Those with the Swag bandsaw base....

[Buckgnarly]

...is the mitre attachment worth it? Finally got a portaband and getting the base this week. Also, footpedal worth it?

 

[Seiler]

I would say the attachment is worth it. I used mine the other day and it helped me maintain a clean straight consistent cut among several pieces. It seems a little overkill when you're using it but I'm a huge stickler on straight cuts and what not.

I'd also recommend some sort of secondary switch. Whether or not it's the foot pedal they sell is up to you. I had an extension cord and a push button switch in my toolbox that I added to the table.


DSC_3747 by The Color Orange, on Flickr

 

[shoein]

The miter gauge is useful. I just grabbed the gauge from an old table saw I'm not using. The table is well thought out and works well.

 

[BJ42LX]

I got my Swag table and foot-pedal for Christmas. The foot-pedal is Chicago Electric from Harbor Freight.

If you want to save $5 get the pedal at your local Harbor Freight.

The Swag table is beautiful so I don't begrudge them the HF pedal at all...

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I love my SWAG table loaded with a Milwaukee saw! I don't think I would get the mitre gauge because my blade isn't straight so it would be useless. I never looked to see if I could adjust it......maybe I should do that.

Also, like others have said, the pedal comes from HF. It makes it nice, but a lot of times I don't even bother with it. I like the idea of the switch mounted above^.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I would say the attachment is worth it. I used mine the other day and it helped me maintain a clean straight consistent cut among several pieces. It seems a little overkill when you're using it but I'm a huge stickler on straight cuts and what not.

I'd also recommend some sort of secondary switch. Whether or not it's the foot pedal they sell is up to you. I had an extension cord and a push button switch in my toolbox that I added to the table.


DSC_3747 by The Color Orange, on Flickr

Nice idea, I think I will add a switch on the side

 

[Buckgnarly]

The miter gauge is useful. I just grabbed the gauge from an old table saw I'm not using. The table is well thought out and works well.

So will a standard mitre guage from my sander or table saw work? 60 bucks just seems high if I can use a pre-existing guage.

 

[welder4956]

So will a standard mitre guage from my sander or table saw work? 60 bucks just seems high if I can use a pre-existing guage.

Yes, the slot is sized for a standard miter gage. I think I bought my miter gage from Amazon and saved a few bucks.

 

[PhantomEB]

I thought I was already sold on getting one.... now I really am sold!

 

[gus1962]

Totally worth it. It's definitely a good set up and functional addition to band saws.

 

[Duker]

Totally worth it. It's definitely a good set up and functional addition to band saws.

+1 on this ^^

I think I am going to add the switch addition for the base to my to-do list. Great idea!

Here is my SWAG base setup.

 

[bonecrrusher]

Duke - how do you like that setup?

I found this table in a recent build thread on another site - I would be mostly using it for exhaust tubing and stuff like that.

 

[gus1962]

It looks really good. So , how's the vibration?

 

[aczr2k]

I've looked at these and been contemplating buying one. What keeps the saw from moving back? Is it only held by the thumbscrew? Any pictures of the bottom of the table? Thanks

 

[-Brent-]

I like mine and I'm glad I got it. I have a slight bit of wiggle room with the vintage Cman mitre gauge I use but that's it.

 

[Duker]

Duke - how do you like that setup?

I found this table in a recent build thread on another site - I would be mostly using it for exhaust tubing and stuff like that.

I have found it to be very useful. I have a Jet vertical band saw that I use with a fence for ripping and longer cuts. However that saw does not have a miter gauge slot so I use my Swag setup for cross cuts and notching etc..

After using it for awhile I find myself heading toward the Swag setup more often than my other saw. IMHO, the table is well engineered and it's compact size makes for a nice option for most fabrication needs.

 

[kazlx]

The stand is rad. The miter gauge IMO is useless. I have to feed my stock by hand to get straight cuts. From my experience, the blade on a portaband isn't precisely straight because of the offset like it would be on a vertical band saw. Don't get me wrong, I love my Swag stand and use it all the time, but I gave up on the miter. There's no way you are setting a 45* cut and getting a 45* piece of stock out the backside....

I use mine for roughing stock and freehand cutting of brackets and such more than anything else.

 

[57JoeFoMoPar]

I've never seen this before, what a killer idea

 

[The Ratchet Man]

Yeah, I've been putting it off but I need to get one for my new Dewalt. The lat switch idea on the table is pretty slick. Might not get the pedal switch now.

 

[s14kev]

The stand is rad. The miter gauge IMO is useless. I have to feed my stock by hand to get straight cuts. From my experience, the blade on a portaband isn't precisely straight because of the offset like it would be on a vertical band saw. Don't get me wrong, I love my Swag stand and use it all the time, but I gave up on the miter. There's no way you are setting a 45* cut and getting a 45* piece of stock out the backside....

I use mine for roughing stock and freehand cutting of brackets and such more than anything else.

Same with mine. The blade is not perfectly straight. Hand feeding against a scribed line is best for accuracy. I have not found a good way to adjust the blade.