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I've always cut metals with a hacksaw, ensuring that I had a large reserve of new blades on hand. Like sandpaper, don't wait for the blade to be totally dull before changing it .....

Busy Bee Tools (a Canadian chain) had a Milwaulkie hand-held band-saw on sale before Christmas. I bought myself a present, but it wasn't until today that I had to make a br.br...br...Bubba's thingee from a piece of 1 3/4 x 1/8 RHS. Was my $225 going to be well spent?

It was. With no experience of these things I was surprised by the slow blade speed, and even more surprised by the way it cut so quickly. This may be the norm for these things, but regardless I am a happy buyer.

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Warren
Isuzu Pickup/SR20DE, +401 COLD frame
Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=11601

I've had my milwaukee Deep Cut PortaBand for about 25 years now. Great tool to have on job sites where you're cutting a bunch of steel.

Tom

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Sometimes, I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar.

My short term memory is absolutely horrible and so is my short term memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG16m2e4O6I

Warren and Tom,

Do they make square cuts easily or do they wander or want to cut on an angle?

Bill

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Bill H
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Nothing as accurate as a clamping saw by any means, but with for freehand they are nice.

Tom

_________________
Sometimes, I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar.

My short term memory is absolutely horrible and so is my short term memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG16m2e4O6I

Bill,

Echoing Tom, it appeared to cut true. The challenge is getting the blade in the right spot. If I started the blade when in contact with the steel it jumped about, so you need to start it in air and lower the moving blade onto the work - and it cuts right away. So I cut a wee bit big and fine tuned the fit with a file. I see it becoming a favourite tool.

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Warren
Isuzu Pickup/SR20DE, +401 COLD frame
Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=11601

Warren,

Sounds like it might be worth making a notch with a hand hacksaw so that the power hacksaw is guided into the correct spot for the cut.

Bill

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Bill H
Winnipeg, MB, Canada

is the portability worth it over a stand saw?
seems they are almost the same price ( harbour freight ).
If you're looking for accuracy and squareness....

Hand hacksaws also drift while starting the cut. I use the corner of a file to locate the cut. Quick, easy, precise.

Bill

I often use a file to start a hack-saw and should do the same for the portable band-saw.

A fixed band-saw would be a nice-to-have but I am trying to protect floor space ....

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Warren
Isuzu Pickup/SR20DE, +401 COLD frame
Build Log: viewtopic.php?f=35&t=11601

I drag a hand hacksaw backwards, (using the tip of my thumb as a guide) a few times to create a shallow groove.

A clamping, horizontal bandsaw is always going to be easier to get an accurate cut with. But for pure ease of cutting and being able to take the 12 pound saw to my steel pile, rather than a 120 pound pipe to my saw location, the PortaBand can't be beat. I have plenty of space so I have both. For repetitive cuts, a clamping saw is great.

Tom

_________________
Sometimes, I'm as confused as a baby in a topless bar.

My short term memory is absolutely horrible and so is my short term memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG16m2e4O6I

If you haven't had one before you most likely are not familiar with this. Idea tore through Pirate 4x4 and Garage Journal, and there are now lots of home made versions.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-Portaba ... _c_35.html