A band saw is a power saw with a long, sharp blade consisting of a continuous band of toothed metal stretched between two or more wheels to cut material. Such a tool along with a portable drill press is an inalienable part of locksmith work.
Most bandsaws have two wheels rotating in the same plane, one of which is powered, although some may have three or four to distribute the load. Almost all bandsaws today are powered by an electric motor.
Best Portable Band Saws Under $500
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1. WEN 3975T Benchtop Band Saw
How do you think — is it easy to cut through five-inch metal pipes? No? You are mistaken. WEN 3975T Benchtop Band Saw makes easy work of brass, aluminum, copper, steel, plastic, and so on.
This small band saw perfectly cuts through pipes up to five inches in diameter, rectangular or L-shaped materials up to 5 x 4-7/8 inches in size. The onboard vise provides a firm grasp on your workpiece. Combine this with the beveling blade to create angled cuts anywhere from zero to sixty degrees.
Make forty-five-degree cuts up to 3-1/8 inches in diameter for circular material and 3-1/8 x 3-15/16 inches for square material. Ball-bearing blade guides provide a long lifespan and reliable operation. Onboard blade tension and tilt knobs make for easy adjustments.
Compact design and lightweight make this band saw easy for storage and transportation. It allows you to get a worksite wherever you want and need it. And sure this WEN 3975T Benchtop Band Saw has two years of warranty.
2. Makita 2107FZK Band Saw
The Makita 2107FZK Band Saw could be the best choice among the portable band saws. Small but powerful, it is used for various purposes of metal cutting. You can use it everywhere you need — at home, in the workshop, garage, etc. Convenient hard plastic case and compact design make it easy to store and transport.
You can accurately cut pipes, all-threads, angle-iron, and more. There are batteries with a charger and the built-in, high-output fluorescent light that illuminates the cutting area for increased visibility.
Variable speed control allows you to match the speed from two hundred to three hundred fifty feet per minute to the application.
The dual bearing blade guide rollers provide increased durability in the blade support system and allow you to create angled cuts anywhere from zero to sixty degrees. Additional features include a blade tightening lever for fast and easy blade installation. There is a no lock-on feature, so the saw turns off when the switch is released.
The work with The Makita 2107FZK Band Saw is easy and comfortable. It has an oversized, multi-position front handle that offers plenty of hand space. You can make more precise cuts without tiredness. An integrated hang hook allows you to hang the saw without having to put it up and down and without damaging the front handle or base.
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Best Portable Band Saws Under $300
3. DEWALT Deep-Cut Portable Band Saw
This portable band saw allows you to make quick cuts without getting bogged down. Moreover, here the speed ranging starts from a hundred to three hundred and fifty feet per minute, and its variable-speed dial allows you to quickly and easily select the perfect style for each application
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DEWALT Deep-Cut Portable Band Saw offers a five-inch capacity when working with round stock and 5 x 4-3/4 inc power when working with rectangular stock.
A durable and adjustable material guide allows you to set the saw for optimal performance when you work with a variety of materials. A convenient LED sight light helps you to see the cutting area clearly, even in poorly lit environments.
This band saw’s accurate blade tracking adjustment improves blade alignment and reduces wear, resulting in increased blade life.
A dual bearing blade guide rollers increase durability in the blade support system for overall dependability. When it does come time to switch out your blade, the saw’s blade changing lever loosens blade tension to make blade changes more convenient.
The work with DEWALT Deep-Cut Portable Band Saw is easy and comfortable. It has an oversized, multi-position front handle that offers plenty of hand space and easy adjustability, so you can get a precise grip and achieve more accurate cuts.
An integrated hang hook allows you to hang the saw without having to put it up and down. A serviceable steel housing and rubber bumpers also contribute to improved comfort and reduce your fatigue. Besides, this saw features externally replaceable brushes, which allow you to make quick repairs whenever and wherever you need to.
4. DEWALT DCS371B Portable Band Saw
The item has the rechargeable twenty volts maximum lithium-ion battery is powerful enough and allows you to cut up to 2″ SCH 40 pipe of brass, aluminum, copper, steel, and more. Warning! Battery and charger are not included and sold separately.
This model has a 2-1/2″ cut capacity, and can easily cut pipe, square and rectangular tubing, and angle iron. A LED light with a 20-second delay illuminates dark work surfaces for accurate cutting.
The centered handle position provides superior balance and ergonomics and allows you to work precisely and less fatigue. There is also an integrated hang hook that allows you to hang the saw without damaging the front handle or base.
The special blade tracking adjustment increases blade life by providing better blade tracking. You can change a blade without any tools. Moreover, the dual bearing blade guide rollers provide increased durability in the blade support system. This band saw also has an ergonomic soft grip back handle which provides you with comfort and flexibility.
This kit includes: one DEWALT DCS371B Portable Band saw, one 14/18 TPI blade, one blade tracking wrench. This is a bare-tool item; battery and charger sold separately.
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5. Metabo HPT CB18DBLQ4 Band Saw
If you are one of them, this offer is for you. You can work with it everywhere — in place, overhead, in a tight, hard to reach space. 3-1/4″ cut capacity cuts materials like conduit pipes, steel pipes, power cables, aluminum window frames, and various plastics in electric, plumbing, and mechanical work applications
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Brushless motor technology provides higher efficiency, increased run time, and longer tool life. Variable speed dial operates from two hundred sixty to six hundred forty feet-per-minute allows for setting the blade speed to suit the work material. An auto-mode function automatically adjusts the blade speed to the application.
Overload and overheat protection automatically shuts off the motor in a possible current overload situation to help prevent damage to the saw. A tool-less blade change allows you to reduce your downtime.
Metabo HPT CB18DBLQ4 Band Saw has an oversized, multi-position front handle that offers plenty of hand space and a soft comfort side handle. It allows you to get a precise grip and achieve more accurate cuts. This band saw is easy to store and curry with a hard plastic case.
This kit includes: one band saw tool body, one side handle, three extra blades, one hex bar wrench. Battery and charger are not available and sold separately.
Best Portable Band Saws Under $200
Advantages of a band saw include uniform cutting action as a result of an evenly distributed tooth load, and the ability to cut irregular or curved shapes like a jigsaw.
The blade itself can come in a variety of sizes and tooth pitches (teeth per inch, or TPI), which enables the machine to be highly versatile and able to cut a wide variety of materials, including wood, metal, and plastic.
The portable band saw is used for many purposes. They are ideal for the most common materials that electricians, plumbers, and contractors work with like conduit pipes, steel pipes, power cables, aluminum window frames, and various plastics.
6. Milwaukee 2429-21XC M12 Bandsaw
This small band saw has a powerful motor and 1-5/8″ cut capacity, cuts 3/4″ EMT in 3 seconds. Blade length is 27” x ½” x .020″. You can cut pipes, square and rectangular tubing, and angle-iron of any metal and plastic. A LED light allows you to see the cutting area clearly for accurate cutting in the dark space.
Here you will also find an adjustable blade tracking improves blade alignment and reduces wear, resulting in increased blade life. A dual bearing blade guide rollers increase durability in the blade support system for overall dependability.
Milwaukee 2429-21XC M12 Bandsaw is powered with two lithium-ion twenty volts batteries. You can make up to one hundred fifty cuts per charge. The charging time is thirty minutes, twenty volts.
The portable band saw comes with a hard plastic case. It holds the tool, two XC twenty volt batteries, the charger, and extra blades. You can easily store and carry this band saw wherever you need. The tool warranty is five years.
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7. Bosch BSH180B Band Saw
This compact Bosch BSH180B Band Saw is up to sixty percent lighter than deep cut saws. You can work with it in place, overhead, and in hard-to-reach space. The integrated LED work light illuminates the cut line, you can see even in dark areas.
In addition, the flexible power system allows you to choose from fat or a slim pack battery. The time of a full charge is up to thirty minutes. You can make up to one hundred cuts in one charging. With a rugged aluminum base, the Bosch BSH180B Band Saw can withstand job-site conditions. Battery and charger are sold separately.
Adjustable blade tracking improves blade alignment and reduces wear. Ball-bearing blade guides provide a long lifespan and reliable operation. You can make angled cuts from zero to sixty degrees. You don’t need any tools for fast and easy blade installation or replacement.
The front handle is comfortable and ergonomic. A soft grip back handle provides you with comfort and flexibility well, so you can get a precise grip and achieve more accurate cuts without fatigue.
This band saw comes in a hard plastic case and is easy to store and curry. You get the thirty-day money back, one year warranty.
FAQ for portable band saws buyers
1. How can I store and carry a band saw? Should I buy a case or bag?
You shouldn’t do that. Almost all of the band saws come in hard plastic cases that hold all according to the check-list — the tool itself, batteries, charger, extra blades, instruction, etc.
2. Can I get a serious injury using a portable band saw?
In the vast majority of cases, coming in contact with the spinning blade will result in a minor cut. However, if your hand moves into the blade at a very high speed, it is possible for you to receive a serious injury.
3. What if I am wearing gloves when cutting? Will the safety system still work?
Do not wear gloves when using a SawStop saw because the glove can snag on the blade and pull your hand into the blade at high velocity. The safety system will still react as soon as your skin contacts the blade, but the resulting injury can be more severe because of the velocity of your hand.
4. Do I need to use a blade guard with a portable band saw?
Yes. It is strongly recommended that you use a blade guard whenever possible.
5. How can I be sure the safety system is activated?
The safety system of a band saw continuously performs many self-checks to ensure the components of the safety system are working properly. The safety system will not allow the motor to start (or to remain running) unless every component of the safety system is working properly.6. Is there a way to check if a material is conductive before I cut?
If you are unsure whether the material you need to cut is conductive, you can make test cuts using Bypass Mode to determine if it will activate the safety system’s brake. The red light on the control box will flash to indicate conductivity.
7. Can I use a portable band saw in a humid environment?
Yes, all portable band saws work well in humid environments.