The Milwaukee 2429-20 M12 Sub-Compact Band Saw is a cordless portable band saw built for small-diameter metal cutting. This is a portable band saw designed for one-handed cutting of conduit, threaded rod, strut, and other light metal stock. Model 2429-20 is the bare tool version, so it is aimed at users already on the Milwaukee M12 platform who want a lighter, easier-to-handle saw for overhead and tight-access work.

What makes this saw matter is how much easier it is to manage than a larger deep-cut band saw when the job does not call for that extra capacity. Milwaukee rates it with a 1-5/8 in. x 1-5/8 in. cut capacity, which is right in the sweet spot for common electrical and maintenance cuts. The brushed motor is built to cut 3/4 in. EMT in about 3 seconds, and Milwaukee states it can deliver up to 150 cuts per charge with an M12 REDLITHIUM XC battery. That means less time dragging out a bigger tool when you are just trimming conduit or making repeated service cuts.

The overall design is where this tool earns its keep. At 7.9 in. long, 8.1 in. high, and 12 in. wide, it stays compact enough for crowded mechanical rooms, overhead work, and ladder use where bulk works against you. The inline layout helps keep the cut more controlled with one hand, while the dual-actuation trigger gives you more deliberate engagement. On a job where you are moving from cut to cut all day, that kind of control matters more than raw size.

Milwaukee also built in features that make real-world metal cutting cleaner and more predictable. The variable speed trigger lets you ease into the cut instead of slamming the blade into thin-wall material. The LED light helps keep the cut line visible in dim utility spaces, above-ceiling work, and unfinished interiors. Low vibration is another practical advantage here because it helps the saw track cleaner through smaller stock and reduces the chattery feel lighter saws can sometimes have.

From a safety and usability standpoint, the dual-latching lower guard is a major part of this saw's appeal. It covers the blade outside the active cutting area and is specifically called out by Milwaukee as meeting OSHA guarding requirements for this style of use. For contractors who need a one-handed cordless band saw that still addresses guarding concerns, that is not a throwaway feature. It directly affects where and how comfortably the tool can be used.

Platform fit is straightforward. This band saw runs on the Milwaukee M12 battery system and is compatible with M12 batteries and chargers. Milwaukee specifies this sub-compact saw should be used with 27 in. sub-compact portable band saw blades, including the included 18 TPI metal cutting blade and replacement blade 48-39-0572. If you are already invested in M12 for installation, service, or punch-list work, this tool drops into that setup without adding another battery line.

The best buyer for this Milwaukee 2429-20 M12 Sub-Compact Band Saw is an electrician, maintenance tech, HVAC installer, plumber, or general contractor who regularly cuts smaller metal material and values speed, portability, and one-handed control over maximum cut size. If you mostly cut larger pipe or heavy structural stock, step up to a larger band saw. If your day is full of EMT, threaded rod, and light metal trim cuts, this is the kind of tool that saves effort every single shift.

Small Band Saw, Big Time Saver

The Milwaukee 2429-20 M12 Sub-Compact Band Saw is the kind of specialty cordless saw that earns its spot fast if you cut conduit, rod, or light metal every week.

• Who it's for: Electricians, maintenance crews, HVAC techs, plumbers, and contractors who need a one-handed metal cutting tool for tight spaces and overhead work.
• Why it stands out: It keeps the cut capacity useful at 1-5/8 in. while staying far easier to handle than a full-size deep-cut band saw.
• Worth knowing: This is a bare tool and it is not meant to replace a larger band saw for heavy stock. It is at its best on smaller metal materials where speed and control matter more than maximum capacity.

• Is this a corded or cordless band saw? It is a cordless portable band saw that runs on the Milwaukee M12 battery platform.
• What materials is it designed to cut? This model is designed primarily for small-diameter metal cutting applications such as EMT, threaded rod, and similar jobsite materials.
• What is the cut capacity? The rated cut capacity is 1-5/8 in. x 1-5/8 in.
• What blade length does it use? It uses a 27 in. sub-compact portable band saw blade.