Dewalt vs Milwaukee

J

joeyp1971

Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
36
I know there has been alot of talk about portabands recently but I found nothing specific on the two models I am considering - a Dewalt DWM 120k and a Milwaukee 6232-6N. Both of these are 10 amp (the Milwaukee is actually 10.5). I know the Dewalt is easier to mount vertically but that's not an issue for me as I purchased an aftermarket stand that is compatible with both models. I was leaning torward the Milwaukee because it has a greater speed range (0-420 fpm) compared to the Dewalt (100-350 fpm). I don't know if I need it to go slower than 100 fpm to cut bar stock (which would rule out the Dewalt). I am also not sure if the extra speed of the Milwaukee will produce a noticable difference enabling me to better cut wood - which would be a big plus. I know several of you have the Dewalt but not sure if that's just due to ease of mounting (which, again, for me is not a factor). Or if the Dewalt is better quality. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
can't say which is better ...but i just got the dewalt and made up a stand similar to Nick's ( cept on the Junky side. ) ...
- i can say that its much better than my chicom 4x6... no popping blade off, poorly aligned wheels, sad pathetic adjustment for tracking, underpowered pos :thumbdn:

so far the dewalt is quite good... it surprised me..

Greg

ps..i bet the Milwaukee is probably pretty good aswell..
 
Same as Greg, I can't talk about the Milwaukee but I have a Dewalt and I love it. Got it from Toolking.com. They had a 10% off special plus free shipping.

Patrice
 
I can offer my experiences with both. I purchased the Milwaukee saw, and it went "tango-Uniform" within a year. The bearings in the idler failed, and nearly cut the idler wheel through because it was rubbing on the mount. First I called Milwaukee, and after getting the run around for nearly 1/2 hour, they directed me to a local service center. I took the saw in and waited...and waited, and called, and waited. 37 days from the day I took it in, the local shop called me and told me that they had sent the saw back to Milwaukee for a replacement, but Milwaukee would not repair/replace the saw because the damages were not a "materials and workmanship issue" Thats the kind of answer I would expect from some fly by night outfit. Needless to say I am no longer a fan of Milwaukee tools.

I went out the next day an found a Dewalt saw (Model D28770) for $299 at a local farm/ranch store. Its been going for over two years now without a fault. It runs stronger, cooler, and quieter than the Milwaukee ever did. I've not had to have the Dewalt serviced yet, but I can't image with the type of warranty that Delwalt offers, that it could be worse than Milwaukee.
 
Thanks Ed. I noticed the Milwaukee I'm looking at says "new bearing design." I guess they had a few problems with the old design. i'm not going to take a chance that they got it rght this time though and deceided to go with the Dewalt.
 
For those of you that use the Dewalt, what size radius can you cut with it? It has a pretty wide blade, so I was wondering how close to profile you can get.
 
I ersonally have never used a milwaukee bandsaw, but every other tool I've ever used by them has been amazing. They are rock solid and last forever.

My friend got a corded drill by them and has used it for 10 years now doing things like mixing concrete and drilling through foundation stones and it finally went last year. The first problem with it: the trigger contacts finally went.


The De-walts have also gotten great reviews, so you can't really lose, but I'd get the milwaukee.
 
Dewalt all the way. Don't waste your time with the Milwaukee ones I've had their tools. They don't compare.

STR
 
I've used both quite a bit, the Milwaukee was my favorite for the jobsite because of the deeper throat on the newer models, and the variable speed trigger. It's great for say, cutting 4" black iron standpipe sections. I use a Dewalt in the shop with a vertical benchmount, it's a great saw and works better for this application because the trigger is a simple on/off with the speed control mounted as a dial on the upper casing. That way I can just use a hose clamp or piece of stiff wire to hold the trigger w/out speed setting problems. The only problem I had with it is the lower bearing guides are mounted on a little casting, and the casting split on the back due to the tension of the blade twisting sideways over time. Now, the lower guides are splayed apart and the blade runs out of line- I can handle working with this, or I could probably get the part from DeWalt, but it kinda sucks nevertheless. My $.02....
 
I am sorry to hear you had a problem with yours Ed. I work as a pipe fitter and have been using Milwaukee portabands for years. I own 2 of them myself. I have seen some get horrible abuse. Most of the failures were small stuff. Broken drive chains, an occasional bearing, seldom a motor. Most of them we just sent back to the local center for repair or fix them ourselves.. I think you had a bad experience with a repair center that didn't want or know what to do. Most of the ones around industrial areas probably see more of them and now how to fix them.

I hate the new style stops and cut them down to about a 1/2" over the blade. Jim
 
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