Every handyman out there knows that there is always a place for a band saw in their workshop. Be it cutting conduit, plastic pipes, thread rods, and anything else one can think of, band saws always come in handy. They are loved by many for their smooth cut and speedy performance. Cutting using a band saw is easy and fast because it is unlike the standard saws which have a back and forth motion.
In this comprehensive buying guide, we will go through some of the best cordless portable band saws that you can invest in. We have researched dozens of them and handpicked a few that deliver.
Best Pick – DEWALT DCS371B Cordless Band Saw
Superior Ergonomics & High Performance
Evident from the high customer ratings, the DEWALT DCS371B is without a doubt the best cordless portable band saw in the market. Coming from a brand name that is envied by most handymen, this is a purpose-driven tool that does not disappoint. Everything from its ergonomic design to its incredible performance delivered by a 20 Volts motor. It is drop-tested and built to be strong and durable, yet it still comes at a fairly affordable price tag as compared to most in the market.
Best Cordless Portable Band Saws 2022
After hours of digging deep and researching with the aid of experts, we have handpicked some of the best cordless portable band saws you can count on.
7. Milwaukee 2629-22 M18 18-Volt Cordless Band Saw Kit
Price: highly priced.
Special features: Led work light, Adjustable material shoe, PULLEY guard.
Weight: 10. 25 lbs.
Cut capacity: 3-1/4”
Milwaukee is a brand that has been dominating many handyman’s toolboxes and this band saw is yet another tool worth investing on. The band saw is 45% lighter than deep cut saws in the market and is also easy to use. But don’t let the lightweight nature of this tool fool you to think that it is cheaply built. The materials used in making it are very durable and sturdy. Able to achieve up to go as deep as 3-1/4” on a single pass cut, this is one of the bets deep cut band saws you can find in the market.
It has some handy features like the LED lighting, tool free adjustable shoe and a pulley guard that helps it to withstand any kind of job site abuse.
Pros and Cons
- The band saw has a decent deep cut capacity.
- It is durable.
- It is pricier than most in the market.
6. Makita XBP01T Band Saw
Price: Highly priced.
Special features: Blade wheel, Protective bumper, Built-in L.E.D. light.
Weight: 7.1 pounds
Cut capacity: 2-1/2″
With a super powerful motor that delivers fast cutting speeds of up to 630 ft./minute, the Makita XBP01Z is a band saw to envy. It has a compact design and only weighs 7.5 lbs which makes it the perfect band saw for anyone looking for a lightweight option. It has a touch-less blade system which is fast to install and remove. And for better cutting precision, there is an adjustable foot in place. The band saw is also designed with high versatility that allows the use of multiple blade sizes.
This Makita portable band saw is incredible in every way, and although it comes at a wallet-wilting price, it is still of good value and worth considering.
Pros and Cons
- The band saw has a powerful motor that delivers high performance.
- It is very lightweight making it easy to carry.
- It is not very sturdy and could use some quality upgrades.
5. DEWALT DCS371P1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Band Saw Kit
Price: Modestly priced.
Special features: LED Work Light, Dual bearing, Blade tracking.
Weight: 10.8 pounds
Cut capacity: 2-1/2″
The Dewalt DCS371P1 is a high quality that is cordless and is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries. It has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to hold and operate. Among other features that makes it easy to use and more convenient includes LED lighting which has a delay of up to 20 seconds, a dual bearing functionality that guides the rollers for precision cutting and a blade tracking adjustment functionality that ensures a durable blade life.
It is drop tested and can withstand any kind of abuse. Anyone looking for a high quality portable band saw that they can rely on will love the convenience that comes with this Dewalt band saw.
Pros and Cons
- It is solidly built to last a long time.
- It boasts having a good battery life.
- The band saw could be cheaper.
4. Milwaukee 2429-20 Cordless Sub Compact Band Saw
Price: Low price tag.
Special features: LED lighting, Compact & lightweight design.
Weight: 6.6 pounds
Cut capacity: 1-5/8 inches.
Milwaukee 2429-20 is a portable band saw which has been well designed with an ergonomic design that is both easy to handle and carry. Compactness is very crucial when it comes to the portability of an equipment, and Milwaukee offers just that. It is also lightweight and has been designed with handles that makes it easy to hold and operate. It is powered by a high performance motor that is fast and a battery which can deliver up to 150 cuts on a single charge.
Like most modern band saws, it has an LED lighting that illuminates the cut line. This band saw is also well priced which makes it one of the best in terms of value.
Pros and Cons
- It comes at an affordable price as compared to most in the market.
- The band saw is very light and compact making it very portable.
- Would be better if it came with the battery.
3. Makita XBP02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Portable Band Saw
Price: Highly priced.
Special features: Variable speed dial, Trigger switch, Protection circuit.
Weight: 15 pounds
Cut capacity: 4-3/4″
Makita XBP02Z is a powerful deep cut band saw that is designed with sturdy and durable materials. Speed, efficiency and deep cut are the top selling point for this band saw, thanks to a powerful motor and deep cutting blades. There is a variable speed dial that lets users control the sped which is a good feature when you are handling different materials, especially those that are fragile.
The only downside with this Makita band saw is that it is way pricier than most in the market, yet there are still those that offer better performance. But if you are in need of a deep cutting band saw, then it is definitely worth the high price tag.
Pros and Cons
- The saw boasts fast operation speeds.
- It has a deep cutting capacity.
- This band saw is pricey.
2. DEWALT DCS374B 20V Max Deep Cut Band Saw
Price: highly priced.
Special features: LED Work Light, Integrated hanging hook.
Weight: 13.8 pounds
Cut capacity: 5 inches.
The DEWALT DCS374B is a high end deep cutting band saw that offers tip-top versatility and incredible performance that many won’t come close to. It has an integrated hanging hook that ensures safe storage and handling of the tool. The band saw is also well constructed and drop-tested to ensure that it survives and lasts long in a job site environment.
With a 5-inch depth capacity, it stands as one of the best deep cutting band saws in the market. If versatility, cut capacity and control is something that you want in a band saw, then this is one that you should consider getting.
Pros and Cons
- It is solidly built to last a long time.
- It is easy to handle and operate.
- Heavier and bulkier than most.
1. DEWALT DCS371B Band Saw
Price: Fair price tag.
Special features: blade tracking wrench, Soft grip handle, LED work light
Weight: 10.2 pounds
Cut capacity: 2-1/2″
It is not a big surprise to see Dewalt dominate the band saw market. This is the best rated cordless portable band saw in the market which boasts being among the most powerful yet very valuable. This has seen it garner more positive customer ratings than any other. It is a champ in its own right and comes with a lot of attention to detail. Among some of the features that sets it apart from others includes an LED work light, a dual bearing functionality and an ergonomic soft grip handle.
It boasts having jaw-dropping speeds of 570 fmp which is one of the best. Having a high performance portable band saw like this one makes every handyman’s job a breeze.
Pros and Cons
- It comes with a high customer rating.
- Easy to use and operate.
- It is made of high quality materials that makes it durable.
- The cut capacity could be greater.
Choosing The Best Cordless Portable Band Saw
Here are crucial things to keep in mind when you are buying the best cordless portable band saw.
Ease of Use & Adjustment
If there is one thing that you don’t want to gamble on when choosing the perfect band aw, it has to be the way you use it. They are designed differently and the one you get should give you the comfort you need to operate easily and more efficiently. Everything from holding the saw, to positioning it and making the various blade and depth settings should come easy. This will also ensure that you work for longer hours without sweating much.
Quality & Durability
How the band saw has been made is also crucial in helping to determine whether it is durable or not. The materials used in making the band saw determines how sturdy and durable it is. It also goes without saying that any equipment used in a workshop should be solid enough to withstand incidental abuse such as being dropped from the working bench.
Features
the efficiency of any machine or equipment that one gets always comes down to the features it has. Accuracy and precision is very important when it comes to cutting and without the right features, you may not achieve that. Although more features always raise the price tag on a band saw, sometimes it is worth spending the extra buck to get the job done efficiently and much better.
Safety
Last, but most importantly, you’d want to make sure that safety is well taken care of. There are countless number of accidents that are caused by saws and they can be really serious. The safety concern can, however, be avoided by getting a well constructed band saw that has a well thought design with safety features. Avoid any band saw that doesn’t have a safety lock since it can easily cause accidents and injuries if mishandled.
Final Verdict
Band saws have to proven to be very effective in cutting through different kind of objects which cannot be done by any other saw. But you only get the best out of a band saw if you have the right one. In this comprehensive guide, we have detailed most of the things you need to know as well as list down some of the best cordless portable band saws in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a band saw?
A: A band saw is also known as an endless saw and it is designed with a continuous and long steel band that comes with serrated sharp edges that run on small rotating wheels. Band saws are primarily used for woodworking, metalworking and lumbering although they can be used on other types of cutting work on different materials.
Q: What is the purpose of a band saw?
A: Primarily, band saws are designed to be used on ferrous metals, but can also be used in a number of other cutting tasks such as for cutting wood, plastic and other materials. There are different specialized blades that are designed to be used on different materials.
Q: Can a band saw replace a table saw?
A: Table saws are designed to be used on boards specifically, and they are known to be more precise and sharper than band saws. Although both of these saws have interchangeable blades, table saws tend to be more superior in precision and can only be replaced by the sloppy band saws in specific tasks such as those where precision cutting isn’t a necessity.
Q: How does a band saw work?
A: A band saw is designed with a movable blade which operates in a rotary motion. The blade is designed to be moved upwards and downwards where the material being cut is placed under the blade when it is raised. The movement capability allows one to lower the blade when it is on to start cutting the material and continues to come down until it has completely cut through the object. This also makes it possible to easily cut materials into different shapes and angles.
