No, really, do you know what is and what is a band saw used for?
Everyone has been at least once in a situation to have a tool, but not really know all the benefits of that tool.
For example, my friend decided to give me a band saw for my workshop, as he moved to another town and he didn’t have a place to store it in his new home. I was really happy to take it because I am always excited to have another tool in my small workshop.
But, I simply didn’t know for what I can use it, as I wasn’t so familiar with this tool before I got it.
Luckily, I am real DIY enthusiastic and I started testing it. What I have found out about this tool is great! Having it in my shop I added a lot of different cutting capabilities to my arsenal. You know that table saw gives you right angle cuts but band saw can add curved cuts as well.
Let me tell you when and for what a band saw is used for! And don’t worry; I will try to be short and clear so you can go right after reading this article and start testing your tool!
There are many types of band saw: metal, wood, meat, and metal…
- Metal band saw – is ideal for you if your job demands cut through tough metal.
You can choose between horizontal or vertical.
- Wood band saw – ideal for woodworkers; you can cut wood and it`s perfect for ripping lumber.
- Meat band saw- is used for cutting and carving various types of meat
- Portable Band Saw- is used to cut straight edge cuts, curved lines, or irregular shapes.
How do you know which one is good for you? Well, you will make your choice according to the material you are working with any type of project you are completing!
Now, get this: band saws usually have two or three wheels which are holding a thin rotating blade, a table to support the work and a motor to run it.
The blade itself can come in a variety of sizes and tooth pitches.
With this saw, you will be able to cut a wide variety of materials including wood, metal, and plastic.
Band saws are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from small portable to vertical floor models. Vertical can be bench-top and floor model.
Our cordless band saw picks
We now know the answer to the question: What is a band saw used for? We give an advantage to the cordless portable band saw and here are the models that we found as the best:
Milwaukee 2429-21XC M12 Cordless Sub-Compact Bandsaw Kit
This saw is the best for an electrician or anyone who has to cut metal regularly. This is the most compact and lightest weight cordless band saw on the market.
This powerful saw can cut through ¾” EMT in only 3 seconds, and it will give you over 150 cuts per charge and it performs clean cuts on the most common small diameter metal cutting applications.
Dual-latching lower guard covers the blade. This saw meets OSHA guarding requirements and makes the tool suitable for one-handed use.
Included components in this machine feature area variable speed trigger, and LED light.
Kit includes: battery, 30-minute charger, 18 TPI metal cutting blade, and a hard carrying case.
Key features:
- Powerful Motor that cuts 3/4″ EMT in 3 seconds
- Blade Length: 27” x ½” x .020″
- Cut Capacity1-5/8″ for a wide range of applications;
- LED Light: Highlights the cut line
- Meets OSHA Guarding Requirements
- Suitable for One-Handed use
- Adjustable blade tracking
- Voltage: 12V, Tool Warranty5 Years.
Good Design- Easy to use
- Great cutting speed
None
DEWALT DCS371B 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Band Saw, Bare-Tool
This saw is the best for cutting a variety of materials. It is very durable and easy to use. It’s lightweight and cuts smoothly and it is easy to make straight cuts.
You can cut metal, plastic, wires with no trouble. Plumbers and electricians love this saw, especially the electricians because it is specialized conduit cuter.
The center handle is positioned in a way that provides superior balance to allow accurate cuts with less fatigue. This band saw has blade tracking adjustment which is designed to increase the life of your blade. With a 20-second delay LED Work Light you will be able to work in dark areas.
This saw is made for precision fast cuts on small diameter.
It is featured with dual bearing blade guide for increased durability in the blade support system.
Key features:
- 20 second delay LED work light
- Integrated hang hook
- Blade tracking adjustment
- Ergonomic soft grip back handle
- 2-1/2″ cut capacity
- Dual-bearing blade guide rollers
- Centered handle position
- Very lightweight
- Easy to replace the blade
- Easy to handle
- Good price
- Not made for wood cutting
- No case
Makita XBP02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Portable Band Saw, Tool Only
This saw is powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion slide-style battery, a part of the world’s largest cordless tool line.
This type of battery has the fastest charge time in its category. The point is that with this battery you will spend more time working and less time charging.
This saw is perfect for metal cutting. It`s an excellent choice for electrical installations, metal fabrication, plumbing, and for anyone who requires the best class of cordless portable band saw. It has the control, speed, durability, and comfort needed to deal with dedicated metal cutting.
It has six settings instead of the usual two, which allows cutting a wider variety of objects while keeping the battery from being drained too quickly.
Makita uses sharp stock blades that are very hard, so it can go through various materials without ending up dulled for a long time.
Key features:
- It has 6-setting variable speed control which enables user to match the speed to the application
- With built motor you will receive faster cutting
- It is featured with protective bumper design for added durability
- Weighs only 14.3 lbs.(including battery) for easy handling
- This machine is tool only (battery and charger are not included)
- 6-setting variable speed dial
- Very sharp blade
- Good batteries
- Lightweight
- It`s a noisy machine
DEWALT Bare-Tool DCS370B 18-Volt Cordless Band Saw
We can say that this saw is the lightest. It weighs only 10 pounds. This is great advantage for people who are using their tool very long during the day.
It is offering balance and ergonomics; you’ll enjoy it more accurate cuts and less user fatigue. As most of the band saws, this saw is ideal for electricians, plumbers, sprinkler fitters, and other professional contractors.
This saw, unfortunately, doesn’t come with a battery or charger. It’s compatible with DEWALT’s 18-volt XRP battery system, which provides up to 40 percent more run time than standard Ni-Cad batteries and can be used with any 18-volt tool.
Key features:
- 1/2″ cut capacity cuts
- With superior balance and ergonomics this saw gives more accurate cuts and less user fatigue
- It has integrated hang hook to hang the saw without damaging the front handle or base
- Blade tracking adjustment increases blade life
- It is featured with tool-less blade changing lever which loosens blade tension to allow for blade change
- Performance
- Durability
- Quality
- It doesn’t include batteries and charger
Bosch Bare-Tool BSH180B 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Compact Band Saw
This saw has the best price.
It is light and easy to use for long periods of time and it has plenty of power so you can always get the job done.
The saw has a flexible power system which gives to the operator to choose from a fat pack or slim pack battery. The integrated LED work light illuminates the cut line which is helpful and gives you the chance to work even in dark areas.
Key features:
- Powerful 18-volt motor with cordless convenience
- Cuts most common materials for electrical, plumbing and mechanical applications on a single pass
- 2-1/2 in. x 2-1/2 in. cutting capacity for versatility
- Keyless blade changes for fast replacement (18 TPI blade included)
- Onboard LED illuminates the cut line in dark spaces
- Compact size for user comfort
- Aluminum base for durability and light weight
- Price
- Portable machine
- Excellent cuts
- It doesn’t include batteries and charger
Buyer’s Guide
Vertical vs. Portable
You might be wondering what you can do with this saw. Well, you can do woodworking, metalworking, plumbing and lumbering, but you can also cut a variety of materials.
For these types of jobs, you have to make choice between two types: portable or vertical?
The portable band saw is a small handheld tool. These usually don’t have the capacity, or the re-sewing capabilities of floor models, but are much more economical. You will mostly use them to cut stationary objects.
Portable band saws can be used to cut straight edge cuts, curved lines, or irregular shapes, and they show great versatility. The portable band saw works with the same technology as other types of band saws, with a continuous band of serrated metal pulled along two wheels to perform its cuts.
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You don’t have to move the material, because you can move the saw and easily operate with it. With a portable saw, you will be mostly cut conduit, steel stock, plums.
They are not so heavy and you can use them right after you take them out of the box. Portable models are handy if you are limited on shop space. Portable power tool saws, including cordless models, allow building contractors to bring them along on the truck to the job site.
Vertical band saw is very versatile. You can use this saw to create complicated shapes and lines that other types of band saws can’t compete with. The blade moves vertically. With the appropriate blade used, you can cut metal or wood with no problems.
You can cut all sorts of shapes and sizes of metal with the vertical saw in a metal shop. These metal shapes can be used for many purposes in different industries. The blades for metal are really sharp.
This saw has the ability to cut through materials fast, and with brush wheels, they have safety measures in place to ensure chips don’t become stuck in its metal teeth.
For your workshop vertical band saw is a good deal, but if you are doing more on-site jobs than portable should be your choice.
Convenience and mobility
When we talk about mobility and convenience, and if that is what is important for you, the portable band saw is way more mobile and convenient than vertical.
You can use it without even moving the material you cut. The operator moves and cuts and machine don’t have to be fixed in your workshop. You are completely mobile with a portable saw.
As we already mentioned, a portable band saw can be powerful but also cordless. As we know cordless tools gives us no limit convenience.
With a cordless band saw you are receiving a tool that you can carry around with you, no worries about cords. They are lightweight and you will have the ability to use them easily all day long.
Cutting materials
With a band saw you will receive the possibility of cutting different types and thickness of the material.
You can cut wood, metal, plastic, and even concrete. You must know that there are different blades for different materials you want to cut. The best thing would be to buy all type blades you are going to use when purchasing the machine.
Common Limitations of the Vertical and the Portable
We must say that both types of band saws are limited in cutting capacity. This restricts the actual size of the material that can be cut.
These two types of saws are very similar but there are far more differences in how they are used and what will you use them for. They are not interchangeable and it is important to educate yourself about which you may need for a particular job.
So, if you didn’t have an idea for what is a band saw used for, you can now proudly go and purchase your machine with great knowledge.
For more information about different kinds of cordless saws, check out our page dedicated only to cordless saw editorials and buyer’s guides. Enjoy!
We hope you enjoyed our new-and-improved guide. What did you think of it?
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