Has anyone out there had experience of using a Makita, or other make, hand-held bandsaw? I'd like to know at what speed they would cut 3 inch thick hardwood or similar.

What are you actually cutting. A hand help band saw is mainly used to cut steel pipe of good size.

If this is to cut 3" of wood anything, I use and electric chain saw for the simple reason a band saw is VERY hard to keep a straight line after getting into the cut.

So was curious as what the 3" hardwood floors. On some of our demo re haps we just use a small chain saw if saw exhaust isn't an issue at the site conditions.

And you do mean band saw not saw zall reciprocating saw.

Signed 21 Boat

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Thanks, 21Boat.
I need to cut a curve in 3" thick hardwood. It's too heavy to use my pedestal bandsaw so I need to fix the 10 foot length to a bench ,and was hoping to use the hand-held bandsaw to cut the curve. I've got a heavy duty recip saw but the vibration shakes the place to bits, and is far too slow.

That's a tuff cut. I assume this is a loose piece but to big for the ped saw. How about getting it on blocks use a circ saw to straight slice cut close to the curve how ever many times you need to . At times I use a 4" right angle grinder with the sanding attachment and disc sand the rest down. There are some very aggressive grits for that, I use the disc Sang for prep weld on medal when I MIG weld. It goes quick with wood. You could belt sand the finish radius for a smooth curved flat.

Signed 21 Boat

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If thgis is all you are doing I rent one from Home Depot or a rental shop. It should do the job but you will be sanding and planinh to get it squared up and perfectly curved.