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Band Saws Buying Guide
One of the most versatile and useful tools in the workshop
is the bandsaw. Unlike power saws that use circular blades, bandsaws have a long,
thin metal blade that is wound tightly around two wheels, which are a fixed distance
apart. As the wheels turn, the band moves, cutting through wood or other materials.
Because the blade is held taut, it presents a long flat cutting surface. This allows
the blade to cut very precisely through thick pieces of wood, even logs.
Bandsaws also excel at cutting irregular shapes. Outfitted with a thin metal band,
it's easy to cut curves, even circles with a bandsaw. Angle cuts can made as easily
on a bandsaw as with any other tool, and bevel cuts can be done as long as the bandsaw
is equipped with a tilting table.
All bandsaws need maintenance. The saw blades need to be fitted and adjusted to
ensure a clean cut and safe operation. Depending on the type of blades you use,
and the work you do, it might be worth upgrading the guides that hold the blade
in place. Some are better than others.
Choosing the Right Bandsaw
When you are making a decision
about investing in a floor bandsaw, you want to take a few things into consideration.
Size matters. When you are comparing different floor bandsaws, check the depth of
cut and throat capacity. The depth of cut is the distance between the table and
the top wheel. This determines how thick your material can be as you cut through
it.
Throat capacity is the amount of room between the blade and the machine's frame.
The larger the throat capacity, the wider a piece of material can be. You want a
large throat on your bandsaw if you are going to be cutting circle or curves, as
you will need to move the material around.
Compare the Horse Power delivered by your motor. The more horse power available,
the easier it is to cut through wood and the easier it is on your blades. Not all
bandsaws will accommodate all thicknesses of blade. Make sure that your bandsaw
is capable of holding the blades you want for your work.
A saw table that tilts will help in beveled angles in vertically oriented bandsaws.
Not all tables tilt and not all tables tilt to the same degree. Compare tilting
angles between different makes and manufacturers to make sure you are getting what
you need.
Types of Bandsaws
Floor Bandsaws
Floor bandsaws are large industrial machines, which can handle continuous use, and
large or thick pieces of material. Because of their weight and construction, they
are very stable, cutting down on vibration. A cutting table is standard on a floor
bandsaw, which gives a steady surface to brace the wood against, which definitely
helps in delicate or intricate work.
The disadvantages of floor bandsaws are that they are hard to move, large, and expensive.
Some are equipped with castors, allowing them to be moved into a corner while not
in use. Still, if you are limited in space, you might want to consider purchasing
a portable band-saw instead.
Some floor bandsaws are constructed of welded steel and some are made from cast
iron. The welded steel bandsaws seem to absorb more of the vibrations.
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Benchtop Bandsaws
These are smaller versions of the floor bandsaw. They are quite handy for a small
workshop and, while not as capable of handling the largest, thickest pieces, certainly
versatile enough for most home projects.
Like the floor bandsaws, you want to compare the depth (distance between the two
wheels) and throat capacity (distance from blade to frame) on a benchtop bandsaw.
You should also compare the maximum horse power in the motor.
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Portable
Bandsaws
These bandsaws are oriented with the blades running horizontally around the wheels,
rather than vertically, as the floor bandsaws do. But they can also be used in a
vertical position, if needed.
Their obvious advantage is the portability and maneuverability of the bandsaw. The
disadvantage is the difficulty of stabilizing the bandsaw and the material being
cut. Some manufacturers sell stands or tables to hold the bandsaw in place and to
provide a stable surface for the wood.
There are some cordless portable bandsaws available. You may want to consider that
option if you need to use the tool on jobs without any convenient outlets.
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Metal-Cutting Bandsaws
If you are intending to use a bandsaw to cut metal, it's worth getting one specifically
for that purpose. A metal-cutting bandsaw will come with a special cooling and lubricating
system to protect the blade.
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Add-Ons and Accessories
Riser Block
A riser block can be added to most floor bandsaws, raising the top wheel and increasing
the thickness capacity. This allows you to cut thicker stock.
Blade Guides
Blade guides can be purchased and changed with a bit of effort. They come in a variety
of styles, including block-style and euro-style. Check with the manufacturers to
make sure you use the best style for the type of blade you are using.
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Blades
You'll need to purchase different size blades for different tasks. Thin blades are
needed for pattern cutting, but can twist too much for efficient straight cuts.
Blades vary by their thickness and by the number of teeth per inch (tpi).
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Rip Fence
Rip Fences are handy when you want to make a long straight cut in your material.
They sometimes come with the bandsaw, but if not, they are easy to find and attach.
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Miter Gauge
While a rip fence is good for 90° angle cuts, a miter gauge is needed for angled
cuts. You'll want to make sure it fits into the groove of the bandsaw table, and
that the angles on the gauge are clearly marked.
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Portable Bandsaw Stand
If you are going to purchase a portable bandsaw, it's worth investing in a stand
to go along with it. As these stands are lighter than a floor bandsaw base, you
still won't get the same stability. But you will still get very good results.
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Bandsaw table
A bandsaw table is basically a fancier stand. It will be designed to hold specific
portable bandsaws, so you will need to check that any table you choose can accommodate
the model of bandsaw you have.
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Lamp Attachment
You can never have too much light when you are working. A lamp attachment comes
with an adjustable neck, give you the power to shine light wherever you need it
most.
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Price Range
Under $250
There is a small variety of basic benchtop, portable, and metal-cutting bandsaws
available in this price range. You may even be able to find a cordless portable
bandsaw.
$250-500
In this price range, you'll have a lot more choices available in benchtop and portable
bandsaws. You can also find bandsaw plus table or stand combinations. If you are
lucky, you may even find one or two low-end floor bandsaws.
$500-1,000
If you have more than $500 in your budget for a bandsaw, you'll have plenty to choose
from, whether you are looking for a basic floor bandsaw, or a high-end portable.
You can find floor bandsaws with up to 14" throat capacity.
$1,000 and up
If you want the largest bandsaws, with an 18" throat capacity, you'll need to start
looking in the $1,000 and up price range. These are industrial machines, and up
to the workload in the busiest workshops.
Top Manufacturers
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