Most cordless tool manufactures are offering a cordless band saw tool kit now.  While some of the smaller units are great for cutting strut ladder rack, rod and small pipe sometimes you need something a little bigger.  The DeWalt deep cut cordless bandsaw offers a 20 volt unit that will cut up to 5”.  This makes it perfect for cutting 4” EMT, schedule 40 PVC up to 4” and more.   These deep cut saws are more money yes but they simply can do more and do it more efficiently.   Consider the blade for instance.  The deep cut DeWalt uses a 44-7/8”  .20 blade.  One complaint we here on the smaller saws is the blade don’t last that long.  Well that is true; the blade is shorter so the teeth have to cut more material each revolution.  Add to that the smaller diameter of the wheels that the blades are turning around and it’s just harder on the blade.  To give you an idea of the blade size, 44-7/8” is the size most cordless portable band saws use.

You can buy the saw as a kit or as a bare tool if you already have a stack of DeWalt 20 volt batteries lying around.  While we are on the subject of batteries, keep in mind cordless band saws tend to suck a lot of juice.  If you have an option on battery size, lean toward the larger mah battery packs.  Remember while voltage represents power, mah is you gas tank.  So a 2.0 mah battery will give you the same amount of power as an 8.0 mah battery but the 8.0 will run much longer.

If you have been thinking about a cordless band saw, make sure you consider a deep cut like the one DeWalt offers.  They are a little more but when you come up a little bigger cut, you will be glad you did!