OT Portaband

[hondo1892]

I went to a gun building class last weekend to visit with a couple of guys. They had a Milwaukee portaband with a Swag table stand. We tried it out on a couple of pieces of steel in different thicknesses and it worked great. So this week I ordered myself the same setup. This setup will save me a lot of time and elbow grease in making some of my gun mounts. It won't take up much room and will be easy to store out of the way when not in use. I can't wait to get it in my shop and see how well it cuts some 5/8" wrought iron that I have. Any of you guys own and use this setup.

[Alan in Vermont]

I have used them, would not own one. Way too hard to make square cuts with them. Maybe with some sort of fixture to keep them square they would work OK.

[hondo1892]

I don't need square cuts. Most everything I do has curves and the edges always are beveled for inletting. I have been using a hand hack saw for ever so this will be the cats meow I think. For my purposes. The Swag table will make it a mini bench top bandsaw and it has a screw adjustment to square the blade to the table. I would post a photo but it takes me about an hour to load it up a photobucket then post it here.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

I don't need square cuts. Most everything I do has curves and the edges always are beveled for inletting. I have been using a hand hack saw for ever so this will be the cats meow I think. For my purposes. The Swag table will make it a mini bench top bandsaw and it has a screw adjustment to square the blade to the table. I would post a photo but it takes me about an hour to load it up a photobucket then post it here.

I have a porta band saw and use it alot. But, I don't have the swag table. What I normally do is clamp the handle in my vice so the blade is horizontal teeth side up. Then I hand feed the work into the blade.

[Daisyman]

I've got a Milwaukee, too. Bought it last summer at a flea market for $45. I had to put new rollers in it....got them off the internet for $3 each. Don't know how I ever got along without it.

[Pete44ru]

.

You guys oughta stop talkin' dirty - or, someone's gonna get over-excited.........




.

[marlinman93]

I was a journeyman licensed electrician all my adult life, and used a Milwaukie portaband for most of my work days. I loved them, and so much so that I bought my own before retiring, as I knew I couldn't just borrow the one in my work van later.
I absolutely can't imagine not owning one, and use it constantly! But it wont do curves, as you'll derail the blade with too much side pressure trying to turn a cut. It will also give you grief cutting straights once the guide rollers wear out. But it's simple and easy to replace the rollers if they begin to wear out.
I have a metal cutting Enco bandsaw that has the ability to be vertical or horizontal, but I use it strictly as a horizontal cutoff saw, as I prefer the Milwaukie for small work. I also don't have the table with mine, as it's too valuable as a portable tool to tie up in a table. I simply do as mentioned and clamp mine in my wood vise to make it work when needed.

[jeepnik]

Do I like them. Well, I own one. And a while back I picked up one of the cordless portabands that I keep in my work truck. It will cut everything from pvc to steel with aplomb. Nice to have that around when there isn't any power about.