Milwaukee has announced a new M18 Fuel compact band saw, model 2829. Technically, there are two new models, one with a traditional design and another with a dual trigger safety switch.
The new Milwaukee M18 Fuel compact band saw is said to be the:
Advertisement
- Fastest-cutting in its class
- Have the largest cutting capacity in its class
The new band saw is said to have the fastest cutting speed and largest cutting capacity of any compact band saw.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Band Saw Specs
- 35-3/8″ blade
- 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ cut capacity
- 540 SFPM
- Variable speed trigger
- LED work light
- Tool-free locking adjustment shoe
- Rafter hook
- Weighs 7.7 lbs without battery
- All-metal direct drive
Milwaukee also says the new band saw has a lightweight design and improved balance.
Additionally, there will be an optional/separate tool-free pipe reamer attachment that mounts to the back side of the tool. The reamer can deburr 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ electrical conduit.
The dual-trigger compact band saw comes with a blade cover accessory that can be purchased and added to the single-trigger model.
Blade covers help to protect the blade track from damage and also minimizes blade exposure to the user.
Purchasing Options and Pricing
Kit (2829-22): Includes (2) M18 High Output 3.0Ah batteries, Rapid Charger, contractor bag, and extreme blade.
Advertisement
Bare Tool (2829-20)
Dual-Trigger Band Saw Kit (2829S-22): Nearly identical to the 2829, the 2829S features a dual-trigger design that requires both hands on the tool for it to operate, and it also comes with band saw blade covers
Kit (2829-22): $449 | Buy Now via Tool Nut
Bare Tool (2829-20): $279 | Buy Now via Tool Nut
Dual-Trigger Kit (2829S-22): $499 | Buy Now via Tool Nut
Reamer Attachment (49-90-202): $35 | Buy Now via Tool Nut
Blade Covers (49-90-2829): $54 | Buy Now via Tool Nut
ETA: Feb 2020
Discussion
Let’s recap what we know about the new Milwaukee 2829 compact band saws:
- 35-3/8″ blade
- 3-1/4″ x 3-1/4″ cut capacity
- 540 SFPM
- Weighs 7.7 lbs without battery
Let’s take a look at the Dewalt DCS371P1 kit, which is regularly priced at $349. It has a 2-1/2″ round cutting capacity, 570 FPM speed, and weighs 8.0 lbs.
Compare: Dewalt Kit via Amazon
Milwaukee says this saw cuts faster than other compact saws, and has higher capacity.
On paper, the Dewalt saw has a higher FPM rating, but it could very well be that Milwaukee’s has a higher operating cutting speed. No-load speeds are one thing, application speeds are another.
The fact of that matter is that claims such as “the fastest cutting speed and largest cut capacity of any compact band saw” have to be backed up by repeatable data.
If you ask me, it seems quite reasonable that a 2020-generation Milwaukee brushless motor-powered band saw will perform faster and better than a brushed-motor band saw that Dewalt launched in 2013, regardless of what is said on paper.
The new Milwaukee band saw weighs 7.7 lbs without battery, and the Dewalt 8 lbs.
What’s also interesting is that a cordless power tool like this one would typically be kitted with XC battery packs. But here, Milwaukee is bundling the new compact band saw with their next-gen High Output 3.0Ah compact batteries.
Makita came out with a new compact band saw in 2019. Compared to this new Milwaukee saw, the Makita XBP03 has a slightly smaller blade size, 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ max cutting capacity, and 630 ft/min no-load cutting speed. The Makita weighs 9 lbs with battery.
Compare: Makita Kit via Amazon
The Makita kit is discounted at the time of this posting, to $340, and it comes with (2) 5.0Ah batteries, an aluminum housing, and a rear-side blade cover. Makita designed their saw for one-handed operation (if or where needed).
Makita does also have another model with plastic wheel guard that weighs 7.5 lbs with battery.
So, compared to Dewalt and Makita compact band saws, Milwaukee increases the cutting capacity from 2-1/2″ to 3-1/4″, which is quite a big jump up.
On-paper, the new Milwaukee saw has a lower cutting speed compared to the other models we checked, but I would presume the saw delivers quicker real-world application speeds. Without proof of the matter, Milwaukee’s legal department couldn’t have cleared any claim that the saw delivers the fastest cutting speed of any compact band saw.
And again, we’re talking about a tool with a brushless motor vs. competing models with brushed motors. The Milwaukee saw features Constant Power Technology that maintains cut speed in the toughest applications for optimal performance. From all this, the takeaway for me is that the Milwaukee likely maintains cutting speed [in certain applications?], which would all for their claim to be true despite the disagreement of on-paper specs.
We’ll reach out to Milwaukee for more details and clarification about this.
Looking at Milwaukee’s older/previous M18 cordless compact band saw, model 2629, it (also) has a 3-1/4″ cutting capacity, 480 SFPM speed, dual-actuation trigger, and 10.25 lb weight.
If you are already a Milwaukee M18 cordless power tool user, the new compact band saw is considerably lighter than the previous model (24.9% if my math’s correct), and it has faster on-paper specs. Plus, the brushless motor is going to give you a boost in power and efficiency.
Comparing pricing, the new compact band saw kit is $449, the older model is $399. You get High Output 3.0Ah batteries and a Rapid Charger with the new kit, and standard XC 3.0Ah batteries with the older kit.
For the $50 difference in kit pricing, the new band saw is lighter and faster than the previous model (likely largely thanks to the brushless motor tech), includes a faster charger, and comes with High Output 3.0Ah batteries. That seems reasonable, but hopefully users will see some promos, rebates, or other incentives to upgrade.
Milwaukee dealers have the older bare tool-only saw (2629-20) for $249, compared to $279 for the new saw in bare tool-only format.
Overall, this seems like a solid new offering by Milwaukee, and it seems like a great idea that they have separate single and dual-trigger versions.
The conduit reamer attachment also seems like a neat design. Some might gripe that it’s an additional purchase, but those that don’t need it will be happy that they’re not forced to pay for the functionality.
Buy Now:
Kit via Tool Nut
Bare Tool via Tool Nut
Dual-Trigger Kit via Tool Nut
Taras
So close to being perfect. If it had a 3-1/2″ capacity, it would be a clear runaway winner. 3″ diameter pipe has an O.D. of 3-1/2″. That would allow a plumber to cover 80-90% of their piping. That percentage comes after the other 10-15% is already installed, so that 1/4″ extra would not just help productivity, but also eliminate needing to carry around an extra tool to cut 3″ pipe.
Koko The Talking Ape
I’m not a plumber, so I really don’t know: could you cut off 3 1/2″ OD pipe by walking the saw around the circumference of the pipe (or by rotating the pipe and holding the saw steady)? That would be probably impossible for installed pipe, but for a new installation, would it work?
Mark
So whats the purpose of the dual trigger one?
HZ
Safety. To avoid being triggered accidentally. The newest Dewalt XR one has dual trigger design as well, but many people prefer the non-duel old version one.
Corey Moore
Still larger than industry standard compact, and not single handed, so not really up my alley. That reamer it’s a cool idea, though. Curious how it’ll hold up sitting in a box, or when guys accidentally pull the trigger while it’s sitting on stuff. Still hoping the dual trigger design didn’t become mandatory.
rob
Is it just me or are “compact” bandsaws getting larger?
I checked out the Makita, but my Bosch feels like it takes up half the real estate. The similar Menards model is even more petite. The 12v Milwaukee is about the same size and weight. Sidenote: they all look like they’re out of the same plant.
Robert
I wish they had a mount that can easily attach to a stand like the European version of the Bosch GCB 120: https://youtu.be/k3aN6WPsb20
I know there are 3rd-party clamping stands, but I’d prefer a screwed in mount.
My Makita belt sander has screws to convert to table top use.
John
Hitachi has had an 18V 3-1/4″ cordless bandsaw for several years, now continued under the Metabo-HPT name. So how exactly can Milwaukee claim their new saw has “the largest cutting capacity in its class”???
I own 2 of the Hitachi/M-HPT cordless bandsaws, they’re OK, could be improved with a stronger motor and less flex of the frame.
Chris
It’s marketing at it’s finest. You could literally claim any difference is enough to qualify it as it’s own class (brushed vs brushless, one handed vs two, green vs red, metric blades vs standard, etc.).
The list can be infinitely variable.
Same thing with batteries (Dewalt being the most powerful in the 20V* class). -_-
ToolGuyDan
No need for fancy footwork with “class”. This saw is also 3.25″. Thus, their statement holds true; if two players on a basketball team had the same shoe size, either of them could say they “have the largest shoe size on the team”.
Bob
Midsized saw for the guy that does’t want to hold onto the heavy full size Port-a-band all day. Reamer is a nice touch. Wonder if it retrofits to larger/smaller/different brand saws? Negatives I can think of: it’s not really one-handed anymore (have to try it to know for sure) and yet another blade length to buy.
Also WOW I really like that Euro Bosch stand!! Only thing better is if that stand worked in the upright position (think orientation of swag off road stand) as well as in the “chop saw” position.
Also I would like to see the stands have integrated on off buttons built into the stand. Or at least easy to use like the Bosch. With the Milwaukee and most others I would have to clamp or some how hold the trigger down. Not easy to shut off if the blade binds or some other emergency.
I think most guys would pony up $100 to $200 for a stand with the afore mentioned features. People already do for the swag ones. Atleast for the full size saws this looks like easy money. Though I bet stands for the compact and subcompact would sell well too.
Daniel Lindley
Swing and a miss for me. I wanna see a m12 fuel sub-compact. I like the brushed model, but I’d love to see something with a bit mor3 oomph.
Josh
I own both this saw and the 12v subcompact. I love them both but agree the 12v could greatly benefit from a fuel upgrade. Hopefully this is in the works with the upcoming new product announcements planned soon.
Robert
Safety on a handheld bandsaw seems kind of straightforward.
Don’t pull the trigger and put your hand under it.
It’s not like the blade spins at 1000s of rpms. I’ve never seen anyone seriously injured by a bandsaw, just grinders, circular saws, table saws, chops saws, basically anything that spins faster than Roger rabbit on uppers.
Robert
The nice thing about “upgraded” versions, is that the perfectly functional 1st. iterations become cheaper.
Can you Zip tie/tape the second switch? I know some machines have a “won’t turn back on til button is released and pressed again” function.
Rick
why so many brands launched new band saws in 2020？