Portable Variable Speed Band Saw

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

after burning up chop saws for two years, I decided that I wanted to try this. Great machine. I cut 3" 1045 like butter right out of the box. Expensive name brands sell much better blades for the same price. Cuts much straighter than I expected.

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

This is my second saw . I actually bought this saw about 6 months ago, at that time I made up a mount for my first saw so it could be used in standup position like my 14" saw. I made a new and larger bumper plate so it can be used as a table.
The reason I waited this long to write this review was so I could give what I thought was a fair amount of time and use for the second saw. The first saw is still going just like new also.

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

Great saw, bought it to cut some 2 3/8" drill pipe for fence posts and I was more than amazed how easy it cut thru them. Very smooth & straight cuts, another great tool from Harbor Freight!

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

I figured I'd have to buy more than one of these for my project, which involved cutting 15 pieces out of a stock of 4"x4" mild steel HR tubing with 1/4" wall. Reading reviews above this saw was a semi equal road so if I go through the saw I'll buy one more. Picked up Milwaukee blades with 24 tpi (large teeth are better for flat surfaces), let gravity do it's thing, cut at angles then cut all the corners from the angles down from there (with small toothed blades). The blade slipped once and the Milwaukee blade broke instead. The saw is a bit heavy but it'll build ya up. I'm very happy with this. I'm a chef during the day and a custom interior renovator/ certified welder/ mechanical component welder after work freelance and employed when it's slow. Make me proud CE.

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

Good saw for the price, however I'm sorry I didn't read these reviews before I purchased the saw. I've had the saw for about 2 years and when trying to cut 1/8 inch metal I had a constant problem with the blade jumping off the drive wheels as others have stated and also blades cracking/breaking after a little heavy cutting. When reading these reviews I saw it was recomended to buy better blades than what comes with the saw. So, I did a little research and found the best blade for cutting 1/8 to 1/2 inch metal is a blade with 14/18 teeth per inch (TPI). The blade that comes with this saw is a 14 tpi which is ok for light metal, but the replacement blades HF sells are 10-14 tpi which are suitable for wood and plastic pipe. I found a pack of 14/18 tpi blades (3-Piece 44-7/8-in length, Portable Band Saw Blades) that fit this saw at a major home improvement center for the same price as HF blades. The new blades improved the function of the saw 100%. These blades don't jump off like the HF blades did and they go through 1/8 steel like butter. If I had only known to purchase these blades in the beginning before my saw got wrecked from the cheap blades.

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

I'm glad I have the saw No more hacksawing Don't know how I lived without it!!!

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

when i bought this saw i didnot think that it last very long just under light use, wrong it cut the half inch rerod (68 cuts) were required for the project. i sine then hve cut 6" pipe, 1/2 by 4" steel 3/8 round stock ect. the saw just keeps going.

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

I bought the first generation of this saw in 2002 when I started my electricial contracting business, now 8 years later it is still going strong. it has outlasted 3 milwakie and 1 greenlee bandsawi would not trade it for the world

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

I bought this saw to do a stair and balcony spindle project in my home. I cut 325 5/8 square steel stair spindles with no problems. I replaced the stock blade with a Doall 8-10 vari pitch bi metal blade and cut all 325 pcs. Some with multiple cuts.


Money very well spent, much cleaner and easier than an abrasive chop saw for this project. And it's still working!!

Comments about Chicago Electric Power Tools Portable Variable Speed Band Saw:

I waited a year before I wrote a review.This saw does all I need and more.I use it weekly and have never had a problem and all I use it on is thick steel. I did buy diff. blades...most home stores carry them. Every one should own this saw!!!