If you want to keep up nowadays, you must not standstill. Change drives mankind forward, and this also applies to craftsmen. Band saws simplify their lives.
With band saws and their efficient saw blades, it is possible to cut wood or metal in a very short time. Depending on the case, either wood band saws or metal band saws should be used.
With our large band saw the test, we want to help you find the best band saw for you. This should make your purchase decision as easy as possible.
How to choose a bench top band saw on features
A band saw is a machine that can be used primarily to saw wood or metal. The tool that is used by the machine for sawing is the band saw blade.
The band saw blade is made of steel. This means that the blades must not exceed certain dimensions, i.e. length and width. To use the band saw, a narrow band saw blade is clamped over a roller, which is driven by a motor. The teeth of the saw blades are usually made of hardened steel.
Band saws are designed either as a station, so have a fixed location, or as an electric hand band saw, which brings mobility. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages in use.
What can a band saw?
The band saw is ideal for processing wood or metal. Parts can be sawed into desired sizes and used for the construction of various projects. For example, a treehouse can be built in no time with the help of the band saw. But also the production of smaller gifts, such as figurines, holders, or vases are possible with the band saw.
With the band saw you can perform both straight and curved cuts. The prerequisite for this is the use of a suitable saw band.
What also distinguishes band saws is their precision. This makes it easy to determine the width and length of the cut wood. For this reason, they are also ideally suited for both do-it-yourselfers and craftsmen. The rapid progress of work, which is guaranteed thanks to the use of a band saw, also saves the user valuable time.
What to consider before buying a band saw?
First, you should consider what you want to process with the band saw. If it is about wood, a wood band saw is suitable, if it is about metal, a metal band saw is suitable again. Furthermore, you should consider in advance whether you want to work stationary or mobile, whereby it should be added that the stationary processing of the material is more suitable for large cutting widths.
Another essential point that plays a role in the purchase of the appropriate band saw is the desired performance of the machine. Thus, for hobby craftsmen, a band saw with power up to 500 watts is recommended. However, if you want to work more professionally and are willing to spend more money on your projects, machines with more power come into question. These are powered by a three-phase current and take sawing to a new level.
Bench top band saws purchase criteria
In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the multitude of possible band saws.
The criteria you can use to compare band saws include:
- Weight
- Power
- Sawing speed
- Dimensions
In the coming paragraphs, we’ll explain to you what each criterion is all about.
The best bench top bandsaw
WEN Two-Speed Band Saw
4,9 Rating
WEN 10-Inch Two-Speed Band Saw is the perfect companion for any workshop. With a 3.5-amp motor and a 9-3/4 inch throat, this beast will attack boards with cuts up to six inches deep and 9-3/4 inches wide. Two-speed operation allows for speeds of either 1520 or 2620 FPM. The design of this saw uses 72-inch blades anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 inches in size for a variety of both intricate and powerful cuts. The spacious work table measures 14 x 12-1/2 inches in size and can be swiveled up to 45 degrees.
How to Install and Tension a WEN Bandsaw Blade -Video
How to choose a benchtop bandsaw?
Buyer’s guide for the bench top band saw
This review and guide provide information on some best bench top band saw you can find.
There are quite a few manufacturers of bench top band saw on the market, and the prices vary greatly. From a pure price point of view, the type of bench top band saw can be priced from $150 to $1500.
The best bench top band saw for the money
Related posts about hand tools and repairs:
- Best Metal Cutting Band Saws
- How to Choose Saw Blade
- Best Miter Saws
- Best Table Saws
- The best gas chainsaws for cutting trees & firewood
All our reviews are based exclusively on expert judgments or practical experience with most of the benchtop bandsaw we have tested. We strive to make our guide as independent and as detailed as possible.
Bench top band saws in comparison
SKIL Band Saw with Light
Band saw for novice woodworkers
For cutting irregular shapes and ripping lumber into thinner pieces, novice woodworkers will find the new 3386 SKIL 9-inch Band Saw with Light is essential for their workshop. You’ll cut through a variety of wood materials with the 6-TPI blade. Make quick angle and height changes with the rack and pinion adjustable table.
POWERTEC Benchtop Bandsaw
- Motor Type: Induction 1/2 HP.
- Amperage: 2.5 amps, 1725 RPM.
- Throat Capacity: 9-Inch Max.
4,9 Rating
Must have for any DIY woodworker or professional workshop.
This bench top band saw miter gauge combo was designed to be an essential woodworking tool for delivering precision cuts, cutting irregular shapes up to 3-5/8 inches deep & 9 inches wide, and/ or ripping lumber into thinner pieces. High Precision Crosscuts and Angled Cutting This band saw comes equipped with a miter gauge for miter cutting accuracy, angle stops, and incremental control.
Grizzly Industrial Bandsaw with Laser Guide
- Motor: 1/3 HP.
- Max cutting width: 9 in, Max cutting height: 3-5/8.
- Blade size: 62 in.
4,8 Rating
The quality design and construction
The Grizzly G0803 was awarded as Top Value by Wood Magazine for its combination of features including an efficient 1/3 HP motor, heavy-duty feel, and portability has been upgraded with a new laser guidance system and adjustable blower to provide superior cutting visibility. Blade tension and tracking adjustments are simple as turning the respective blade adjustment knob.
JET Bandsaw Kit
- Motor: 1/3 HP.
- Built-in 12″ resaw capacity for cutting larger pieces of wood.
- Band Saw Size/Wheel Diameter (In.)14.
4,8 Rating
Designed to meet the needs of today’s most demanding woodworkers
This 14″ bandsaw comes with a massive cast iron frame for increased power that makes it ready to meet all resaw expectations head-on. Couple this incredible feature with a new high tension spring design and many more amazing features, and you have a bandsaw that will last for years to come.
What to look for when choosing a band saw
- Weight
Good sawing quality is the first priority for band saws. When it comes to stationary band saws, the weight is not insignificant for them. After all, the heavier the sawing machine, the more firmly it is anchored to the ground and the more it defies disturbing vibrations. This makes it easier to work quietly and make clean cuts. In the case of hand-held band saws, which are used primarily for their mobility, it is again advantageous to select lighter models so that handling them is not too difficult and work does not have to be interrupted due to loss of strength. Stationary band saws weigh between 50 and 200 kilograms. Manual band saws are significantly lighter, weighing between 8 and 20 kilograms.
- Power
It is important to know what you want to cut with your band saw in the first place. Depending on this, different sawing machines come into question.
For example, if you only want to process wood, then, as already explained above, wood band saws are best suited, which have less power than metal band saws. However, if you are dealing with harder materials than wood, textile, or leather, a metal band saw with high power is needed.
Good band saws that can serve their purpose for wood are recommended with a power of 85 watts. For metal band saws, anything from power around 500 watts is good, and for professionals, band saws from 750 watts are excellent and highly recommended.
- Saw speed
Not every saw speed is suitable for every material. Consequently, there is no optimal universal saw speed – this must be individually adapted to the material to be cut in each case. For this reason, high-quality band saws have multi-stage switches that can be used to set the desired sawing speed. This ensures more precise cuts and also protects the saw blades, which can extend their service life immensely. Saw speeds can vary greatly. For example, there are band saws with a sawing speed of 330 m/min, but also some with over 880 m/min. It should also be mentioned that a high maximum sawing speed speaks in favor of the band saw. The higher the speed, the harder the material that can be cut.
A band saw should not be used near children.
- Dimensions
The dimensions of a band saw play a central role. If one decides to purchase a stationary band saw, it must be ensured that there is enough space for the sawing machine in the working area. Thus, it is of enormous importance to measure the work area and then compare the size of the saw table and the clearance height of the band saw with the available space when buying a band saw. If you have enough space for a large sawing machine, a large saw table is recommended, especially for large materials, because it serves as a shelf.
Bench top band saws Price:
Under $200
- SKIL Band Saw with Light
- POWERTEC Benchtop Bandsaw
Under $400
- WEN Two-Speed Band Saw
- Grizzly Industrial Bandsaw with Laser Guide
Under $1500
- JET Bandsaw Kit
FAQs- Bench top band saw
✅ What size bandsaw should I buy?
For the small shop furniture maker, go with 14 ″ as the minimum for a bandsaw, though 16 ″ is better. Those doing larger work might even want 18 ″ or 20 ″ machines. Just make sure you have a minimum resaw height of 12 ″ for versatility.
✅ Is a band saw safer than a table saw?
Since the blade is so narrow and it cuts downward, it has the advantage of essentially keeping the workpiece solidly on the table as you make the cut. This makes the bandsaw inherently safer than a table saw for most cuts. Making a rip cut on the band saw is a breeze, with the right blade.
✅ Can a band saw replace a table saw?
While there might be a little bit of overlap in their basic functions neither tool can completely replace the other. There are simply things a bandsaw can do that a table saw can’t and things a table saw can do that a bandsaw simply cannot replicate.
