Here's a plate table I made for one of mine and it is permanent like this

Know Wosad · Jul 2, 2016

danski0224 said:
The brand is up to you, but get one with a variable speed trigger.

You nailed it.I have a D328 and a HF clunker which actually isn't too bad. The HF is mounted vertical with a table. The Dewalt is freehand.I run both slow for accuracy.
Get the 811 Morse blade. Everything else is a distant so-so

Know Wosad · Jul 2, 2016

ducksface said:
http://www.stouttool.com/
Look at Stout saws
Great table for the saw. The table makes it worth it all.

Gimme a break. That toy still runs a nicad battery PLEASE.

BikerDad · Jul 2, 2016

Know Wosad said:
Gimme a break. That toy still runs a nicad battery PLEASE.

I noticed the same thing, and decided to move on down the road....

BikerDad · Jul 3, 2016

Well, I pulled the trigger on the DeWalt, and some additional blades. Probably won't even ship until Tuesday, so I should get it end of the week / early next week. Here's hoping that I'll be able to do what I need with it. (I'm more concerned about me being able to do it than the tool....)

Norcal · Jul 3, 2016

Have a corded US made deep cut & a M18 ChiCom Milwaukee saws, love both of them, as to the yellow one, I stay away from Black & Decker products.

metaldad · Jul 3, 2016

have corded milwaukee band saws, all USA made, all over 20 years old, all kick ***.
i have a phobia about de walt. the yellow scheme gets dirty
porta band - that was porter cable. indestructable back in the day of USA manufacturing

Portable Bandsaw - DeWalt or Milwaukee or ??

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