Metal cutting bandsaws, again

The HF bandsaw costs about $200, and is much more versatile and powerful than any portable bandsaw!
 
Bill DeShivs said:
The HF bandsaw costs about $200, and is much more versatile and powerful than any portable bandsaw!
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I just looked at that saw and it is up to $260!:eek: About 8 months ago it was $179, $159 on sale!
 
I thought the same thing when they jumped to $229, then I saw one in town on sale for $149 about a week later. They'll go on sale, one just has to be patient.
 
Hey Bill-have you ever actually used a quality, portable band saw fixtured as a vertical saw?????

Fitz- That's the same saw I have. I got mine brand new on sale from Amazon for $220, but it included a free 4.5" angle grinder (which I already had one of, so I knew it was a great little grinder).

I have had a Jet 4X6 for 13 years, and the DeWalt makes a MUCH better cut than the Jet.

I made a 5/16" thick table for my DeWalt. Like Ed mentioned, it has variable speed, and it also has a work light that shines directly onto the work. A quality Lenox Diemaster II blade for the Jet costs at least $20 and that's buying 5 at a time. If you just buy one at a time, they'll cost you $30-35.

A pack of THREE blades of the same quality for the DeWalt costs $12.

Like Ed mentioned, the throat can be a problem, but for most knifemaking projects, it is not an issue.
 
Not as a fixed saw, no. But I see no reason to try to rig a hand tool that costs as much as a real bandsaw. I'm very familiar with portable bandsaws.
 
I'll give you four. :)

1.) DeWalt, Milwaukie, etc. quality for the same price as cheap Chinese crap from Harbor Freight.

2.) Cost of quality blades.

3.) Better adjustability of speeds throughout a range of SPM appropriate for cutting steel.

4.) SUPER EASY change-out of blades, so you can put the appropriate blade on the saw for the thickness/material you're going to cut.

The quality of cut (finish, squareness) with my DeWalt portaband was perfect right out of the box. It took several hours of tweaking to get my Jet "real bandsaw" to almost cut as straight as the Dewalt does.


I don't know anyone that hasn't had problems with the blade popping off of their 4X6. The blade has never came off of my DeWalt unless I intentionally took it off.

:)
 
NickWheeler said:
I'll give you four. :)

1.) DeWalt, Milwaukie, etc. quality for the same price as cheap Chinese crap from Harbor Freight.

2.) Cost of quality blades.

3.) Better adjustability of speeds throughout a range of SPM appropriate for cutting steel.

4.) SUPER EASY change-out of blades, so you can put the appropriate blade on the saw for the thickness/material you're going to cut.

The quality of cut (finish, squareness) with my DeWalt portaband was perfect right out of the box. It took several hours of tweaking to get my Jet "real bandsaw" to almost cut as straight as the Dewalt does.


I don't know anyone that hasn't had problems with the blade popping off of their 4X6. The blade has never came off of my DeWalt unless I intentionally took it off.

:)
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I first used the portaband at Ed Schemps hammer-in and couldnt believe how accurate it could cut. For the small gun parts I make I need to get one. How do you attach it to a stand with the handle in the way?
 
Bruce-

It's easy as pie. :) You just take the 1/4-20 bolts out of the handle and bolt it up to a piece of steel and you can mount it in a bench vise.

I was going to build a stand for it after I took it off the wall when I rearranged the shop, but I like it better set-up for the vise. It's easy to put the handle back on and use it as a portable saw. :)
 
Nick,
Do you have any pics of the set up you have for the bench vise and the saw? I will have a dewalt in a week or so and want to put something together for it. I went with dewalt because everyone says its easier to build a stand for it versus the milwaukee.

Thanks,
Larry
 
Not to pick too hard, but both Milwaukee and Dewalt tools are largely made in China. I know many makers who are using HF bandsaws for over 10 years. I'm not going to say one is better than the other, but we're diluting our selves if we think the big-box brands aren't getting their tools out of the same factories.
 
Well, I'll always eat crow when I've served myself :D

All of my older DeWalt tools proudly say "Made in USA"

I went and looked, and sure enough, my beautiful little DeWalt portaband says "made in China" in little letters on the back. :o

It is very well made though, with tight tolerances, and great fit and finish.

What Mike said is very true though. If you look at the DeWalt portaband that costs $200-300, compared to the HF $45 portaband... you can simply see and feel the quality difference.

I can understand where Bill is coming from, as using a portable saw as a fixed one seems counter-intuitive... but it simply runs smoother and cuts better than my 4X6. My 7X12 cuts as nicely and smoothly as the PortaBand... but it's also a nearly $1k saw.
 
Got my HF horiz/vert not too long ago for less than $150 in store on sale. But damn, now I want a portaband with a stand! My shop space would thank me!
 
fitzo said:
Is this the same Dewalt saw as you're speaking of?
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On behalf of the wife, Just wanted to say thank you for the Christmas gift idea.
The saw arrived yesterday and I got to play with it a little, before she came home and caught me. :D
Now it's all wrapped up under the tree and I have to wait until Christmas. :grumpy:
 
I just want say thank for posting your comments on the portable bandsaws. I use a 4x6 griz for cutting and trimming my gold/silver mokume. I like that the blades are thinner and it looks like it would be easy to sweep up the dust. I have been looking for a saw dedicated for this task.
Thanks,
Del
 
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