Harbor Freight - Chicago Electric model 47840 Portable Band Saw (Rating: 4)

Although this saw can be used for both wood and metal, because I have better tools for woodworking, I've used this exclusively for metal. But that said, I find that having the ability to do a little metal work here and there comes in very handy and supports my wood working. (cutting piano hinges, bolts, black iron pipe, rebar, angle iron, T-track, etc…)

I've wanted a portable BS since I built my timber frame house 20 years ago. But they were expensive and 4 inches was insufficient capacity for most of my timbers. (It's interesting to note that since that time, Mafell and others now make 12" capacity portable BSs and they only run $4-6K :^o ).

What I like about this HF saw…

1. With the ubiquitous HF 20% off coupon, it cost me $60!
2. It cuts metal like butter. So far I've used it on aluminum & steel bar stock (up to 1"x6"), hardened bolts, black iron pipe…. it chews it up.
2. It's light and fairly handy.
3. It stows away on a shelf under my bench.
4. The variable speed works well and is an important feature for starting your cuts in a nice controlled manner.
5. It came with a good blade.
6. It came with spare brushes (Hmmm… is there a known problem they are addressing here?)
7. It uses the same length blade as the name brand portable BSs (Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt) so I can get replacement blades of various tpi at the BORG.

Did I mention it cuts metal like butter!! I've used stationary metal cutting horizontal band saws (small and medium sized units) in the past and this little HF portable is no slouch.

What I don't like about this saw.

1. It's VERY loud. So I always use ear muffs when running it.
2. I wish the range of motion on the blade tensioner allowed a little more tension on the blade. As under heavy cutting, the blade will sometimes slip, and when I'm deep into a block of 1" AL, with my muffs on, I can't always readily tell that the blade is slipping and hacked up the tires a little

For $60, this saw is a winner! After using it for several months now, I'd readily pay twice that. I especially wish I had this little saw when I cut the J-bolts that secure the sill to the foundation.

After seeing how handy these saws are, I wish I could justify paying $400+ for a name brand 18 v LI cordless. But HF got me in the game at a price I could afford and I'm very happy to retire my hack saw.

An final word about my experience with Harbor Freight. I've been an infrequent customer for some 20 years. In general, I save my pennies and buy the best quality tool that I can afford and have all the premium "domestic" brands in my shop. I can't afford Festool. But neither can I afford a tool that doesn't work well, or worse yet, is dangerous (I had a China made box wrench brake and almost putting my eye out once).

My intent is not to facilitate yet another HF bashing session, but rather to share my experience with this specific tool.