Knife Making Tool Review: Bauer Deep Cut Band Saw

I got started in Knife Making almost 2 years ago, and like most people who get started I didn't have a lot of money to buy tools. The only metal I could find locally that was suitable for making blades was tool steel drill rods from a local machine shop. Anything else would have to be ordered, and I'm impatient. I forge the blade at the end of the rod, so I don't have to weld on a rebar handle, and when I get done I have to cut the blade free. That is where this little beast shines.

There are countless videos available that show people making tables for their band saw, but I ended up mounting mine on the wall of my shop so that I could walk over and use a foot pedal control (also available from Harbor Freight) to cut my forged blade from the end of the rod.

Like all things from Harbor Freight, sometimes you get quality and sometimes you get crap. Luckily I got a good one. You can adjust the speed of cut with a dial, so there is no fine trigger control needed. The cord is long enough that it travels straight down the wall to the foot pedal control; all you need to do is velcro the trigger down or use a plastic tie.

I don't use it every single day, but between welding projects and knife making I have put it through it's paces. I have even taken it with me on electrical jobs to make clean cuts in conduit that don't need much reaming afterwards. With the coupon available in most of the monthly books from Harbor Freight you can usually get it for around $99 or cheaper. You will need to buy a blade for it, and to start I bought a 2-pack of the Bauer blades. Many people say to get a Lennox or Milwaukee, but my Bauer blade is still going strong.

Overall I am more than satisfied with the quality, especially for the price. You can get a tiny 12 volt Milwaukee one for about $170 with no sale going (tool only, no battery), but the Milwaukee has only a 1 5/8" x 1 5/8" cutting capacity. Having to plug in the Bauer isn't an issue for me, as I leave mine attached to the wall.

If you need a band saw, but don't want to shell out the big bucks for a "name brand" tool, then I highly recommend the Bauer. You will need to check it's operation as soon as you get home so you know whether or not you need to return it and get a different one. Anyone who has bought HF before knows the routine. Extended warranty? That's a personal preference, and I did it on mine - but as is usually the case, when you buy the warranty the tool lasts forever.