There are different types of saws and a portable band saw is one of them. It is not known to many but professionals might have heard about it. It is a lightweight and handy saw, which can be taken anywhere easily for cutting materials.
This equipment is reliable and versatile and can be used by plumbers for trimming pipes or homeowners for making decorative cuts. You can use it in a park, woods, or turfs for cutting materials. In this article, we have elaborated on the portable band saw uses to know more about it and make it easier for you to use it efficiently.
What Is a Portable Bandsaw?
A portable bandsaw comes with similar features like that of a standard band saw. It is stretched between two wheels (upper and lower) for cutting materials. Its design is quite similar to a cassette tape.
A portable saw is mainly used in metallic fabrication shops for structuring steel. Both the wheels rotate continuously in a similar direction to cut several materials like metal and plastic.
You can get a portable bandsaw in vertical or horizontal styles for diverse use. It can cut straight lines or can change rapidly to make curves. Let’s check out the other uses of this portable band saw.
Top 10 Portable Band Saw Uses
A portable band saw is a convenient sawing tool for cutting different materials. It can be used to complete a variety of works. If you know what a portable bandsaw is used for, it will become easier for you to complete various cutting tasks quickly.
1. Structural steels cutting:
A portable bandsaw is commonly used for cutting and structuring steels in different shapes in metal fabrication shops. The manufacturers mostly use a powerful bandsaw with a sharp blade to shape the steel.
However, it can be used to a limit because steels come with immense strength. A portable bandsaw can only cut thin sheets of steel as they are limited in power and size.
2. In residential purposes and light industry:
This saw is also used in garages, light industries, and also workshops for cutting various materials like metal, wood, and plastic. There are different blades used to cut these materials.
Building contractors are becoming more interested in using a portable bandsaw for creating benches and cabinets.
3. Non-portable materials:
Some materials cannot be moved as they are too large in size or non-portable, so bringing them to a standard band saw for cutting might be too difficult or even impossible.
So in this case, having a portable band saw becomes an advantage as you can take the band saw to the location and can cut the material with it. You can cut any non-portable or heavy material with the portable bandsaw quite easily.
4. Shaping billet:
Billets are commonly known as bar stocks, which are raw refined metals. These billets are used in creating various parts of metal.
With the help of a portable bandsaw, you can cut the billets in a square or rectangular shape with ease. But to cut a big or hard bar stock, you need a bandsaw that is quite powerful. So a portable bandsaw has limited use.
5. In butchering industry and meat cutting:
Butchering and cutting meat have become easier and time-saving thanks to the use of a portable band saw.
They come with a sharp blade that is used for cutting large pieces of meat and bones into small pieces. These bandsaws are becoming popular in the butchering industry.
6. Resawing large timbers:
You can use a portable bandsaw for cutting a 10’’x10’’ large-sized timber or larger into small size like 5’’x 5’’ or even lesser. Moreover, this lightweight bandsaw is used for cutting, designing, and finishing small wood-pieces too.
7. Shaping and cutting pipes:
One of the most beneficial uses of a portable band saw is cutting pipes. People who love making DIY items or plumbers can use this saw for easy and quick shaping or cutting of the pipes. They can also carry it easily in the house or any other location.
8. Cutting sign posts:
You can shape or re-shape signposts by using a portable band saw. Also, you can eliminate a signpost that is placed in the wrong area.
9. Clean cuts of diverse materials:
A portable bandsaw can create clean and fine cuts since it vibrates less. You can use it to cut diverse materials like metal, pipe, and wood by installing the appropriate blade. So using this band saw is quite beneficial and cost-effective.
10. For decorative cutting:
Using a portable saw for decorative cuts is quite popular. It can be used for making different decorative cuts. Wood crafters use it commonly to make Pergola ends. They also make corbels by using this saw.
Necessity Safety Measures
- Earlier to performing any task by using a portable bandsaw, make sure to wear safety gloves and protective goggles. Handling the blades must be dangerous, so you should take the necessary precautions beforehand.
- Before making any cuts with it, read the user manual of the portable band saw properly and follow the instructions given.
- Always unplug the saw before replacing or changing the blade.
- Making a straight cut with a band saw might not be easy sometimes. So, you should check the blade and change it if needed to make a smooth cut.
- Make sure the material you will cut is placed in a stable position so that it doesn’t move while cutting.
- Since portable band saws have limited power, do not use them for cutting too thick or wide materials.
Final Words
The cutting jobs become easier when you have a portable band saw. It can be used to cut diverse materials and create different cuts. This equipment is easy to use, lightweight, and versatile. But very few people talk about this unique tool.
But, we hope by reading this article a lot of DIY crafters and beginners will get to know more about the portable band saw uses and its effectiveness. Knowing about its uses will make it easier for you to complete day to day cutting tasks.