Band saws are one of those essential tools every woodworker needs to have in their arsenal. The best band saws for woodworking allow you to use your materials to their full potential.
Because of its size and cost, many see this tool as something that only professionals or large shops can use, but with a little shopping savvy and a few informative reviews, you can grab one today for a great price.
This guide comprises five of the best band saw reviews. We have compiled this list to help streamline your decision-making process.
Not only are we going to review some of the best products out there, but we will also provide you with a buyer’s guide that will help you to understand how band saws work and what to look out for when buying one.
Band saws are made with a looping saw that keeps moving at all times, giving you a straight and clean cut that no other tool can duplicate consistently. These top-rated band saws provide the capacity and quality that you need with the proven output you want.
The Best Band Saws Are:
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw with Fence, 10-Inch |  Top Pick |
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| 2. SKIL 9” Band Saw |  |
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| 3. WEN 3960 2.8-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw |  |
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| 4. Grizzly Industrial G0513ANV - 17” 2 HP Band Saw |  |
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| 5. JET JWBS-14DXPRO 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Band Saw Kit |  |
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1. Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw with Fence, 10-Inch — Best Bandsaw for the Money
This 10-inch band saw provides a solid steel design that gives you the strength needed to tackle the toughest woodworking project. The rip fence is a useful addition for the manufacturer, but we also like how easily you can take it off for some freehand work as well.
The cast iron table is remarkably stable and smooth, giving you one of the best working surfaces in this category. You have plenty of power with this band saw, and it allows you to lower or raise the post height with ease.
If you are looking for the best band saw that can handle light to moderate tasks, then this is one of the best options you have. This unit is compact and portable. One of the major selling points of this machine is its price. It is one of the best budget band saws you can find on the market.
While being inexpensive, this band saw still boasts of great performance. We also love this band saw because it is highly durable and it comes with a limited 5-year warranty.
The Rikon 10-305 comes with a 1/3 horsepower engine. While this is not the best power rating, you can still use this machine to handle a wide range of tasks. Impressively, this band saw comes with a blade that is 70.33 inches long. The minimum blade width is 1/8 inches while the maximum is 1/2 inches.
The table of this band saw can tilt 45 degrees to the right while the tilting to the left is 0 degrees. The blade can even handle a speed of up to 2,780 FPM, which is pretty impressive. The tracking adjustment of this unit is very easy to use and the size is also convenient. However, this machine is a bit weighty, as it weighs 76 pounds.
Specs
- Blade Length: 70.33 inches
- Power: 1/3 HP
- Blade Speed: 2,780 FPM
- Weight: 76 pounds
Pros
- Highly durable
- Easy to use
- A limited 5-year warranty
- Inexpensive
Cons
- It does not come with a stand
- Single-speed only
2. SKIL 9” Band Saw
This band saw offers a 2.5-amp motor to power a 9-inch band that provides an effective cutting surface. The rip fence that comes with this model gives you reliably accurate cuts.
We appreciated the 1.5-inch dust port that helps to keep your cutting surface clean. Working in combination with a rack-and-pinion table, adjustments are fast and clean when you need to make an angle cut.
We also appreciate the fact that this unit comes with an LED work light, which provides you with more clarity when working in lowlight conditions. This is a lightweight, small benchtop band saw, but it is powerful to meet your basic band saw needs. Regardless of its weight, this band saw comes with a sturdy cast-iron base that keeps the saw in place during use.
Many users also love this product because it comes with a large angle scale that is very easy to read while the controls are also very easy to understand. If you are just learning how to use a band saw, then this is one of the best tools to start with, as it is user-friendly, safe, and affordable.
The power rating is somewhat low, making it an ideal band saw for DIY projects or crafts. It is not powerful enough for heavy-duty projects.
The power rating is only 0.4 HP, which means you might not get the best result if you want to use this machine for hardwood or bigger projects. The length of this saw’s blade is 59.5 inches. The minimum blade width is 1/8-inch while the maximum blade width is 3/8-inch. The table tilts up to 45 degrees to the right and the overall weight of the machine is 30 pounds.
Specs
- Blade Length: 59.5 inches
- Power: 4 HP
- Blade Speed: 2,800 FPM
- Weight: 30 pounds
Pros
- Lightweight
- LED work light
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
3. WEN 3960 2.8-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw
Equipped with a 2.8-amp motor, this is one of the strongest band saws and it comes with one of the best prices in the industry today. Use it to create cuts that are up to 9 inches wide or 3 5/8 inches deep.
The worktable is a full 12×12 inch surface, comparable to models that are much more expensive, and you receive a bevel capacity of up to 45 degrees so you can make a precision cut.
It also includes a fence, a miter gauge, and a dust port to support the quick-release blade adjustments you can make. Grab it before it disappears or upgrades to the 10-inch or 14-inch model for even greater versatility.
WEN manufactures one of the affordable and cheap bandsaws. This brand makes some of the best band saws on the market today, and the WEN 3960 is not left out.
This machine uses blades that are 62 inches long. The width of the blade can be anywhere from 1/8 inches to 3/8 inches in size. The 2.8 amp motor of this unit rotates the blade up to 2,460 feet per minute (FPM). If you are looking for a highly versatile and powerful band saw, this is one of the best options to consider.
This unit also comes with ball bearings to give the blade smooth operation and boost its durability. It comes with a 2-year warranty also. This is also a lightweight option, as it weighs less than 40 pounds.
Specs
- Blade Length: 60 inches
- Power: 1/3 HP
- Blade Speed: 2,460 FPM
- Weight: 39.7 pounds
Pros
- Spacious worktable
- Highly durable and portable
- Powerful motor
- Additional accessories
Cons
- A single-speed control
4. Grizzly Industrial G0513ANV – 17” 2 HP Band Saw — Best Woodworking Bandsaw
The next band saw on our band saw reviews is the Grizzly Industrial G0513ANV. This band saw pleasantly surprised us with how versatile it happens to be. It is large at 17 inches, but this also means you can get a lot more done.
The 2 HP motor feels like it can power through almost anything. Take advantage of the deluxe extruded-aluminum fence to create consistently accurate cuts in all species of wood.
There is a blade tension indicator that accompanies the quick-change blade release, making sure that this tool will work for you whenever it is called upon for action. Install this with the best bandsaw blades and you have a powerful machine.
The Grizzly Industrial G0513ANV is one of the best options you have if you are looking for the best band saw for heavy-duty projects. This unit is designed to handle almost anything, thanks to its powerful motor.
It comes with a precision-ground cast-iron table that is wide enough for you to get more work done. The table can also tilt 45 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left, providing you with a highly versatile workspace. The maximum cutting height of this machine is 12.125 inches while the cutting capacity/throat is 14.25 inches left of the blade.
This band saw uses a blade that is 131.5 inches long with a blade width range of 1/8 inch to 1 inch. The 2 HP motor delivers a blade speed from 1,700 up to 3,500 FPM; this means you have more than one option when it comes to speed.
With this, you can choose a speed range that is best suited for the material you want to cut. The package of this band saw includes a miter gauge and dual 4-inch dust ports. As stated in the name, this is an industrial-sized band saw and it is very heavy. It is also very expensive, but it offers great value for money.
Specs
- Blade Length: 131.5 inches
- Power: 2 HP
- Blade Speed: 1,700 to 3,500 FPM
- Weight: 358 pounds
Pros
- A micro-adjustable geared table that tilts in both direction
- Height scale measurement on Guide Post
- Dual 4” dust ports
- Ideal for heavy-duty tasks
Cons
- It is expensive
- It is weighty
5. JET JWBS-14DXPRO 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Band Saw Kit
The JET JWBS-14DXPRO is one of the best band saws on the market. Why is this model one of the best band saws for woodworking? For starters, it features a two-speed Poly-V belt drive system that produces consistent results.
It offers a 12-inch resaw capacity to tackle larger working pieces. There is a cast iron upper and lower frame for greater rigidity, which causes less potential drift while working. The blade-tracking window allows you to proceed with an accurate cut time and time again.
It is a heavy-duty machine and you can use it to handle a wide range of projects. This band saw comes with an inbuilt retractable blade that can cut through a wide range of materials regardless of their sizes. It features a safety blade guard, and it comes with a generous cutting capacity.
The best band saws for woodworking will make quick work out of your cutting needs but still provide you with consistently high-quality results. Grab your preferred model today before it goes out of stock so you can get your next project finished.
This unit delivers great power and performance, as it is made of cast iron durable frames. The variable speed of this unit ranges from 1,500 FPM to 3,000 FPM. This helps to make your job fast and easy, as it allows you to select the perfect speed for the material you are working on.
It comes with a sturdy table that measures 15 by 15 inches, providing you with enough working space. The worktable can also tilt 45 degrees to the right and 10 degrees to the left. This unit also features a lower and upper ball bearing guiders.
These guides help to boost the overall performance of the blade while reducing friction. It also boosts the lifespan of the blade. The power rating of this unit is 1.25 HP and it weighs 258 pounds. It uses blades that are 105 inches long with the width ranging from 1/8 inches to 3/4 inches.
Specs
- Blade Length: 105 inches
- Power: 25 HP
- Blade Speed: 1,500 to 3,000 FPM
- Weight: 30 pounds
Pros
- Tough cast-iron frame
- A limited 5-year warranty
- Built-in storage space
- High tension spring designed for more control and power
- Powerful motor
Cons
- It is expensive
- It does not come with a rip fence, so you have to purchase it separately.
What Are The Advantages Of Owning A Band Saw?
When you own one of the best band saws for woodworking, you will be bringing these specific advantages into your shop.
- You have multiple blade options so that you can create several different types of cuts on different materials with this one tool. Most band saws can accommodate blades that go from 1 tooth per inch to 20 teeth per inch.
- You can cut thicker boards with a band saw. Many of the best models can accommodate working pieces that are 12 inches in depth.
- You gain the ability to create cleaner cuts on a curve. This allows you to create decorative scroll cuts for various woodworking projects with relative ease once you get the skill down.
- Using fences makes it simple work to make repetitive cuts with this tool.
- Band saws tend to have a narrow cut, which means you waste less wood with each cutting pass. Although this reduction is minimal, it does provide an enhanced level of accuracy so that you spend less time perfecting the cut.
One of the distinct advantages that a band saw provides is better safety. Compared to table saws or circular saws, you are better able to stop the cutting process with a band saw without worrying about damage to your working piece or the tool itself.
Craftsy offers 6 creative uses for your new band saw that are worth looking at as well. For more detailed and more delicate work, a scroll saw has a smaller thinner blade that can create intricate cuts. A handsaw, on the other hand, would give your work that subtle hand-made feel.
What Will It Cost Me to Buy the Best Band Saws?
Band saws might seem like a luxury investment for hobbyist woodworkers, but the modern tool is surprisingly competitive in price to similar tools. There are entry-level band saws that can be found today for under $150, allowing you to explore this skill with a minimum impact on your budget.
On the other end of the scale, a professional high-capacity band saw can cost more than $1,000. For beginners, we recommend the benchtop band saws as the best solution between pricing and the skill required to use the tool.
Types of Band Saws
There are basically two types of band saws:
Benchtop Band Saws
Benchtop band saws are lighter and smaller. They are designed for home use and you can set them up on a workbench. However, you should not judge their performance by their weight and size, as they can still do wonders.
They produce great results and some of them even come with stands designed for them. They are also less expensive, making them a great option for small projects and DIY jobs.
Floor-Standing Band Saws
The other type of band saws are floor-standing band saws and they are heavier and larger. They are designed for heavy-duty tasks. They come with very powerful motors that can handle a variety of cutting tasks.
Contractors and professional woodworkers often go for these models. They are also the ideal band saws for industrial use. They are more stable, sturdy, and also very expensive. Due to their weight, they are mostly stationary.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Best Band Saw
If you want to settle for the best band saw on the market, looking through band saw reviews is not enough. You need to educate yourself on some of the vital factors you need to consider before purchasing this machine.
Let us take a look at some of the vital things you need to put into consideration when shopping for a band saw:
Your Project
One of the first and most important things you need to consider before a band saw is your plan for the band saw. You need to ask yourself what you want to do with the band saw. Different kinds of tasks require different kinds of blades.
If your project involves softer wood, then you do not need the most powerful band saw on the market. Going for a very powerful band saw may not even end well for you because the speed of the blade might be too fast and it might damage your working material.
When you lose control, accidents and injuries are inevitable. As such, if you want to use the machine for light to moderate tasks, you do not need a band saw with an overabundance of power.
On the other hand, if you want to use the machine to cut larger pieces or harder woods, then your best option is a more powerful and larger band saw.
The most important thing here is to figure out what you want to use the machine for and then look for a band saw that can handle the job without providing too much capacity.
Power
The type of materials you can use a band saw to cut usually depends on two main components: the motor (power) and the blade. Band saws are electric-powered devices and they come with motors that are rated in terms of Horsepower (HP).
Band saws with power less than 1 HP are considered smaller band saws. These are ideal for DIY and small projects. They are not great for heavy-duty projects and cutting of harder and larger materials.
You can use them for less demanding jobs as well as for some occasional resawing and metal cutting. If you want to use the machine for heavy-duty projects, cutting of large hardwood stock, regular metal cutting, or frequent resawing of wide material, then you should not settle for anything less than 1 HP.
Cutting Capacity
Another vital factor you should consider is the cutting capacity of the band saw. Most cutting jobs are pretty demanding, as such you need a band saw with a high cutting capacity.
With a high cutting capacity, you will be able to make variable cuts with ease. It would also make your job fast and simple. A band saw’s cutting capacity includes the depth, lateral, and cutting height.
Safety
Safety should be one of your first points of call when buying any power tool. Band saws are a heavy piece of equipment, and using one is not a child’s play. You can end up having a severe injury if you handle this machine poorly.
However, you can prevent all these from happening by settling for a band saw with safety add-ons. Some of the vital features you need to look out for when buying a band saw includes a stable base, blade guard, dust port, and safety key. If safety is a high priority then a decent cordless band saw will be the perfect choice.
Bevel Capacity
Apart from making accurate cuts, you can also use the band saw to make angled cuts. This can be achieved with the help of a tilting table. However, this is a feature you will not find in low-quality models.
This feature comes in handy as it allows you to tilt the table to make angled cuts. If your band saw does not have this feature, then it is time to get a new one. All the band saws in this guide come with this feature.
While most of them come with a table that tits 45 degrees only to the right, the heavy-duty options on our list tilts to both left and right. With a table that tilts both ways, you can complete any task quickly and effectively.
Dust Port
Finally, you need to buy a band saw that comes with a dust port. This would help to keep your workspace clean and tidy. Dust port will eliminate harmful sawdust, dirt, pebbles, and other unwanted particles, providing you with a dust-free, fresh air, and a clean working environment.
Conclusion
Buying the best band saw on the market goes beyond reading through band saw reviews. There is a wide range of factors you need to put into consideration. We hope that our buyer’s guide is comprehensive and educative enough for you to know what to consider when buying this powerful tool.
Our top pick for the best band saw is the Rikon 10-305 Bandsaw because it is inexpensive, highly durable, and very easy to use. It also features a high cutting capacity and it comes with safety features.
