Milwaukee M18 Bandsaw any good?

[JOEPRO]

I occasionally be cutting mild steel box section etc and car exhaust pipes that sort of thing.

I have been looking at a m18 fbs85-oc model bandsaw as the size of 85mm would meet anything I would be using it for.

Are the m18 Bandsaws good tools? Do any members have one and what is your experience with it?

 

[Kram]

Not used that one but several of us have used Milwaunkee blades for the aldi bandsaw. The blade weld joins are rubbish as they were not welded straight and unpleasant to use, puts me off their tools!

I'd also say the 85mm max would be limiting, for me atleast. I often want to cut plate with it.

Aldi are not currently selling them but ~£100 if you can live with a mains powered 5" version. I expect they will be back soon.

 

[armalites]

My eldest has the M18 deep cut one and it's really good, blades don't last forever and it's worth buying decent ones. Takes a bit of practice to do even cuts on box section.

My lad has cut fairly big box section with it and 12mm+ plate with no issues

 

[ChrisBailey]

Ive got the older none fuel m18 bandsaw.
Great for cutting tube and box section.
The guide can be pushed back so you can cut flush to a wall.

 

[JOEPRO]

Not used that one but several of us have used Milwaunkee blades for the aldi bandsaw. The blade weld joins are rubbish as they were not welded straight and unpleasant to use, puts me off their tools!

I'd also say the 85mm max would be limiting, for me atleast. I often want to cut plate with it.

Aldi are not currently selling them but ~£100 if you can live with a mains powered 5" version. I expect they will be back soon.

Do you mean the Milwaukee blade joins are rubbish? Or the Aldi ones hence using Milwaukee blades(?)

I have a good number of M18 tools already and I really like to keep cordless capability where possible.

I see people make up stands for these also that would make it very useful for cutting round bar etc quickly and accurately.

I wouldn't use It enough to justify new full RRP so I'm looking at a used one tomorrow.

 

[James1979]

Do you mean the Milwaukee blade joins are rubbish? Or the Aldi ones hence using Milwaukee blades(?)

I have a good number of M18 tools already and I really like to keep cordless capability where possible.

I see people make up stands for these also that would make it very useful for cutting round bar etc quickly and accurately.

I wouldn't use It enough to justify new full RRP so I'm looking at a used one tomorrow.

What are you going to use it for, out of interest?

I see them but can’t think of why I would need one but admit they look handy! I suppose i just think if I’m out and about I’ll use a 9” grinder and if I’m in the workshop I have a bandsaw.

Genuinely curious what the intended uses are.

I think @123hotchef may have one?

 

[armalites]

We used these guys for replacement blades and they have been very good

Home

We are a leading supplier for Bandsaw Blades UK, including M K Morse and MPS Sägen wood and metal cutting blades.

bandsawblades.co.uk

 

[armalites]

What are you going to use it for, out of interest?

I see them but can’t think of why I would need one but admit they look handy! I suppose i just think if I’m out and about I’ll use a 9” grinder and if I’m in the workshop I have a bandsaw.

Genuinely curious what the intended uses are.

I think @123hotchef may have one?

They do a nice cut with little noise and no sparks. If you are careful you can even cut curves with them.

 

[JOEPRO]

What are you going to use it for, out of interest?

I see them but can’t think of why I would need one but admit they look handy! I suppose i just think if I’m out and about I’ll use a 9” grinder and if I’m in the workshop I have a bandsaw.

Genuinely curious what the intended uses are.

I think @123hotchef may have one?

I restore Mercedes cars as a hobby. (I have 10x of them, mostly projects!)

So for cutting exhaust pipes etc. I also weld and fabricate stuff occasionally such as my own gates and railings. And carport frame a couple years back.

From watching videos on these they make very clean quick cuts. Crucially I can only work at my cars weekends and Grinders are noisy buggers! So any tool which offers quiet work is always a plus for me.

Less sparks shooting around cars in the garage too if I'm going to cut threaded bar or box section near them for example.

 

[Kram]

Do you mean the Milwaukee blade joins are rubbish? Or the Aldi ones hence using Milwaukee blades(?)

Original aldi blade was great.
Milwaunkee blade would have been good quality but the joint was welded at an angle. Makes the machine kick as the high spot goes round..

Mine, I have cut solid round bar upto 5" alu and 4" steel but I highly recommend not doing that as theres a good chance the blade will jam. 1" wall or 2" solid is a good maximum.
You cant get suitably coarse blades for large bar, for these baby machines, due to the blade bend radius.


Anyway for box/tube fabrication, I think you ideally want an accurate stand so the cuts are square. The aldi stand is not that great but would be a hell of a lot better than me holding it free hand...

I also find its not particually quick and hacksaw blades are far cheaper! You cant run full speed on steel or the blades will blunt.

 

[123hotchef]

I have. One yes. It works for me. I also have the stand for it too. I did list it for sale on here a while back as I do not use it really. But it will come in handy one day. No complaints with the mikawakee blades from me

 

[James1979]

I restore Mercedes cars as a hobby. (I have 10x of them, mostly projects!)

So for cutting exhaust pipes etc. I also weld and fabricate stuff occasionally such as my own gates and railings. And carport frame a couple years back.

From watching videos on these they make very clean quick cuts. Crucially I can only work at my cars weekends and Grinders are noisy buggers! So any tool which offers quiet work is always a plus for me.

Less sparks shooting around cars in the garage too if I'm going to cut threaded bar or box section near them for example.

I guessed it would be hot works.

Noise is a good point

 

[MetalMonkey]

I have the HiKoki version.
I've found it great for cutting up bar and box section, it makes fairly quick and accurate (well, more accurate than a grinder) cuts with very little noise and no sparks, although it produces a lot of little chips.

It isn't going to be as versatile as a grinder, given the amount of attachments you can get for them. Obviously it is quite a lot more bulky as well.
For fabrication it is great, I'm not sure it would be all that useful for vehicle repair, other than for cutting exhaust pipe as you mentioned.

I've been using the Milwaukee blades and found they fracture and snap quite a bit - I've still got a fair few in stock but will probably try a different brand next time.
I suspect blades tend to snap rather than wear out due to the hand held nature of the setup.

I haven't got a stand, I think a proper sized band-saw or power hacksaw would a lot better if you have a lot of cutting to do, the cordless ones are more for convenience and doing the odd thing or out on site IMO.

 

[JOEPRO]

I have the HiKoki version.
I've found it great for cutting up bar and box section, it makes fairly quick and accurate (well, more accurate than a grinder) cuts with very little noise and no sparks, although it produces a lot of little chips.

It isn't going to be as versatile as a grinder, given the amount of attachments you can get for them. Obviously it is quite a lot more bulky as well.
For fabrication it is great, I'm not sure it would be all that useful for vehicle repair, other than for cutting exhaust pipe as you mentioned.

I've been using the Milwaukee blades and found they fracture and snap quite a bit - I've still got a fair few in stock but will probably try a different brand next time.
I suspect blades tend to snap rather than wear out due to the hand held nature of the setup.

I haven't got a stand, I think a proper sized band-saw or power hacksaw would a lot better if you have a lot of cutting to do, the cordless ones are more for convenience and doing the odd thing or out on site IMO.

I think you are right that the portable ones are more of a quick cut type tool and not really accurate.

I was looking up the Milwaukee table for these so it could make square cuts and they are several hundred pounds.

I think a better solution may be something like this which comes with a table and can make square cuts also. So I could sell on my large abrasive chop saw and use this instead which should work great for clean square cuts on small box section etc

Scheppach MBS1100 127mm Electric Portable Metal Bandsaw 230V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. The Scheppach MBS1100 is a portable, metal-cutting bandsaw designed to let you cut pipes and metal profiles both quickly and easily. Featuring an impressive 127mm cutting width, powerful 1100W motor and worktable for flexible, fixed or freehand operation. Ideal for...

www.screwfix.com

 

[Bravheart]

Isn't that just the Aldi one?

 

[Gragson]

Isn't that just the Aldi one?

Yes - Jeez have they gone up thought mine was half that!

 

[JOEPRO]

There are no Aldi's here, what is the Aldi brand name? Ferrex ?

 

[JOEPRO]

Hmm I see some interesting ideas for stands for the m18 portable bandsaws also. Aka a folded plate which goes into your bench vice.

It would not be very hard to make a table with a groove to cut 90s with.

Decisions decisions

 

[Bravheart]

There are no Aldi's here, what is the Aldi brand name? Ferrex ?

Ahem, this was straight out the middle of Aldi. Sub £100 Inc. at the time, they haven't half gone up in price now though.

 

[Bravheart]

I think a better solution may be something like this which comes with a table and can make square cuts also. So I could sell on my large abrasive chop saw and use this instead which should work great for clean square cuts on small box section etc

Will do what you wanted though and can be made portable if required.
Has marks and a swivel for mitre cuts but I've only done square. Quick clamp not brilliant needs more material support beside the blade but guessing perhaps not possible because of the mitre feature