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You have been accessing plenty of the best band saw reviews but found nothing fit your criteria? There was no accurate information, no reliable evaluation that helps you choose the right unit.
As it’s hard to find an updated testimonial, you feel out of a limb, and things turn messy over your DIYs.
What is there to do now?
Well, you are here – while a lot of people end up investing in wrong products, you won’t be in that line if you read through our band saw reviews here.
With experience withdrawn from real-life undergo, we will make your band saw shopping much easier.
Band saws are tools used in cutting materials such as wood and metal that you can find in any wood workshop, metalworking, or lumbering. Besides, it can cut a variety of metals.
The equipment takes electric power to run a sharped and toothed blade harnessed between two or more wheels. This blade will cut your workpieces following the pattern of your pivoting on the work table. It can come in various sizes and shapes designed for a particular model.
Modern band saws are getting more versatile with more powerful engines in budget price tags. The most compact band saw nowadays is even portable to fit home use or small workshop.
Types of band saws
People sort band saws into two main categories and various sub-categories. Let’s see through the list and see which type matches your need.
By shape
Vertical band saws
It has blades aligned vertically allowing more intricate and flexible cuts. Vertical band saws can also add precision to the cutting patterns thus are more trustworthy than other types. Most of the vertical band saws have brush wheels to prevent chips stuck in the blade’s teeth.
Horizontal band saws
Cross-cutting band saws are more versatile for straight cuts on longer materials at a precise measurement. They also give more aggressive force on metal and plastic. However, it’s hard to make curves on this type. Thus they are not in favor of creating intricate shapes.
Handheld band saws
The equipment is the most compact and lightest to be the best band saws on the go. These band saws are also handy for cutting large stock that can’t load on regular machines. But to make up to the small footprint, it has to sacrifice power making the devices less powerful.
By need
Wood band saws
This is the most common type for many people when thinking about band saws. These band saws are capable of working with large-sized timber. While working with wood, the particular band saw type is able to produce succinct cuts leaving the pieces easy for the finishing process.
Metal band saws
The type feature distinctive blades to handle the stiffness of metal. Machines of this category run on slow speed and small-toothed blades while getting cool down and constantly lubricated to prevent heat from friction.
Meat band saws
This butcher’s premise is less familiar to the public but very handy for the men at work. The critical demand for this type is they are made of stainless steel to ensure cleanliness and easy maintenance. Meat band saws can cut through flesh, fats, and bones.
How To Choose The Best Band Saw?
It’s not picking one of the band saws in this list will make your band saw shopping complete. There are things to consider below.
Specifications
No one buys without reading information about the machine. You should at least know throat width, size of the wheels, and frame design. These will let you define the resaw capacity for small of large work as well as level of how heavy-duty the machine can handle.
Also, take a look at the HP number and blade compatibility; you will need to buy new blades and how much your machine can function on its engine.
Ease of use
It can be expensive to spend on a professional machine and throw away because you can’t operate all the hard features. Consider your level before entering the industry is a must as it’s literally difficult to assemble and put up with the pressure learning all the specs and figuring out how to use them in your novice time.
Base
This part seems to be not important, but many reported that they are stuck with their band saws absorbing vibration on a non-stable stand.
You have 4 options: floor, open, closed, and panel. If you want a solid ground, pick floor base, but it’s not a picnic job to move the machine around. Wheel-bases sound smart, but in fact, they all stand on thin legs that can sink any time soon though no one denies its movability.
It really depends on your preference. But make sure you have the right set up to move the band saw and work on it on a non-moving surface.
Table tilt
Many woodworkers don’t pay attention to this feature, but it gives you the power to make angled cuts on a band saw. All of the band saws we mentioned above have tables can bevel up to 45 degrees in multiple directions. The greater the tilt is, the smaller the depth. That means you have more freedom to cut without having to go backward.
Money
Shop smart and listen to your wallet. Don’t spend bucks for those that don’t work for you. Keep in mind that expensive doesn’t mean better and cheap doesn’t mean worse. Try to evaluate the value the machine will contribute to your projects.
Here we have compiled a list of the best band saws you can buy in 2024 as well as our verdict for each unit.
Best 9-inch Band Saw
1 – WEN 3959 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw
With this WEN 3959 band saw, we hesitated to take a look. But as we finally did, it left a pleasant surprise. It gave nice even cuts through some laminate wood in the first place.
Out of the box, you will get the machine armed with a beveled board on a generous work table, dust port, a 2.5 AMPS motor, miter gauge, and accessories. Blades can rotate at the speed of 2,500 feet per minute. It seems fairly rigid when standing on a flat floor for more of your demanding projects.
The unit fits blades of 59.5 inches anywhere from 1/8 to 3/8 inches in size. It works on a table that can tilt up to 45 degrees to the right allowing angled cuts.
On and on, we tried some complicated cuts to judge the adjustability of the table and miter gauge resulting in the machine cut like butter.
We think what is best about this band saw is its quality is beyond the price. It’s quite hard to find any machine at this price point to be super sensitive and versatile.
Right now, you can own the WEN band saw for an attractive price with 2 years of warranty.
Is there any downside?
The only complaint is about its unforgiving controls for novices. So, if you are a newcomer to the industry, WEN is probably a bit hard to set up. But once you get familiar with all the odds, you will love this machine.
Pros
Sold with a stand
Reasonable price
Powerful and accurate
Compact size
Cons
Hassle assembly for newbies
Difficult to set up
Hypersensitive controls
2 – SKIL 3386-01 2.5-Amp 9-Inch Band Saw
The best 9-inch band saws can’t exclude this SKIL model 3386.
It includes a rip fence for straight and precise cuts on the cast iron base. The lightweight band saw provides a handful of features supporting your exclusive work.
It’s said to be extremely friendly to users, even the inexperienced ones. The machine can cut irregular shapes on its adjustable table as well as ripping lumber into thinner pieces just fine.
The EZ View Blade Tracking allows you to align the blade accurately with ease and the LED light can tilt to where you want it to be.
You may be skeptical about the saw might go under power and not perform as you expect, but believe us; when we cut through ¾ inch white oak, 13/16 African mahogany 2 x 4, the saw was high on power.
This inexpensive band saw is not as aggressive as much as its 120V engine. With fewer horsepower, you’re good to go with small DIY creativity and fewer pressure projects.
One of the things people complain about this model was the entire saw look cheap and plastic-like. But that only applies to the front cover. All of the critical components such as the upper tensioners and bearing house are all in steel.
Another downside is that the machine may bog down if working on thick, hardwood. But for simple jobs and in beginners’ workshop, this band saw is an optimal pick.
Pros
Compact and lightweight
Easy to adjust
Inexpensive
Starter friendly
Cons
Low engine
Wobble even on the cast iron base
Best 10-inch Band Saw
3 – WEN 3962 Two-Speed Band Saw – I Highly Recommended
WEN 3962 again brings one ideal machine for the best 10-inch band saw in the market.
This bestseller band saw introduces a powerful motor lets you cut up to 6 inches deep 9-3/4 inches wide. You can bevel the table 45 degrees to perform complex cuts at zero hassle.
The machine is a two-speed saw of 1520 or 2620 FPM using 72-inch blades anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 inches in size let you cut with precision.
In this 10-inch band saw range, we don’t expect the unit to stand as firmly as its heavier and beefier counterparts. But in term of accuracy, you won’t be disappointed if it got set up correctly.
However, adjustment for the new blade will be a headache if you tend to go thinner than 3/8 inches. But to come out with it, this band saw is a brilliant performance-for-the-dollar machine you can rarely catch at under $500.
And still, WEN should have made the assembly less horrendous despite the instructive guide. But it’s hard to deny the ultimate results the product brings to countless workshops. Not to mention WEN has an incredible support team and long warranty every band saw owns.
After all, it’s a matter of days and hours for you to get the hang of this band saw. We are sure nothing there meant to cause you trouble.
Pros
Two-speed machine
Powerful engine
Precise cutting
Affordable price
Cons
Complicated setup
4 – Rikon 10-305 Band saw With Fence, 10-Inch
Not an avid woodworker refuses to compliment the many applications this band saw bears.
Rikon 10-305 features a large work surface of 13-3/4-Inch by 12-1/2-Inch to accommodate larger wood pieces. The manufacturer claims this model is a son version of the famous 10-345 and 10-325 that is ideally portable and easy storing. It has the body made of solid steel rigged with a 1/3 HP engine that amplifies power to cut bowls and pen planks.
Besides, the easy operation comes with tilting 0-45° table, large blade tension knob, rip fence, safety paddle on/off switch, and dust port for shop vacuum hookup.
Surprisingly, we tested cutting ferrous metals with the revolutions cut down to 250 per minute while continuously lubricating the cut; this machine worked like a charm. So, if you have work involves some pieces of aluminum, bronze, or copper, it won’t be a shy band saw.
Many also promote the rip fence that can adjust to do freehand work which is usually not available on saws at such price range.
On the flip side, inexperienced users will find a bit of a hassle adjusting the blade before they can get over the basics. Because this unit is on the heavy-duty side, we don’t recommend for entry level.
Pros
Perfect for moderate woodwork
Solid and functional for the value
Easy assembly
Small footprint
Cons
No miter included
Cheap blade wears out quickly
The Best 14-inch Band Saw
5 – Grizzly Industrial G0555, 14″
Glad that we found the Grizzly G0555 for our heavy workshop. It has a cast iron table to withstand a lot of pressure without warping.
Also, the unit is quite bulky at 195 pounds. To get the saw on the stand is not a one-person work, though. So, you don’t get to carry this band saw alone. But in makeup to that, it rolls on 4 wheels bolted up to the top.
Another plus point is it comes with a miter gauge. There is an area at the switch bar where you can bolt and install 6-inch riser block that will raise the unit up, giving you another 6-inch of resaw capacity.
We reckoned this machine performs quite as expected through the wood at two-speed settings. It is the computing wheels that give precision and easy control to the cut.
One of the key features that we loved is the quick release knob to loosen the tension off the blade in less than one second. So, when you’re ready to cut, swing the handle back over tensions on the blade and make the cut. When you’re done, click that over, and you’re all done.
We do feel somewhat pity for the 1 HP motor that marks this machine as low-end in the professional category.
By any mean, this machine is meant for industrial-type work thus is not suitable for hobbyists or occasional workers to crave its features.
Pros
Sturdy iron frame
Balanced cast iron wheels
Straightforward assembly
Serious for part-time woodworkers
Cons
Low horsepower
Poorly restrained trunnion
6 – JET JWBS-14DXPRO 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Band Saw Kit – I Highly Recommended
If you spare no expense for the hobby. JET JWBS-14DXPRO comes with a 1-1/4 horsepower 120V motor mounted on a lower saw enclosure making it easy to set up the belt tension. That mounting location is also ideal for changing between the blade speed of 1500/3000 SFPM. Better that, there is a small window for tracking of the blade, to see if you will need to make change without having to open the housing.
The blade runs on a pair of precision cast machined and balanced cast-iron spoked wheels that both turns on large sealed ball bearings fitted with high-quality polyurethane tires. While most machines only have bearings on the top, this JET saw accommodate bearings on the bottom too which is a nice addition. Except the built-in 6-inch riser kit, the rest of the compartments are self-installed.
There are 5 settings on the back if you release the tension to put on the new blade. This particular model has a 4-inch port in the back for the central dust collection system of industrial qualification.
As mentioned above, this JET best 14-inch band saw got two-speed cast wheels for easy adjustment with a switch.
On the overall, this is a worthwhile band saw machine. Sadly, it doesn’t come with any fence. But we heard some packages have the rip fence but no miter gauge. Hopefully, the manufacturer will correct this miss soon.
Pros
Simple tensioning and tracking
Great industrial-grade band saw for hobbyists
Fast speed for cutting metal
Rigid build
Cons
No added rip fence
Unrefined tuning
7 – Shop Fox W1706 14″ Band saw With Cast Iron Wheels
The Shop Fox W1706 band saw is a real stinker for both the avid and novice woodworker. It has many features only found on higher-end machines such as aluminum fence and rails, top and bottom ball bearings, miter gauge, and quick release.
We appreciate the 4” dust port that is quite high in capacity compare to other models. This thing is a heavy unit on a grand base, making it solid and stiff to conduct bulk works.
The highest plus point is cast iron wheels enable cutting twice as fast as half the saws in a resaw test of eight with minimal drop in saw speed. Surprisingly, it cuts curves and edge beyond expectation.
Like most band saws for the enthusiastic, this band saw has a beveled table of 45 degrees; but it can also tilt to the left at 10 degrees.
Besides, using this machine, you will feel the smooth of the rack-and-pinion adjustment making the post dropping upon release seamless.
Set up for this band saw is fairly easy as the cast iron wheels are already rigged following the guide.
However, the blade deflection is on the less bright side since it shows some amount in the test with which we claim that it’s quite an irritation; thus, we recommend having backup blades as the quick tension release has made up for that hassle replacement.
Pros
Convenient storage in the base
Solid miter fence
Hassle-free set-up
Cons
Less powerful HP
Cheap blades
8 – RIKON Power Tools 10-326 14″ Deluxe Bandsaw
We had the opportunity to put this model through some paces whether it be band saws, boxes, resaw, or even marking circle jigs for it.
First of all, the finish on the table top and the tool itself should have an A+ for the money. It stood the abuse we put and showed no gouges in the cast iron. So, it’s zero complaints here.
With the RIKON Power Tools 10-326, the blade size is 1-1/2 inch of ordinary. That said, you have all the right to purchase blades from your trustable manufacture.
On this particular saw, the wheels are cast iron that is pretty out of balance with next to no vibration whatsoever.
Additionally, the rack and pinion system is as smooth as glass. It locks down rock solid with no problem. RIKON also has put some thoughts into quick tensioning. It is swift and doesn’t feel like you’re going snap or break as pushing it to place.
One thing that minors score is the tension guide located in the upper cabinet. What’s terrible is the way this band saw gauges the blade tensioning is somehow incorrectly. But after all, we don’t expect this feature to be right on many machines.
Pros
Great for semi-pro workers
Well-built and designed
Clear assembly
Straightforward directions for adjustment
Cons
Need to buy a separate wheel kit
Best 17-inch Band Saw
9 – Grizzly G0513X2 Band saw with Cast Iron Trunnion
It’s not the first time Grizzly surprises us, but this time, the Grizzly G0513X2 is in the best 17-inch band saw.
We heard this machine is the first one in the extreme series of Grizzly. No doubt it has received plenty of careful improvements.
If you have a small shop or shop in the basement, this saw is capable of beyond features.
The machine starts up pretty powerful with the 2 HP engine, but the saw is surprisingly quiet. It will leave a very nice texture on the materials that help in the dressing process.
You will get this band saw sits snuggly and stands 17 inches tall that needs no base to lean on. It has the maximum cutting capacity of 12-1/8 foot height and a 16-1/4 foot throat that can apply to many woodworks. You can expect to achieve results with a ¾ inch blade.
Changing blade tension is quick on this machine with the support of the tensioner and tension indicator.
Although the adjustment of the lower blade guides is less than convenient in our opinion, it’s totally viable.
Pros
Perform well
Create smooth cuts
Run on a powerful motor
Cater space for large pieces
Cons
Less accurate on a smaller saw
Not a flat table
10 – Grizzly G0513ANV 2 HP Bandsaw
Ever part of this Grizzly G0513ANV special edition screams high quality.
The machine comes with a rip fence, miter gauge, and two throat blades.
Inside the cabinet, you can see the wheels are precision balanced cast aluminum and feature a saw tension indicator viewable through a small glass window. The trunnions allow the band saw to tilt left to 10 degrees and 45 units to the right.
If you are a big fan of dust collection, this band saw hardly shows you any dust makes it out of the machine or settles down on the floor except for the chips on the table.
You will also find a nice Euro-style blade guide propelled by a crank. It allows you to dial in your blade guides for specific measurements.
But it’s not at all a 100% guy. Funny how many complaints that Grizzly really needs a light. Although for us it’s not a big deal, for many it may intricate.
There you have the choices in hand, and it’s time to decide. Remember that you can always consult us by commenting below.
But let us give you our favorite pick
The JET JWBS-14DXPRO 14-Inch, with its massive capability, has pleased us all the way until today. As enthusiastic in the field, we reckoned the machine is friendly to users of any level. It is yet affordable although it will take some hours to figure the specs.
But all in all, it will make a long-term companion; even when you want to upgrade, the machine is worth a spot in your advanced corner.
Hope you like our choice too and look for more of our recommendations in future posts.
WEN 3959
SKIL 3386-01
WEN 3962
Rikon 10-305
Grizzly G0555
JET JWBS-14DXPRO
Shop Fox W1706
RIKON Power Tools 10-326
Grizzly G0513X2
Grizzly G0513ANV
With this WEN 3959 band saw, we hesitated to take a look. But as we finally did, it left a pleasant surprise. It gave nice even cuts through some laminate wood in the first place.
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