A quick Google search will reveal the popularity of both the metal circular saw and the portable band saw. Because it’s a burning question, we decided to write up a blog post today to explain the differences between a metal circular saw and a portable band saw. A metal circular saw is a saw that is designed for ,well, cutting metal.
I cut all sorts of materials – hard wood, soft wood, steel, aluminum, plastic. I’m leaning towards the chop saw since most of the cutting I do is of stock materials to knock them down to smaller pieces. I can swap blades for different materials and chop saws tend to be cheaper than bandsaws.
“The portabands are cool – we have one, but they are a bit limited in use. They are great for cutting bar stock and small things, as well as being portable since you can pop it out of the base. The issue that you run into is that you’re limited by the width and length of something you’re cutting. The blade is diagonal to the body and you can cut something thin and long, but if you want more than say 4-5” of cut, the corner of what you’re cutting ends up running into the motor section of the portaband. At least with a benchtop band saw, you’d have whatever depth the throat is, but you can cut an infinite length since the blade is straight and you have no “Machine” to run into with the edge of what you’re cutting.
“I love my milwaukee band saw, however it has it’s draw backs. It can only cut about 5” deep, so if your trying to cut some tubing off it’s great. The milwaukee can’t make a straight cut to save it’s life. When I tried to cut off some sliders from a wrecked truck, the porta band wouldn’t get close enough due to body and other things in the way, so out came the good ol sawzall.
Band saws are available in two types, portable as well as vertical. Let’s first examine the case of the vertical band saw. This has to be the biggest difference portable band saws have when compared to vertical band saws.
Another reason to choose a scroll saw vs band saw is that it can make cutouts in the middle of a part. “You should consider buying a scroll saw if you’re going to make small projects to sell at craft shows or on a site like Etsy. You’ll be able to make artwork, jewelry and so much more. Most scroll saws can cut material up to about 1-½” thick, which is all you need for the majority of craft projects. One model to consider is the Rikon 16 VS scroll saw It features a tilting table, plastic blade guard and work light for around $199 online.
A circular saw is probably one of the first saws that you will encounter in any type of woodworking or construction. A cut made with a bandsaw will undoubtedly need to be sanded down, whereas a cut made by a circular saw probably won’t. If we are talking about cost, for the most part, an average bandsaw will cost less than a circular saw, although if you want to go for a large, high-quality, and brand name bandsaw, it could very well cost more than a basic circular saw.
portable band saw vs band saw Related Question:
Is a portable band saw worth it?
What to Consider When Choosing Portable Band Saws. The portable band saw is one of the few tools that, when used with the right blade, is equally effective regardless of material. It can cut straight lines or curves, so it can be used for joints, precision cuts, or decorative work.
Is a band saw usually portable?
A portable bandsaw is usually a smaller version of a regular bandsaw that is more compact and therefore easier to carry around. In addition, some are cordless allowing you to saw wherever you may be—power outlet nearby or not.
What is better a band saw or scroll saw?
If you want to make fine detail cuts, inside cuts, make patterns and letters, and you want to do so on smaller pieces of wood, the scroll saw is what you want to go with. However, for large, straight, and aggressive cuts on larger pieces of wood, and even metals, the band saw is the way to go.
Will Milwaukee band saw blades fit DeWalt?
Blade. If you’ve used any type of power tool, you’ll be well aware of the importance of the blade, and keeping it maintained properly. The Milwaukee 2429-21 XC compact bandsaw allows for blades up to 32” to be used, and the DeWalt DCS317B can take a blade with the sizing of 27 ½”.
What is a band saw used for?
A bandsaw (also written 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. They are used principally in woodworking, metalworking, and lumbering, but may cut a variety of materials.
Can you cut a 2×4 with a scroll saw?
Though scroll saws are generally intended for thinner pieces of wood, they can be used to cut a 2×4. They’re pretty versatile little saws, but make sure to take your time with them. The key to success when tackling a 2×4 with a scroll saw is patience, care, and not pushing the wood too hard.
Can a band saw cut curves?
Whether it’s a tight curve or a closed opening, you can cut it on your band saw with a couple of easy tricks. Cutting on the band saw can be the same thing. The narrower the blade, the tighter the spots you can cut; in fact, some band saw blades rival a scroll saw for cutting tight curves.
Can a bandsaw replace a table saw?
In general, bandsaws excel at making curved cuts which allows them to replace some of the basic features of a scroll saw. The creative angles they are capable of creating simply cannot be replicated by the large, circular blade of a table saw. Bandsaws also tend to offer more versatility.
How thick can a bandsaw cut?
Band saws are the undisputed champ when it comes to cutting curves and slicing through thick material. Many small band saws can slice though lumber a full four inches thick, and bigger saws handle six-inch cuts.
Can any bandsaw resaw?
Just about any bandsaw will do acceptable resawing. For example, all the cuts made in this story were done on an inexpensive, 14-in. bandsaw with a 3/4-hp motor. All we did to the saw was add a riser block to increase its capacity.
Why is it called resawing?
The reason for the different terms is that ripping cuts are all cuts along the grain but not all rip cuts are resawing. Resawing, as the term is used today, refers only to cutting a board across its thickness, i.e. sawing a thick board into two (or more) thinner boards.
What is a beam saw?
What Are Beam Saws? These saws have a large blade used to cut different sized logs into beams. Often using circular blades which are available in a variety of different styles, beam saws are useful for a range of different jobs.
Who made the first portable band saw?
The bandsaw, although widely considered French in origin, was invented by the Englishman, William Newberry. In 1808, Newberry patented “a machine for sawing wood, in which an endless band or ribbon saw, strung over two wheels, was used”.
Can a bandsaw cut metal?
Band saws are not suitable for cutting very thin sheet metal; a rule of thumb suggests the metal to be cut should be thicker than the depth of 3 band saw blade teeth, however they are excellent for cutting thin walled profiles such as box and angle.
Can a Portaband cut wood?
It will chew through wood with no problem and cut micarta just as effectively.