Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 48-08-0260 Band Saw Table

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased one of these bandsaw stands from Amazon.com. They are expensive, but well worth it. The quality is all Milwaukee, which stands alone. It is a very heavy cast stand which stays put when you load it with pipe, angle iron, etc. On long pieces, you must use a support stand, naturally. It will make your bandsaw blades last much longer because of its ability to make straight cuts without binding the blade. The only thing that would make it better would be the addition of a vise or clamp to enable 45 degree cuts. The stand makes repetitive cuts a snap and dead-on accurate.

I like the table and it makes for perfect cuts with the saw. You must set up the saw to be at 90 degrees to the vise and square to the flat part of the table.Use a machinists square to set it up. To me, this is the only way to use a saw like the Milwaukee.

After I purchased the Milwaukee bandsaw, I realized that most of the cuts I wanted were true 90s. Trying to get consistent true cuts by hand is frustrating, especially when you are creating a lot of expensive scrap metal in the process! Now I just secure my Milwaukee band saw in the arm and I'm good to go.

When you first receive it, you need to get it adjusted for a true 90. After it is set, you can take the band saw off and reattach later, no adjustments needed.

The only thing that would make it better if it could also cut 45 degree cuts as easily. (I've made a jig to hold the stock for 45s.) Or, having a variable degree setting (like a miter saw) would be AWESOME! ;-)

I'll start by saying that this equipment will do what it is supposed to do- allow you to make repeatable, square cuts in material- once you have it set up and tuned.

My problem with this table is what you don't get for the money you spend. The engineering is pretty pathetic. Since it is meant to be used with a portable saw it stands to reason that many users will be taking this table to the jobsite. Working on that assumption why not design legs that will support the table securely. a wide stance tripod is a natural choice but this table sports four sockets for attaching lengths of 3/4" pipe. The pipe doesn't even thread into the casting but into sleeves that pivot slightly in the oversized holes in the casting making the table "walk".
The chain vise will hold your work securely but is a pain to use. With a bit of forethought in the design phase and a few pennies more in materials the vise could have been made much more user-friendly.

Fit and finish are what you would expect from an overseas product if you are pessimistic. I had to elongate some mounting holes with a file to get the saw to square up to the fence. Not a big deal but I expected more from Milwaukee. If this tool were available from harbor freight (look for a no-name version to arrive soon) it would probably cost $70 or $80 and would be well worth it, flaws and all. At $299 you are paying an enormous premium for some red paint and a Milwaukee sticker (the sticker is peeling off already).

I am keeping my table because I need it but I'm giving it a tripod sub-base (I'm borrowing the leg geometry from a Ridgid tri-stand) and will be redesigning the chain vise.

The concept seems good. The ability to cut steel without all the problems of an abrasive cutoff saw, at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately, my unit arrived with multiple flaws. The band saw mounts to the pivot arm at a single point with a single bolt, which is normally the front "T" handle. The pivot arm appears to have been improperly cast or machined, so that the setup geometry as specified in the manual was impossible to obtain. I considered shims to effect a "kluge," but then there remains the second major flaw. The single bolt attachment to the upper case of the saw is not rigid enough. The result is that a small lateral pressure on the saw handle deflects the blade as much as 1/8 inch. Granted, better than hand held, but not acceptable to me. A nice concept, flawed in execution. Returned.

Gave it 4 out of 5 because I wish the vise could be adjusted for angle cuts, ie 45 degree. Still love it though.

I got this table to allow me to use the portable as a stationary at home. I looked at all the reviews over and over. I found it on Grizzly just a few dollars cheaper. This is way overpriced in the 1st place. Then it is without the tools it is to have with it. Most of all there was not one pic of set of instructions as to how this this goes together.

I bought it mainly for the name and the fact I found no other table out there. I found you can placed the band saw in a vise and hold and operate it that way and much cheaper. I will return it

I also found that you could not use the saw in up right or vertical because the saw has to be mounted up side down so the table is not usable.

It works ok. Takes a while to get everything square. The clamp can be a pain to use.