If you are someone who is doing anything with woodworking, a band saw is probably something that you will require to have. You may be a professional craftsman or an amateur in your home garage, having a band saw is quite necessary as it is considered to be the best power tool to cut woods into irregular shapes. Also a band saw is used to re-sawing scroll works. Here in this page we will offer some band saw reviews for you. You will find in many places, here we also have mentioned that, a band saw is not the primary tool for a carpenter.
The table saw is for the primary jobs, but when it’s time to perform some unusual cuts or irregular shapes, a band saw is the best tool that will help. So if you are looking for the best band saw to purchase, we assume that you may have learnt facts about cutting and handling woods. Here our band saw reviews and the buying guides will help you to find the best band saw available in the market for your work shop or garage.
The 9 Best Band Saw Reviews
We always share with our readers that in modern world almost every product is user specific. That is the reason why we say that there is no single best band saw in the market. A typical best band saw with premium parts and fancy features, and of course of big price is not necessarily the right band saw for your use. You have to find the best value for the money. If you don’t ever need those fancy features, why should you pay for them?
This is not wise to spend money for those features you will not need. So while choosing the best band saw for you, try to read the features carefully. In our band saw reviews, we have mentioned that information very clearly and you will find that we mentioned who recommended few products for different purposes. So let not fancy features or expensive price make you a fool. Let’s have a look.
Grizzly G0513ANV | 2 HP 17-Inch Band saw (Anniversary Edition)
Highlighted Features:
- Deluxe extruded aluminum fence
- Comes with miter gauge
- Quick change blade release
- Blade tension indicator
- Two 4 inches dust port
- Micro adjusting geared table
This Grizzly G0513ANV is a very popular model of band saw. In almost all the band saw reviews, you will find it on the top of the list. Grizzly is a popular name when it comes to band saw. This is a great band saw of grizzly’s product lineup. But the specialty of this bad saw is, it’s the 30th anniversary model. Exact same band saw with some paintjob on it, makes it an outstanding band saw.
The solid sheet metal frame with top and bottom cabinets is designed to get the easy access to the wheels. 17 inches cast aluminum wheels are there on either end. This model is popular for its special safety features. The performance of this amazing band saw is far better than the band saws of same price range. The powerful 2HP motors provide enough power of re-sawing through woods of even 12inch thickness, probably the hardest ones. It comes with dual 4 inches dust port to make sure that the working place is clean. The thrust bearings are sealed and permanently lubricated; this makes sure that the machine will require less maintenance.
Talking about drawbacks, we actually did not find any single minor flaw with this amazing band saw. Each of the customers that we found is pretty happy with the service. One thing all of them agree that this is the best performing band saw for the price they are paying. Such great value for price has assured its place in all the best band saw reviews.
JET JWBS-14DXPRO | 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Band Saw Kit
Highlighted Features:
- Built-in 12 inch re-sawing capacity for cutting larger pieces of wood
- Upper and lower cast iron frame for enhanced strength and rigidity
- Easy to view blade tracking window
- 2-speed poly-v belt drive system
- Blade guide post with rack and pinion adjustment
This vertical band saw is another popular model we believe worth mentioning here in our band saw reviews. A 1.25HP electric motor supplies the power to rotate the wheel with a v0belt drive. According to your need, the blade speed can be switched between 1500/3000 feet per minute. The wheels are made of cast iron and 14” in diameter. This cast iron wheels are heavier than the bigger wheels made of aluminum. You will know that this extra weight assures smoother motion. This additional momentum can make up even if the motor is slightly under-powered.
This band saw comes up with a cast iron table, 15”×15”. Under the table it has a single 4” dust port. The machine is pretty small in size, but since the frame is made of cast iron, the weight is pretty heavy. It will not be very easy to move around in a workshop, you can better add some rolling wheels under it, so that you can move around easily. For the blade the minimum blade width is 1/8” and the maximum width is ¾”.
With some pretty great features this is one of the best band saws in the market. But we found some minor issues that customer has complained about. One of them is the weight. We have mentioned the possible solution above, so it’s no more a deal breaker. Another problem is this band saw does not include a fence or a miter gauge. Other that this, the performance is pretty impressive and the combination of great design and solid performances has assured it’s place in almost all best band saw reviews.
SKIL 3386-01 | 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Band Saw
Highlighted Features:
- Bench-top band saw with 2.5 Amp 1-speed motor
- Features rip fence for straight and accurate cuts
- LED work light for better vision on work piece and cutting line
- 1 ½ inch dust port
- Rack and pinion table adjustment for quick height and angle adjustment
If you are looking for an attractive package of good features and solid construction, at an affordable price, Skill 3386-01 is the best band saw for you. When budget is strictly limited, this is really a smart purchase .In our band saw reviews, this one is the least expensive model of band saw. This 9” band saw is a bench-top model and lightweight.
The construction is good and when it’s in hand, it feels solid. The controls for the adjustments are pretty easy to operate. It comes with a rid fence for easier accuracy. It also has a T-shaped miter gauge. As the price is very affordable, there had to be some compromise. But this did not make Skill 3386-01 a poor built band saw. This one has been a very popular one in the market for a long time.
WEN 3962 | 10-inch Band Saw
Highlighted Features:
- 3.5 amp motor can create up to 6” deep and 9 3/4” wide cuts
- Uses 72” blades of minimum width of 1/8” to maximum width of ½ “
- Spacious table can be beveled up to 45°
- Operates at two different speeds of 1520 FPM or 2620 FPM
- Comes with 3-in-1 dust port, a fence, a miter gauge
Another stand mounted vertical band saw, like the previous Jet one, is very popular as an affordable band saw. This great band saw is just perfect for basic woodworking. This solid built band saw stands on legs and allows you to use it either as bench-top or as free-standing band saw.
It comes with a 3.5 amp electric motor and that can spin the wheels in two different speeds, as required. The maximum cutting height is 6” since it does not have a riser. But if you need it, you can simply install it by yourself. The ad-on will cost you 60/70 more bucks, but event that in total will be affordable, comparing with the other band saws of almost same features.
The European style roller guide and the sealed thrust bearing are handy features. The bearing is self-lubricating that requires less maintenance and assures extra lifetime. The built-in work table is pretty small in size. It has 3-in-1 extractor hose that will allow fitting hoses of three different sizes. This is a feature that you will not find in any band saw at this price range. There are few minor design flaws. The location of the lighting is not perfect. While changing speeds, the motor needs to be loosened so that the drive belt can be moved to different location. Other than these minor flaws, this is one of the great purchases for those who are strict on budget. Our band saw reviews list has chosen this for the best budget band saw in the market.
Rikon 10-305 | 10-Inch Band Saw
Highlighted Features:
- 1/3 HP motor provides ample power
- Solid steel design, stronger than plastic frames
- Large spacious cast iron table with solid work surface
- Easily removed and good quality rip fence is included
- Micro adjustable guide post- Raise and lower the guide post with the turn of a handle
- Balanced cast wheels
- Comes with 2.5” dust port
This is another great band saw that you will find in a very affordable price. At this affordable price you are going to get solid performance. This vertical stand-mounted band saw comes with a 1/3 HP motor. The re-sawing capacity of this vertical band saw is 4- 5/8”. This seems pretty low, but you can install a riser if you need to expand it. The frame and the cutting table are made of cast iron. The maximum cutting-width is 9- 5/8”. For a smoother operation, the cast iron wheels are coated with polyurethane tracks. You can accommodate blades of minimum 1/8” and maximum ½”.
Talking about drawbacks, this band saw does not come with a miter gauge. It includes a little rip fence on the table. This fence comes with an integral inch scale for easier guide and better measurement. The dust port is featured on the back and the size is 2.5”. This is very light band saw for something that is made of cast iron. If you are a beginner, and looking for an affordable vertical band saw, Ricon 10-305 is really going to be a smart purchase.
Delta 28-400 | 1 HP 14-inch Band Saw
Highlighted Features:
- Heavy duty steel frame design reduces flexing
- Features a superior finish and Aluminum trunnion table support for long-lasting durability
- 1HP 115V/230V 1 phase TEFC motor with two different speed options, 1620 FPM and 3340 FPM for wood and non-ferrous metal cutting
- Two-speed pulley with easy tension system
- Oversized precision ground cast iron table with t-slot miter capability, can tilt 3° left to 45° Right
- Features 4” integral dust port and steel stand
Delta is well known for its solid construction and design. This one Delta 28-400 band saw has probably the strongest frame that we have ever found in a vertical band saw. The 14” stand mounted band saw is made of steel and the 9 spoke wheels on either end are made of cast aluminum. The wheels have rubber track that makes sure that Delta 28-400 is a profoundly quiet band saw. The cutting table is a perfect rock solid well-built one. It has aluminum trunnions below the table for enhanced stability and a longer lifespan
The ball bearing guides are there for solid tracking. Changing the guide setting is very easy. The 4 inch built-in dust port helps to keep the jobsite clean. It includes a standard T-slot to accept miter gauge. But there is no built-in fence. There on the back you will find an easy-to-access button to control the two speed drive system. There is also a tool-less belt adjustment system.
When we talk about drawbacks, there is nothing that will be a deal-breaker. This amazingly solid band saw can be a really smart purchase. But those we have discussed above in out band saw reviews, you will find something even better with greater value for the price! Grab one of them!
Grizzly G0555LX | 14-Inch Bandsaw
Highlighted Features:
- Amazing solid construction of Grizzly, Cast iron frame and precision-ground cast iron table
- Computer balanced cast iron wheels with rubber tires
- Upper and lower ball-bearing guides and thrust bearing
- Comes with a 4” dust port
- Includes extruded aluminum fence and miter gauge
- Rack and pinion guide post adjustment for upper blade guides
Grizzly is widely known for its great construction of band saw. In out band saw reviews we have covered two grizzly band saws. This one Grizzly G0555LX is updated version of popular Grizzly G0555. The solid construction and some handy features like computer balanced cast iron wheels, sturdy T-shaped fence design has made this one of the best band saws in almost all the band saw reviews.
A powerful 1HP motor is there to provide power for almost all types of operational needs. Two different blade speeds is there, 1800 FPM and 3100 FPM, for application of different materials. The table tilts up to 45° right and 10° left. This extremely popular band saw has few minor drawbacks. But they are not the deal breakers if you like the overall design and performance features. Talking about drawbacks, maximum cutting height 6” may need to increase with some extra installation for some cutting applications. Some customers have complained about the delivery process and the quality control. Other than those, this is a smart purchase.
Laguna Tools MBAND1412-175 | 14-inch Band Saw
Highlighted Features:
- Comes with a powerful 1 3/4 HP motor
- Features illuminated of/off direct start switch with safety key
- Steel frame construction with cast iron wheels
- Cast iron table with heavy duty cast iron trunnion
- Table tilts 45° right, 7° left with a positive stop of 90°
- Includes 4” dust port
Laguna tools MBAND1412-175 is a great 14” vertical band saw. The unconventional appearance of this band saw and the handy features make this band saw stands out of the list of all 14: band saw. The 1 ¾ HP motor works at a TEFC of 60Hz. This CSA certified tool comes with a direct on-off switch, embedded with a safety key.
The steel frame solid construction with unique pyramid spine has made Laguna tools MBAND1412-175 one of the best band saws of its category. Te cast iron wheels are there for the enhanced momentum if you really need for some tough project. They are ready to handle any operational need. If you are a professional woodworker or someone really prefers perfection over anything else, this one will be the best band saw for you. The price is pretty high compared with the other products of its class.
The table size is really generous. The oversized trunnion offers incredible stability. The table includes a precision fence. You can flip that vertically for re-sawing, also horizontally for standard ripping, according to your need. The magnetic blade-guard is adjustable with a worm-drive rack and pinion. Laguna’s signature ceramic blade guide system is featured inLaguna tools MBAND1412-175.
Talking about drawback, the price is a bit high. But the value is not less than what you should get. The solid construction, versatility, amazing performance, super handy features and the combination of all these will give you a great experience that is worth the price you are going to pay for this band saw. This is one of the most pricey band saws in our best band saw reviews. If budget is really a problem, you can go for the more affordable models.
Powermatic PWBS-14CS Deluxe (1791216K) | 14-Inch Bandsaw
Highlighted Features:
- 14 inch band saw with 1 ½ HP fully enclosed motor
- Solid steel and cast iron construction for enhanced durability
- Extra large cast iron table tilts 45° right and 10°left
- Features built-in air pump, built-in halogen lamp
- Durable and micro adjustable dual bearing blade guide system
- Precision balanced 9 poke cast iron wheels for reduced vibration
Powermatic 1791216K is one of the best band saw tools that you will ever find. This is a tool perfect for the professionals and the DIY enthusiasts. The price is higher, but you are going to great very good value for the price. A wide variety number of people have been using this for perfect and precise cuts. Powermatic 1791216K band saw comes with a cast iron frame with dual cabinet doors on the top and bottom for easy access to the wheels and blades. The 9 spoke cast iron wheels have nice rubber coating on the tracks.
A 1.5Hp electric motor is located in the bottom cabinet. To increase and decrease the tension precisely there you will find a usual tension adjustment knob on the top of the idler wheel cabinet. The design features might seem pretty much usual, similar to the most other models of its category. But there are few handy features and those are the reason for Powermatic 1791216 band saw to be outstanding. For spotlighting there is a 60W lamp. It features an air hose that blows the sawdust away. The design and the features are intended to offer the maximum precision cut for any types of operational requirement. The tension adjustment is very handy where you can use the quick release lever on the back to set the tension on any of the preset level.
Is there any drawback? Yes, but they are pretty minor and not going to break your deal. The assembling guide might seem a bit difficult. The price is higher than the regular models of a band saw. The wheels housing cover has made some clients unhappy with the poor quality. If you think you can overlook these issues, this high-end band saw in out band saw reviews, is going to be a smart purchase for you, a great investment for a long time.
How a Band Saw Works?
So, what is a band saw? According to many professional wood workers and experts, band saw is arguably the most underrated woodworking tool. You may have already noticed that even we did not mention band saw as the primary tool for a woodworker. The versatility and the precision are almost unmatched. So this is something you need to have if you are a perfectionist. Why? We will be talking about that in this section.
Both table-top and floor-mounted models are available for a band saw. As the name suggests, the band saw is basically a metallic band, wrapped around two or three pulleys. If you know chainsaw, the idea is kind of same. But in a chainsaw there you have a toothed chain, and in a band saw, there you have metal band with teeth. The band can be wide or narrow; also teeth density per inch varies. The width of the blade and the teeth density makes the difference. If you have fewer teeth per inch, the cuts will be rougher. And higher tooth density will give you finer cuts.
So, there are two pulleys, in general. We will find band saw with three pulleys as well. One of the pulleys is attached to a motor or some power. The other pulley spins of its own. This works as a tension adjustment wheel. The second pulley can be moved up and down to adjust the tension as it is attached to a sliding rail. If you increase the tension, the top pulley will be moved away from the bottom pulley. This tension secures the band on place and makes sure that it does not slip out during operation. Too much tension may break the band or even prevent the machine working properly. Too little tension will cause the band get jammed or slip out.
Uses of a Band Saw
A band saw is not a very popular woodworking tool in existence. Chances are there that you are not properly aware of the applications of a band saw. If the situation is so, you have been missing a really amazing world of opportunities that you would love to do. The most popular use of band saw is to curve and shape curvaceous wood stock. They can also be used for re-sawing and crosscut.
What is re-sawing? Say, for example, you take a flat plank of wood, and you need to cut it into two thinner planks of equivalent area. Now you have to saw the board along its width. This is called re-sawing. Sometime you will find that the set of board from a wooden mill might not have perfectly trim edges. The milling machine create a very coarse cut, with a band saw you can trim away the little slices. This will result in perfectly clean and almost polished finish.
How to Use a Band Saw | Woodworking
Think of doing this with a handsaw. If you are not an adept woodworker, you are going to have a tough time, trust me. To create a precision cut across the line is really tough unless you have experiences of many years. Even if you are an experienced carpenter, this is going to cost you several hours. But with a band saw, you can do it in one hour.
When you need to cut curves into the wooden plank, you will need a band saw. A band saw has extremely good performance in freehand cutting. As long as you know the basic principles of operation of a band saw, making table leg, photo frames, chair backrests is going to be very easy. But you should know the inner working principles very good, before you purchase a band saw. A band saw is an extremely simple tool, but some primary rules that you must know to get this tool really handy. Unless you know the components and the use of them, you will not be able to use it with maximum efficiency. We have mentioned that in details in the buying guide section. Also in the bad saw reviews section above, you will get some great tips.
Major Parts of a Band Saw
This is going to be very important for you to know the details to get the maximum result out of a band saw. Here in this section we will be discussing the major parts of a band saw.
—Frame
A frame of a band saw holds all the components together. This need to be really strong and solid. The plastics frames are lighter, but they should not be used when the pulley is bigger than 12 inches. If you choose a plastic frame, this is going to be cost effective. But they are less sturdy. If the pulleys are heavy and big, the plastic frame is going to develop dents and cracks over time. Cast iron frames are sturdiest. They will make sure that the frame is not wobbling during the operation. They are built solid and they have fewer weak points. You will find sheet-metal frames as well; make sure they have multi-layer sheet support.
—The Band/The Blade
The band on a band saw is called blade. You cannot have a band saw without a band, like you cannot have a chainsaw without a chain. The band is wrapped around the pulleys. This is a continuous loop of blade. There are different types of bands for different types of cuts. Some are designed to rip through hardwoods, some are for precision cuts. The wide blades can saw wooden logs. Those with steel teeth can cut soft metals. To cut through stainless steel, you will need carbide-impregnated teeth. Also the density of the teeth matters. There you will find very low density teeth like 1-2 per inch. Also there are 24 teeth per inch in some blades. Bigger, harder logs need fewer teeth density and smooth, precision cuts require larger teeth density. For more visit How to choose the right bandsaw blade.
—Blade wheels/pulleys
Normally there are 2 or three pulleys in a band saw. This number depends on the design or the type of the band saw. The portable and table-top band saw has three pulleys arrange in a triangular design. One of them attached to the motor, one is adjustable to control the tension. The third one is there to increase the cutting width.
Normally the table-top or portable band saws have smaller pulleys and shorter cutting height of around 6 inches. For this smaller cutting height, the two pulley design will be really troublesome and it would hamper the cutting width. There are different materials for pulleys. Alloy pulleys tend to be light and carry less rotational momentum. Cast iron pulleys should be great. A heavier pulley with more momentum can compensate under-powered motor. The teeth will not get jammed.
—Motor
This is a very important feature to consider while looking for a power tool, for example, the best band saws. If you are cutting hardwood on a regular basis, you will need a powerful motor, of 1HP or above. For casual home projects, 0.5Hp or 0.75Hp motor should work just fine. This is important to know that if the motor is weaker, to perform the operation it need to work harder. This will increase the heat and the friction and impact the longevity of the motor. Don’t force the wood if you see that the motor is struggling with that. The blade width and the tension should be adjusted to deal with different types of materials.
—Blade guides & Thrust bearings
There is a common issue for almost all types of saws. That is while ripping through hardwood, there is a chance of wobbling. That can deviate from the ideal cutting shape. For the solution, you need to have really solid blade. In a band saw, blade guide is installed to solve this problem. The entire assembly of a blade guide and trust bearing is called guide block. There are two guide blocks, above the table and beneath the table. The thrust bearings are made of metals.
—Table
The table is the surface on which the work is going to take place. There is a throat plate in the center, through which the band passes. Sometimes the table needs to be tilted, if you want to perform on a curved or cylindrical stock. Make sure that the table supporter is made of solid and strong metal. Stainless steel or cast iron is best for this. Avoid zinc alloy or pot metal. The default table provided by the manufacturer might be smaller than you need. You can customize the table by yourself.
Tips
After all the discussion, I feel like the whole essay has been stuffed with information. This small portion is a very precise summary that you will find very helpful. These tips will help you get the best products.
Number 1, the frame is important. As you have known already, the frame of the band saw is the support of the unit. You may ignore it if you don’t know it previously; the frame is one of the most important things to consider. A bad frame will never help you to achieve the expected result. You need to choose the frame carefully. Three types of materials are available, die-cast, welded steel, and cast iron. I stand for cast iron; they tend to be solid-built and heavy. This will give you a sturdy feeling.
Number 2, the right blade is very crucial. You need to choose the right blade for the right product. The band saw might not come with the type of blade you need to use in your type of projects. So make sure that there are easy options to replace the blade as necessary. Visit to get the best band saw blade buying guide.
Number 3, wheel weight matters. Like the frame, the internal wheel is made of cast iron and aluminum. Aluminum wheels tend to be lighter and feel not much sturdy. On the other hand, cast iron wheels are much heavier and therefore sturdier. I prefer heavier and sturdier wheels since they bring more inertia, which in result provides a consistent cutting experience.
Number 4, consider the less important features. For the best band saws, people tend to pay higher, so the basic features are almost the same. They are equally powerful for the same price; they have same materials, almost same solid construction. So what makes the difference? The answer is the small features. Like dust port, table quality, fence etc. You might not consider them carefully at first, but you should. Big dust ports are great for the efficient cutting job. This will help you keep your worksite clean. Table size does not really matter always, but having a good one is a bonus.
Number 5, consider the above all quality. Band saw is not something that you will replace soon. Usually, they are the big investment, so there is no alternative of getting the best value for the price. Do not spend extra money for some fancy features that you are not going to use at all. Rather focus on the important features that will be frequently used and help you to increase your efficiency as a craftsman.
Final Verdict
This has been very easy and less time-consuming as you can just find information by a click. Here we have done a long research, in details and then come up with this band saw reviews. We believe this band saw reviews can help you to choose the best band saw for your own requirement. Try to get the best value for the money. Do not spend extra bucks for some fancy feature that you are not going to need. But make sure that you are getting a quality product. Replacing with another one once you have purchased a power tool will be a complete wastage of money. Happy shopping!
