Handheld band saws by their makers' figures
| Saw | Supply | Blade speed | Blades named | Capacity | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 6232-20 | 120 V AC, 11 A | 0–380 SFPM | Bi-metal, 18 and 24 TPI | 5 in round; 5 × 5 in | Not stated in the manual |
| Milwaukee 6238-20 | 120 V AC/DC, 7 or 11 A | 300 or 380 SFPM | Bi-metal, 18 and 24 TPI | 5 in round; 5 × 5 in | Not stated in the manual |
| WEN 94396 | 120 V, 10 A | 60–420 FPM | 1/2 × 0.025 in, 10/14 TPI, 44-7/8 in long | 5 × 5 in | 14.5 lb |
Each figure is the maker's own. Neither manual names wood as a material it is made to cut. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
Corded deep-cut portable band saw
Milwaukee 6232-20
Milwaukee's corded 6232-20 from the table above: 11 A, a variable blade speed of 0–380 SFPM and a 5 in round capacity, by its manual.
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How their speeds and blades compare with woodworking saws
Woodworking band saws run their blades many times faster: 2460 FPM on Grizzly's 9 in benchtop saw, 2780 ft/min on Rikon's 10 in. Blade maker Suffolk recommends 2800 SFPM for its woodcutting blades on 12 in wheels, rising with wheel size. The handheld saws here top out at 380 to 420 feet per minute, with blades of 10/14 to 24 teeth per inch — Milwaukee names bi-metal blades. Fine teeth suit thin stock: Olson's rule of at least three teeth in the work, and its suggestion of 4 TPI for a fast cut in 3/4 in wood, show how far those blades sit from a wood blade. None of this says a handheld saw cannot cut a board; it says what its makers built and bladed it for.
Matching a portable saw to the work
| Job | What suits it | Why, from the documents |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe, strut, rod and other stock up to 5 in | A handheld portable band saw | Milwaukee and WEN: 5 in capacity, bi-metal or 10/14 TPI blades, slow speeds |
| Curves and small parts in wood, carried between shops | A small benchtop woodworking band saw | G0803: 42 lb, 120 V, 2460 FPM; 10-305: 68 lb, 2780 ft/min |
| Resawing or wide boards | A floor band saw | See choosing a band saw |
| Cutting wood with a handheld band saw | Ask its maker first | Neither manual reviewed describes wood or a wood blade |
Built from the makers' statements. Not a ranking.
What to compare
- Stated materials and blades. Read what the manual says the saw cuts and which blades it names; Milwaukee's table names bi-metal blades.
- Speed. Variable (Milwaukee 6232, WEN) or two-speed (Milwaukee 6238, changed only with the motor stopped).
- Capacity. Both makers give 5 in round and 5 × 5 in rectangular stock.
- Handling. Both makers have you grip the saw two-handed by its handles, with the work clamped — WEN in a vise or clamps.
- For woodworking on the move. A small benchtop band saw weighs 42 to 68 lb and runs on a household outlet; it is compared in choosing a benchtop band saw.
Safety— Handheld band saw rules
Unplug before changing blades or adjusting. Hold the saw with both hands and clamp the work; keep the blade off the work until it reaches speed; do not bear down; mind the blade exposed on the underside; and do not touch the blade straight after use — Milwaukee warns it will be hot (Milwaukee, WEN).
Before choosing a portable band saw
- What the manual says it cuts, and the blades it names
- Blade speed range
- Capacity against the stock
- Whether a small benchtop woodworking saw fits the job better
Woodworking band saws are explained in the band saw guide and compared in choosing a band saw; blades in band saw blades.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own. Neither handheld manual names wood as a material or describes a stand, and BenchRoot does not infer that either is suited to woodworking; what is set out is what their makers document. Stands sold for handheld band saws are not covered, because no maker's document reviewed describes one. No saw was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Deep Cut Band Saw, Cat. No. 6232-20 and 6238-20, operator's manual (58-14-6232d2). Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: The 6232-20 and 6238-20 deep-cut band saws: 120 V, 11 A (the 6238 7 A low, 11 A high, AC/DC); 0–380 SFPM, or 300 and 380 SFPM in two speeds changed only with the motor stopped; bi-metal blades of 18 and 24 TPI recommended; 5 in round and 5 × 5 in rectangular capacity; both hands on the handles; the blade off the work until the motor is up to speed; no bearing down; a hot blade after use; no wood application or stand described.
- 2.
Portable Band Saw, Model 94396, instruction manual, as hosted by a retailer. WEN.
Used for: The 94396: 120 V, 10 A; 60 to 420 FPM by a speed dial; a 44-7/8 × 1/2 × 0.025 in blade with 10/14 TPI; 5 × 5 in capacity; 14.5 lb; both hands on the insulated handles with the work clamped in a vise or clamps; the blade exposed on the underside; tension released for storage; no wood application or stand described.
- 3.
Model G0803 9" Benchtop Bandsaw owner's manual (for models manufactured since 09/15). Grizzly Industrial.
Used for: A 9 in benchtop woodworking band saw: 42 lb, 120 V, 2.8 A, 2460 FPM, blades 1/8 to 3/8 in wide, 3-5/8 in cutting height.
- 4.
10-305 10" Woodworking Bandsaw Operator's Manual (10-305M5), as hosted by a public library. Rikon Power Tools.
Used for: A 10 in benchtop woodworking band saw: 68 lb, 115 V, 3.5 A, 2780 ft/min, blades 1/8 to 1/2 in wide, 4-5/8 in cutting height.
- 5.
Used for: Spring-steel wood blades limited to 3000 SFM; a 4 TPI blade for a fast cut and a 14 TPI blade for a smoother cut in 3/4 in wood; at least three teeth in the work.
- 6.
Timber Wolf Blades catalog 2026. Suffolk Machinery, 2026.
Used for: Recommended speeds for woodcutting blades on vertical saws, from 2800 SFPM on 12 in wheels.
About this buying guide
Written by BenchRoot Editorial. How BenchRoot sources, checks and corrects its pages is set out in the Editorial Policy. If something here is wrong or unclear, the contact page explains how to tell us.