Best Band Saws in 2022 – Complete Buyers Guide
Band saw is a versatile tool that can be used to cut wood, metal, glass, and even meat. It can realize cutting, sawing, cross-sectioning, shaping large pieces of wood, carving small pieces of wood; and even realizing curved cutting, such as making furniture’s bent feet.
The structure of the band saw is very simple. It has a motor and two wheels. A saw blade is wound around the wheel. The motor drives the wheel, and the wheel drives the saw blade to realize cutting. As long as the correct saw blade is installed, the band saw can do the job well.
This article reviews in detail the best band saws on the market today and tells some information about band saws to help you make a wise choice.
Table of Contents
Our top picks
Best Overall: WEN 3962
Best For Budget: WEN 3959
Upgrade To Choose: Grizzly Industrial G0555LX
Best Portable: DEWALT DWM120K
Best for Metal: WEN 3975T
Best for Glass: Gryphon C-40 Band Saw
What to consider when buying a band saw
Motor
The motor is the power source of the band saw, and the power of the motor is expressed in horsepower. If you generally cut thinner materials, a motor of about 1 horsepower can solve the problem. If you are doing heavy work, such as sawing a large piece of hardwood into planks, consider a motor with more than 2 horsepower.
Throat capacity
Throat capacity is an important parameter, referring to the distance between the blade and the frame column. This value is commonly used in the name of the band saw. A 10″ band saw indicates that there is a 10″ distance between the blade and the column. It indicates the widest size you can cut. The larger the throat capacity, the larger the workbench, and you will have more space to manipulate the material.
Resaw capacity
The resaw capacity is the distance from the table to the highest height of the blade guide assembly.
Bevel
You can adjust the workbench to an appropriate tilt angle for beveling. This parameter indicates the maximum tilt angle that the workbench can set.
Variable speed
For different materials or different thicknesses, the appropriate cutting speed can improve the cutting quality. For cutting wood, you can use a higher speed; for cutting metal, you will need a slower speed.
Blade
Teeth per inch (TPI) is an important parameter. Choose Tpi according to different materials and different thicknesses. Too few teeth may hinder work and cause teeth fracture. Too many teeth can cause gullet overload and strip teeth.
Band saws can accept blades of different widths. Wide blades make it easier to resaw hardwood. The narrow blade is suitable for engraving and curved cutting.
The blade guides ensure that the blade stays on track when working, preventing twisting or other actions that would damage the project when the blade is in contact with the material. There are two types of blade guides, bearing blade guides and ceramic blade guides.
Frame
Commonly used frame materials generally include cast iron and steel. Cast iron will not deform, and has good shock absorption and wear resistance. The heavy and thick cast iron frame can ensure the stable work of the band saw. The steel frame can be made lighter without sacrificing the strength of the band saw.
Fence
The fence provides support when cutting, and the fence with a simple adjustment mechanism is suitable for most jobs.
Best Band Saw Reviews
WEN 3962 is equipped with a 3.5 amp motor, with two speeds of 1520fpm and 2620fpm.
The maximum cutting width is 9-3/4 inches (throat capacity), and the maximum height is 6 inches (resaw capacity).
The spacious workbench measures 14 x 12-1/2 inches and can be tilted 45°. The included miter gauge helps you fix the angle of the miter.
It uses a 72-inch blade with a width from 1/8 to 1/2 inch.
Ball bearings make 10-inch wheels run smoothly and reliably.
The fence is stable and easy to adjust, providing stable support for cutting.
A 3-n-1 inch dust port allows you to use different sizes of dust collection hoses for the band saw.
Item size 20 x 25 x 58 inches (LxWxH).
In short, wen3962 has the most complete and outstanding performance among 10-inch band saws. It can meet many needs, and it is absolutely right for novices to choose it.
WEN 3959 is equipped with a 2.5 amp motor that can rotate the blade up to 2500 fpm.
The maximum cutting width is 9 inches (throat capacity), and the maximum height is 3-1/2 inches (resaw capacity).
The table size is 12-1/4 x 11-7/8 inches, it can be tilted 45°, and a miter gauge is included.
It uses 59-1/2 inch blades and the width is from 1/8 to 3/8 inches.
Includes a 2-1/2 inch dust port, a rip fence.
Item size 19 x 14.1 x 29 inches (LxWxH).
The compact form of the band saw makes it easy to use on almost any flat, sturdy surface. But it will not take up too much space in your workshop or garage.
wen3959 is very suitable for small projects.
Grizzly G0555LX is an industrial-grade product, and the material and structure design take into account stability and durability. It can withstand long and heavy work and still perform well.
The material of the frame and workbench is cast iron, which is durable, not easily deformed, and has good shock absorption.
Ball-bearing blade guides and Cast-Iron wheels with urethane tires minimize the frictional resistance, and ultimately reduce the wear of the equipment, and improve the precision of the operation.
This band saw is equipped with a 1 horsepower motor, which can work at 110V(11A) or 220V(5.5A).
It can provide two blade speeds of 1800fpm and 3100fpm.
The maximum cutting width is 13-1/2″(throat capacity), and the maximum height is 6″(resaw capacity).
The size of the worktable is 14″ x 14″ x 1-1/2″, which can be tilted 45° to the right and 10° to the left.
It uses 92-1/2″-93-1/2″ blades, and the width ranges from 1/8″ to 3/4″.
Includes 4″ dust port, extruded aluminum fence, and miter gauge.
Customer service is one of the advantages of the Grizzly brand. They can provide you with all the support and services at any time. They have a good reputation in this regard.
Industrial-grade design and luxurious configuration are the labels of this band saw.
If you need a portable band saw, DWM120K is the best of its kind, its design and quality are trustworthy.
Equipped with a powerful 10 amp motor, it can operate in a speed range of 100sfm to 350sfm.
It can handle up to 5 inches of cuts and can be used for circular or rectangular stocks, making it ideal for most on-site projects.
The built-in Serviceable steel shroud and rubber bumpers enable the guard to withstand the harsh environment of the job site without damage.
LED aiming light enables you to work normally in dark environments.
The Ergonomically designed grip allows you to cut accurately without too much fatigue.
In short, this is currently the best portable band saw.
If you need to cut a variety of metals, WEN 3975T is a perfect choice. It can easily cut brass, aluminum, copper, steel, etc.
Cutting pipes up to 5 inches in diameter or rectangular materials up to 5 x 4-7/8 inches in size. It can perform bevel cuts from 0 to 60 degrees.
It weighs about 55 pounds and measures 29.5 x 18.82 x 15.91 inches. The compact design is convenient for storage and transportation.
Gryphon C-40 is specially designed for cutting glass, stone, tiles, and ceramics.
This wet band saw has an onboard water tank that provides a recirculating water cooling system without the need for an external water supply.
Its excellent high-speed motor makes cutting fast and quiet. The diamond blade on the band saw ensures stable and reliable cutting.
Gryphon C-40 is easy to operate, even if you are an inexperienced novice, you can also perform precise glass cutting.
Gryphon has over 55 years of experience in the innovation of glass working equipment. This band saw is worthy of your trust.
BAND SAW FAQ
Q: Do I need a specific saw blade for different cuts?
A: For different kinds of materials and different thicknesses, you may need different blades. For example, special blades are required for metal and glass cutting, and low-TPI blades are required for resawing of large hardwoods.
Q: Why should I buy a band saw instead of a Jigsaw?
A: Band saws are very suitable for resawing large pieces of wood into usable size wood or veneers, but jigsaw cannot do this job.
Summary
This paper reviews 6 band saws in detail, each of which can meet different needs.
Hope this article is helpful to you. I would love to hear your thoughts, maybe you disagree with some content, or you think there are other band saws worthy of praise.
Anyway, leave your comments.