Which Portable Bandsaw?

A harbor freight horizontal/vertical metal bandsaw is $280. A SWAG table is $150, plus the cost of the portable hand saw (Harbor freight is $130). Is this done to take up less space in the shop or is the portable band saw/table better than the HF floor one? Looking to get rid of my 14" wood bandsaw and get a metal cutting bandsaw.
 
That horizontal/vert bandsaw would work great for cutting bar stock for Damascus etc. a portaband works wonders for cutting out knife blanks, handle material, and would work just fine for cutting bar stock for Damascus. If your search portaband and read through you’ll see why people got rid of their bandsaws and kept their portabands.
 
Yeah I don't really see how you would cut a profile out with one of the horizontal bandsaws
 
The horizontal can also be used vertically with a table like a wood handsaw. Why couldn't you cut out a profile on it???
 
Watched a video on the vertical position with a table. Looks like it would work just fine. I wouldn’t want it over my swag table and dewalt portaband but whatever tickles your fancy.
 
I used to have one of those hemsaws. It had a table that you locked in the vice, so you could cut profiles etc with it standing up.
It gives better clearance behind the blade, but still a problem at the left side when cutting wider stuff.
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Blackdirt cowboy said:
Pretty sure all portabands have a limited throat depth.
Click to expand...

They are not all the same.

"deep cut" instead of deep throat, maybe the porn aspect scares them off that term.

https://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V10-Portaband-Table-_p_64.html

° Milwaukee Deep cut model #'s 6230, 6230N, 6232, 6232-6, 6232-5, 6232-51, 6232-55, 6232-6, 6232-6N, 6232-8N, 6236, 6238, 6238-8, 6238N, 0729-20, 0729-21, M28, V28

° Milwaukee Non deep cut model #'s 6223, 6224, 6225, 6226, 6227, 6234
° Milwaukee Corded compact model #'s 6242-6, 6242-8
° Dewalt Deep cut model #'s DWM120 DWM120K, D28770, D28770K, DCS374, DCS374B, DCS374P2, DCS376P2
° Dewalt Compact model #'s DCS370B, DCS370K, DCS371B, DCS371P1, DCS371K, "Click The Check Box Listed Above"
° Harbor Freight Deep cut Item # 47840, "Click The Check Box Listed Above"
° Harbor Freight Bauer Deep cut Item #'s 63763, 63444, 64194, 62800, 1678E-B

° King Canada "Industrial" # KC-8377
° Makita Deep cut model #'s 2107F, 2107FK, 2107FZ, XBP02Z, XBP02TX, BPB180Z-18VOLT
° Bosch # GCB10-5,The foot switch will not work with the electronic trigger switch on this saw
° Porter Cable Model #'s 724, 725, 726, "Click The Check Box Listed Above" WILL NOT FIT ROCKWELL PORTER CABLE

° Greenlee # 530, "Click The Check Box Listed Above"

° Home Depot WEN Brand # 94396
° Northern Tool / Iron Ton # 73134
° Grizzly Tools Deep cut model # G8692
° If you own the new Milwaukee # 6232-20, 6232-21, 6238-20 & 6238-21 saws please click HERE for our V4.0 Portaband tables.
 
It looks like the PortaBand is variable speed depending on the depth the trigger is down, correct? That would be easier to adjust the speed for different materials vs the HF has 3 speeds available. I am assuming I can put the bar stock steel into a vise and use the Portaband to rough out the profile before I got a table for it, so it would be less $$ up front than the HF horiz/vert. Or I can look at converting my wood bandsaw to a slower speed with jack shaft and pulleys. I already have a shaft and pillow blocks from my belt sander project, so I would just need the larger pulleys. Gotta think about it some more, but good info guys!!
 
Taz said:
It looks like the PortaBand is variable speed depending on the depth the trigger is down, correct? That would be easier to adjust the speed for different materials vs the HF has 3 speeds available. I am assuming I can put the bar stock steel into a vise and use the Portaband to rough out the profile before I got a table for it, so it would be less $$ up front than the HF horiz/vert. Or I can look at converting my wood bandsaw to a slower speed with jack shaft and pulleys. I already have a shaft and pillow blocks from my belt sander project, so I would just need the larger pulleys. Gotta think about it some more, but good info guys!!
Click to expand...

Can't speak for other brands, but my Milwaukee portaband has a dial wheel to adjust speed, the trigger is just for on/off. I have the trigger tied with zip ties and use a pedal for power switch
 
Taz said:
It looks like the PortaBand is variable speed depending on the depth the trigger is down, correct?
Click to expand...

I have the Bauer from HF and it has a dial to adjust speed. It's attached to the SWAG table. I haven't seen a need to adjust it much though.
 
The Dewalt I use has a speed dial from 1-5. I use the adjustment all the time. Steel at 2.5, 1.5 to break in blades, 5 for wood, and handle materials, pins, bolster materials etc. 3 for nickel silver bolster material.
 
Ok, it looks like the HF Portaband will be the way to go for me then! I want to be able to cut metal, G10 and wood. I will probably make up my own table and stand for it and get the foot pedal.
 
Guys thank you all so much for the great and fascinating responses! I stopped getting notifications for this post and didn’t realize I had gotten so many great answers! I went with the Dewalt but the swag table hasn’t arrived yet but I’m sure it will be great.

I’m definitely a total beginner but getting better. I bought the little Atlas forge which is fantastic as well.
 
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