I love band saws. There's no getting around it – ever since I first played with one in shop class and had the satisfaction of being able to cut intricate shapes, the band saw has had a special place in my woodworking heart. For ripping, cross-cutting, or creating curves, the band saw is one of the most used and versatile tools on the market. While many of the top bandsaws are expensive, there are many alternatives to these, and some are quite good. In this segment of tool reviews, we'll take a look at band saws. This guide should give you a good idea about what's on the market for band saws and what to look for when buying one.

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Band Saws Introduction

Band saws can be used to cut both metal and wood, and come in standing or stationary versions and portable, but for this article we'll stick with the typical woodworking saw typical to the average shop – the stationary band saw.

Band saws get their name from the single loop or band of metal with teeth that operate inside the tool. The band then runs on two wheels, which move it in a circular motion. Unlike scroll saws (another fine woodworking tool which reciprocates), the band saw only moves one way. The amount of radius one is able to put on a cut depends on the width of the band, which vary in size (anywhere from 3/16” to 1 1/4” and larger). Remember that the width of the blade also affects the type of cut you're going to make. For example, a very wide blade with a smaller amount of teeth per inch (tpi) is excellent for lots of quick rough cuts, especially for ripping. When doing fine work including curves, a thinner blade with a larger amount of tpi is absolutely required.

What You Need to Keep in Mind When Buying a Band Saw

First and foremost, examine your needs. Going to be doing a lot of ripping of heavy stock? How bout ease of movement? Lots of fine woodworking? How about the size of wood you're going to be working with? Luckily, many of the band saws we'll show today can handle all of these questions.

Once you've looked at your requirements, look at the amount of space between the blade and frame (the throat area). The space there is going to be the determining factor on the size of stock you'll be able to cut.

Next, make sure the saw can take a number of different sizes of blade. You'll want to be able to switch the blade out depending on the type of cut you're making.

Finally, make sure the saw has a miter gauge and a rip fence. These will make your life a lot easier when cutting. If you plan on using the band saw for beveled cuts, make sure the saw has a tilting table.

Now that you have an idea what to look for, let's examine the two types of band saws on the market.

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Which Band Saw Is Right For Me?

There are two essential Band Saws on the market, floor models and bench-top models. If you guessed that the floor models are more expensive, you're right, but they're also far more accurate and reliable in the long run. Bench-top models can be used on a bench or you can make a bench out of wood for the saw. These generally are a little less accurate, but cheaper overall.

One of the largest models is the Powermatic 1791260 2415-3 24" Band Saw on the left. This 24” band saw has a fan cooled motor to keep out dust and ensure a longer life for the saw itself. The table tilts 45 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left for beveled cuts. For safety, the Powermatic features a foot brake for rapid stops. The entire thing is made of solid steel and cast iron to provide stability and durability. The blade housing will hold anything from 1/4” to 1-1/2”. You'll need a space to hold it 34-3/8” x 39”, which is not small, but the Powermatic is sure to live up to the cutting power needed for any cutting of wood or similar thin materials.

A wee bit smaller is the Delta 28-475X X5 14" Band Saw with Closed Stand on the right.This is one of the most popular band saws on the market and features a 1-1/2 HP motor, a blade housing for anything from 1/4” to 3/4” max. This saw is made more for fine cuts on wood, but has a 13-3/4” throat, which means with the right blade it's just as powerful for rough cuts. It also has a miter gauge groove, but you'll have to supply your own., the Delta is a great saw for a small woodworking shop or garage. Nevertheless

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Band Saw Blades

As we mentioned in the beginning, the width and tpi (teeth per inch) of the blade will help determine which blade you need for your saw.

1. Make sure the blade is the right size for your saw.There's nothing worse than buying the wrong size and having to return it to the retailer.The Delta 28-475X we talked about in the last page has a 14” blade – this is the length of the blade if you were to stretch it out between your hands. Be careful when looking at the blade length - some manufacturers will put the total length of the blade instead of the diameter, but will put the diameter in parentheses.
2. Determine the width best used for your stock. Again, a narrow width allows more intricate cutting, while a thicker width generally allows for rough cutting, and are excellent for straight cuts.
3. Determine the tpi of your blade. The teeth per inch index is extremely important. One simple rule is to use a higher tpi for intricate cutting and a lower tpi for rough cutting.

Once you've determined your needs, look at the type of metal best suited for your stock.

Steel blades are cheap and great for cutting soft woods, but wear out more quickly. Bimetal blades are made for cutting thin metal or wood, and also wear out quickly. Carbide blades are excellent for wood cutting and tend to last longer than the other types, but are usually more expensive.

So that's it for band saws. If you're interested in comparing some different brands of saws, check out ToolKing.com's excellent selection. For blades, check out their band saw blades section.

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